Start small like everyone has pointed out. Raised beds or, pre-fab beds is a good way to introduce your family and keep your errors small when it comes to soil, fertilizer usage, irrigation issues and the like. Starting your own compost pile now is also a good thing.

One squash plant, like zucchini, properly raised will produce more vegetables than you'll know what to do with. Better be prepared to alter your produce shopping habits, have a supply of recipes utilizing your bounty, and have an interest in preserving, canning, maybe set-up a root cellar. Eating seasonally is something I've strived to do, not only for health reasons but, I'm not paying for things that need to be imported or, come at a premium.

It may be too late to plow it up and grow winter rye. Also see if your city or county has leaf compost available to add to the soil.