Google (or Scroogle) "Permaculture" Then Your Area
 

Take a simple introductory course in your area, forget the hogwash and nonsense the idiots will spew (we Permies are broke so pander to fear, alas) about 'anthropogenic global warming and peak oil' and listen to the actual core of the program. Instead of 'surviving' the course is based upon 'thriving' during these times. It is rather simple and once learned....it is really hard to stop redesigning every landscape in your vicinity. It almost becomes obsessive.