Get a Mantis Rototiller. I got the electric version (nice and quiet, but get someone to hold the cord for you while you work with it). Some of my neighbors mocked me at first, and then they saw how well it worked and were lining up to try to borrow it.
The Mantis broke up dirt so hard I couldn't get a pitchfork in it, even when I jumped up and down on it. It also chucked out rocks the size of softballs. The maintenance is minimal (at least with the electric version.) I really just can't say enough good things about the little tiller. You'll want to replace 2 screws in the handle, but that cost less than $1.