Hardpan Soil Development/Ideas

I'm working on a permaculture design, looking for some inspiration.  

There is an area on the site with hardpan soil (approx 10'x15'), which is basically exposed shale.  Looking for ideas.  For developing that type of soil, what type of grasses/covercrops are best to break this up (I've read rye, or maybe buckwheat over traditional covercrops such as clover, vetch, etc).  

Also leaning towards utilizing as a small community space and foregoing having to dig into it or develop.  Was thinking something such as a firepit, bbq, cob oven, or something similar.  

Would appreciate any ideas or suggestions!

Colin

If you can get some arborist wood chips, you could spread them down thickly and use it as a hangout space for a year or three. As they break down, the worms will move in and start improving the soil. The ground will start to soften and turn back into living soil that you can work and begin to plant your pioneers in pretty quickly.

You could do beds around the edges to get things growing in little pockets. And I’ve found red clover to take in pretty poor soil. In my garden, it’s pretty attractive massed, and it makes good chop-and-drop fodder.

One approach. Good luck!
D

I like the idea of a community space. You already have a solid floor (hope it's reasonably level)! It's a natural spot to erect a shelter/workspace of some kind.

Thank you for ideas, all good possibilities.  Thinking about it more, an herb spiral came to mind as well, since everything would be build up off the ground, and could utilize fill dirt/potting soil.