Or put retaining walls around the lower side of the site, and build up with fill. You will be ordering at least a truckload of dirt here (not that costly, under a $100), and once it's in, it will need a month or so to properly settle.
[header] How to grade a site by hand [title] Choose your grade. [step] There are three ways to go here. Either cut straight back into the hillside, and use retaining walls behind the structure to hold the earth back.