Preparing the vegetable patch

I'm exhausted, really exhausted. I started work on my vegetable patch this afternoon so it's ready for my seedlings when they've matured a little. I made a good start - until my aged ground fork decided to snap... Luckily my father had one or two spare so I popped over to collect it and I was up and running again.
I've made quite good progress. The soil was far better than I expected. We had covered the ground with gravel so I removed as many as I could before digging. I was pleased to see the soil was actually very healthy - not clay-like at all, full of worms and nicely aerated.

I need to turn over the remainder of the patch but I'm seriously considering using a small rotavator as I really want the soil turned well and fully broken down ready for planting. I'll have a look around to see if I can hire one locally for a day or two.
The weather for the next few days is changeable with lower temperatures and rain, some of it prolonged and heavy. My seedlings should benefit well. The pampas grass will be a challenge to move. We've tried burning it and poisoning it but it just won't die. We've even had a colony of bees set up home in it. It has to go I'm afraid as it's now sitting on my vegetable patch.