The system is essentially common sense with a few guidelines of self evident principles that we sometimes forget when living in a world where everything is done for us by a faceless corporation or government that usually has its own best interests at heart and not ours.  This is especially true in relation to our food.  

The most comprehensive reference that I am using is the Tropical Permaculture Guidebook that has been described as the offspring the Bill Mollisons classic Permaculture Designers Manual.

I would like to suggest that although the Permaculture Designers Manual is a hefty tome it is best to start at the beginning and work your way through.  I made the mistake 30 years ago of just reading the tropical sections because that was where I lived.  I therefore missed out on understanding properly the ethics and principles , the patterns of nature and the way we need to work with nature rather than just seeing it as a utility for our convenience.  It took an intensive 14 day PDC in Kuala Lumpa with master teacher Mustapha Bakir to bring me to an understanding of where we really fit in the Universe!!  And how to use the ethics and Principles of Permaculture to live in harmony.

For home gardens the best of all is:

Leonie Norrington’s Tropical Food Gardens– A guide to growing fruit, herbs and vegetables in tropical and sub-tropical climates.  This was published nearly 20 years ago and is still the definitive go to reference for tropical growing.  

Available at the Kimberley Bookshop Broome

There is lots of useful material on the web.  I have found Dr Cho’s handbook very useful.

Cho’s Global Natural Farming (SARRA)

ILC member South Asia Rural Reconstruction Association (SARRA) has published a book on natural farming practices, Cho’s Global Natural Farming, written by Ms. Rohini Reddy, Executive Director, SARRA. The book covers natural farming practices developed by Dr. Cho Han Kyu, Janong Natural Farming Institute, South Korea, who worked with SARRA in organizing workshops and training programs on natural farming with indigenous micro organisms (IMOs) throughout Asia.

Download the book here: Cho’s Global Natural Farming (SARRA)