For the size area you describe lasagna gardening isn't going to work unless you have truckloads of various organiac material to work with.

Lasagna gardening is basically growing stuff in an unfinished compost pile. To make that unfinished compost pile takes about 90% more mass in terms of ingredients than does growing in pure compost.

You asked if we saw any disasters you are about to make and I will offer only this: 600 sq ft of gardening area in one year is a lot to chew, particularly when you want to do it organically or lasagna style. You need a lot of organic input in year one and a lot in subsequent years for maintenance.

How about this? Gather up whatever organic material you can for one 4'x25' plot and see how that goes while doing the rest with synthetic fertilizers and methods and compare results. Getting all the organic matter you need will be a challenge although not insurmountable. Compare results and see if you want to dedicate yourself to the effort versus buying a solution in a bag or bottle.

600 sq ft is a lot of area to cover with organics this year if you do not already have a ready source of raw material.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess what is drawing me to lasagna gardening is not having to till. The soil is my yard is fairly good to start with. I have a few plots that I have planted in over the past few years but other than that it has been only lawn. I do plan on using fish emulsion. I really want to stay away from inorganic fertilizers. This is one reason I want to grow my own. Guess I should just till 'er up and plan on the lasagna gardening next year?

Yeah, that's a lot of ground to cover. I've used lasagna gardening and love it, but my bed was small, maybe 12' x 4'. Cardboard, newspaper and straw is all a good start, but you'll probably need a truckload of something.

Can you get a hold of a large quantity of aged manure, leaf compost or something of that nature? In the fall I raid the curbs around our neighborhood and haul home bags of leaves. The supply is almost limitless! Grass clippings are good too, maybe talk to a lawncare service once they start mowing again. The general idea is to try to mix in an equal amount of green and brown. There's no reason you can't mix in regular soil or compost too.

Just get the base layer of paper or cardboard soaking wet and then start smothering everything with organic material. I wouldn't use a weed fabric and might break up the sod if you use it, because you want the layers to break down and become part of the soil.

Someone in the Wintersowing forum did something similar to what you described in your original post. He took up sod, lined the hole with wet cardboard and put the sod back in upside-down, with a little compost added in as well. If the pictures are anything to go by, it's worked very well for him.

I've included a link to his original post. You have to scroll down a bit to see the pictures, but they are interesting to look at.

It would still be a lot of sod to break, though. Maybe you could host a "Garden Party?" Only instead of relaxing in the garden, your friends could help you make it!

And, you know, come over for another party when the gardens are established. :)

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Instant Beds

How about raised beds? Get yourself some lumber from your local lumber yard, build a few boxes and then have a load of soil delivered to fill them up. We don't till our raised beds, just work them over with a fork each spring and have yet to have problems.