One thing my readings of Permaculture have emphasized is taking advantage of the margins. That is-using marginal area one one would not normally consider for growing. In the yard I have started to do this in a couple of places. There were bare patches on either side of the air conditioning unit. now I've spearmint coming up on one side and beans on the other.


Other areas I'm eyeing now include an area around the corner that we have used as storage (it gets light for most of the day)as well as area behind our laundry poles which gets less light but has always produced a wide range of weeds and grasses.

This approach to the margins is significant. There is so much "marginal" land that sits fallow in urban areas. Whether the surface be dirt or concrete the land could be in use. Recently, I came across the concept and practice of urban farming. Very interesting, useful and easy to implement in virtually any urban environment. For more information see:
http://journeytoforever.org/cityfarm.html
tcdc.undp.org/sie/experiences/vol4/City%20farming.pdf
http://www.devalt.org/newsletter/jun05/of_5.htm