This is a great little summary of permaculture in Zone 1, the vegie/herb patch, the most frequented and arguably the most productive of the zones. It doesn’t need a large space, or even good soil; it can be done in even the smallest of backyards, courtyards or belconies, but the benefits are endless.
http://permaculturenews.org/…/a-basic-introduction-to-zone…/
Update: Part 2 – Application in Rio Dulce: http://permaculturenews.org/…/a-site-specific-nuts-and…/