Is the whole yard hardpan?

I don't know. I know the neighbors have it in varying parts of their land according to their reports. I don't know if it's everywhere and some parts are deeper than others? But I know some parts of my yard are easier to dig up  than others.

Found a lot of information online regarding breaking up hardpan.  No shortage of material about doing it mechanically.  Didn't know you could do it organically, too.  Google, "Break Hardpan with Cover Crops"  Found some videos on YouTube also.

Nichole, I feel your pain.  I had that problem in my very small yard for many years, until I decided to literally dig deep and burry a bunch of wood chips in the  trenches and built also a french drain.. however, you don't want all that water to be drained away, you want it in the soil...going down to feed the roots of the plants.  Consider building up swells, talk with permaculture designers, get a good idea of how swells work and you should fix that problem.  you can add more mulching, chips and raise up the beds, but that still will not solve the issue of standing water. 
I am redoing my N. side bed again, as I resolved the standing water, but the laurel of the neighbours have invaded the area..so i am digging deep and putting a deep barrier, hoping to keep those invasive roots away until my plants establish. It is my best sunny spot. I want to plant some figs there.

A full truck of wood chips dumped last year...and it does not even show any sign.. it is all gone, turned to soil.  and no standing water at all.

You have a party, and friends will come over to help you get it going. Count on me.

That you live in flood zone, right?

Thankfully I do not live in a flood zone. I checked our county map to rule out properties all the time based on that information.

I'm still looking around for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinions to figure out our best approach. I'm hoping I can at least get the drains in even if I can't afford all the top soil and hydroseeding treatment.  Maybe the french drains this year, and the rest saved for next year. Either way I don't think I'll be planting my orchard this year. I want to make sure I will not drown them :)

But that will allow me to focus on my figs! I am going to put some in the ground in another dry area of my yard and try to update my online inventory. I finally pulled everyone out of my shed since I think all of our hard freezes have passed (knock on wood). My littler ones suffered some die back but I think everyone has made it.

Well, you could always plant a vineyard.  Wine grapes seek water, but they also like heat... NOT ALL!  Some, like Pinot Noir do great in Oregon!!  We have heat loving vines, and they have aggressive roots that go deep for water.  There are varieties that do well in Oregon!

Fingers crossed for you!  We have both figs and a vineyard, and you can too!!

Suzi

Nichole, you had such a marvelous yard, must be difficult for you to live with another not as nice. If you are going to put focus on other things than the yard, consider raising it up. I will send you some awesome videos about permaculture and how using plants that dig dip (like dandelions, comfrey) can help break up that hard pan. Also, you have a plan.. and act slowly on each section of the plan. It can be done with almost no buget, it is hard work that is good for you, and can always rent one of those tiny baby hoes that dig the trench, and then it is just address the needs of it and fill the trench with wood chips or other organic material, tree branches, etc.

The swells for french drainig without the pipe is hard work.. but it can be super rewarding.

My Seattle yard was adorable and really packed a punch. My yard is what sold my house so quickly and at such a good price - the new paint helped! :) My house was cute but nothing amazing, but my yard was perfect for someone wanting to grow their own food. I miss it but I'm going for something different here. I enjoy the open space. I love taking the chuck-it outside and running Sadie until she drops. I want low maintenance with character. I plan on espaliering a bunch of fruit trees along my fence line. Grapes will be espaliered along the other side. Plan on turning my huge shed into a greenhouse. Chickens for eggs and rabbits for meat. It'll take many years to get where I'm wanting to go but we aren't moving anytime soon.