[Growing Zone 10b] Best techniques for and foods to to plant for clay, nutrient-poor soil?

Hello everyone. I want to start growing food in my yard. However, the soil is very clay and very dead. Every attempt at starting something has died, aside from a couple of non-edibles that ended up being very stressed. Nothing I plant starts or takes, regardless of how religiously I follow care guides, though I’ve only tried some herbs, peas etc at this point.I am not a total notice to gardening, but the soil in my family home was such that I could just plant seeds in the ground in season and do nothing but water. Here, nothing grows back there except weeds. I have effectively no money to use on things like soil or fertilizers; I’m using food stamps to buy seeds from grocery stores. I have basic gardening tools like a hoe but that’s it.Does anyone know of a guide to get started growing for my area, or have any advice to share?