Richard, let’s forget for now that he has removed a lot of soil life with the weeds and soil, then damaged a lot more by turning the soil over. Traditional methods have a lot to answer for.
Going forwards, I would indeed make beds with 10cm compost and plant straightaway. Waiting is doing no good for the soil. That soil needs living roots. There must still be good life there if it was growing plenty of weeds.
Small wood pieces for paths is good for veg, see paths question.
Mouldy smells can be fine, such as some nice fungus.
