Dorothy, I don't suppose you had this gem of a house inspected? It does sound like there is a very good reason why it was inexpensive. All of the stuff the previous owner knew that you're now finding out. But it does sound like it has potential.
Slow progress in the garden, but another batch of stuff was planted yesterday. And I finally emptied my wheelbarrow. It was full of compost when the rain hit last week and successive storms re-filled it after I bailed out some of the water. I suppose that is an informal way of making compost tea.