"I would rather cultivate the soil than the plants!"
The reality of gardening (other than hydroponics) is that you feed the soil and the soil feeds the plants. Bacteria and fungi break down any amendments you add and make them available to the plants.
Check out John Jeavons and his BioDynamic French Intensive method of gardening and building beds. He starts with large amounts of compost and fertilizers and tapers off over the years. Here's a link to his book.
http://www.amazon.com/John-Jea...
I have to admit that I have cut a few corners over the years, but the basics of feeding the soil have remained.
