Sounds like Nick from Milkwood. Permaculture is as technical and as common sense as it gets. I love playing in my suburban lot with principles suited to huge farming properties. It all scales well. I have always dreamed of the chicken coop/greenhouse of Bill Mollisons Permaculture One book, and got very close at my last house. I designed the entire garden as a children's picking garden and ready for the chicken forage system, but never got the chooks. LOL