My wife and I are looking to start our first one this year. For sure some taters, maters, and squash/zucchini. Nice to know AS has a gardening forum! I'll post a thread so as not to hijack this one, since I've got many questions.
Welcome aboard!
Here's a tool that revolutionized my way of gardening.
In your area raised beds are only necessary if you have a very high water table and saturated soil is a problem.
In the north raised beds speed soil warming but in the south the soil often gets to warm. Plus there is the money spent on making raised beds. Buy a Meadow Creature Broadfork instead!