Yep, knowing the vague area where you live I agree the soil wouldn't be that great.

Hmm, I'm thinking you should start small. Go to a nursery/hardware store and buy a few deep planter boxes, some seedling compost, a bag of mulch and some seeds. See how much the sun affects the plants in the area you are thinking about putting a permanent bed. Startup cost could still be close to $100 but I think the chances of success is greater. Investigate how much sleepers cost... that will sway you the most I suspect.