Louise - it is more challenging to incorporate permaculture ideas into existing landscapes rather than "clean slates". To me, the main concept is to make your plot more sustainable. I use fall leaves for mulching beds rather than using shredded wood mulch. You can spot-compost veggie and fruit scraps along with coffee grounds right in your garden beds. Interplanting in your beds is fun and can be productive in terms of building the soil and nurturing companion plants. I can mix vegetables and herbs in a bed with shrubs, roses, perennials and a few annuals for color. I would suggest a basic permaculture book to get ideas of exactly how much you can accomplish.
