Permaculture is one of the most talked-about ideas in home gardening, and one of the most misunderstood.
The word combines "permanent" and "agriculture" (and, for some, "culture").
David Holmgren summarized permaculture design in twelve principles.
Zones organize a property by how often you visit each area.
Sheet mulching builds a new bed on top of lawn or weeds without digging.
Note where sun falls, where water collects, where wind blows, and how you move around the yard.
Permaculture is full of good ideas, but some popular claims deserve caution.
Step-by-step advice, charts and free garden calculators at Garden Voila.