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Hugelkultur is a raised garden bed building technique where wood is buried ("soil on wood") under soil. Hugelkultur, which means "hill culture" in German, can be implemented on a small scale in backyards or on a large scale, as demonstrated by Sepp Holzer, a renowned permaculture practitioner who uses hugelkultur in his terraced gardens. This technique involves layering logs, branches, twigs, and even whole trees, creating a foundation for the bed. This buried wood becomes "a sponge to hold water", reducing or eliminating the need for irrigation. As the wood decomposes, it attracts beneficial microorganisms and creates air pockets, leading to nutrient-rich, fertile soil. Hugelkultur helps gardeners "grow a typical garden without irrigation or fertilization". This technique can be used to grow garden plants like "rhubarb", "potatoes", and more. Hugelkultur is an example of permaculture design, which emphasizes sustainability, self-sufficiency, and working with natural systems

The SKIP (Skills to Inherit Property) program, designed to connect aspiring homesteaders ("Skippers") with landowners seeking successors ("Otisies"), centers around the completion of practical projects called "Badge Bits" (BBs). To join, create a free account on permies.com and choose BBs from the PEP (Permaculture Experience according to Paul) curriculum. These BBs, encompassing skills like gardening and natural building, are documented through photos and videos, which are then reviewed by the permies.com community. As Skippers complete BBs, they earn progressively advanced badges — Sand, Straw, Wood, and Iron — showcasing their skills to potential Otisies. While the program is free, attending the annual SKIP event at Wheaton Labs, where BBs are taught, costs $2,250. The permies.com forums also play a vital role, providing a platform for Skippers to connect and share experiences.

WOFATI, which stands for Woodland Oehler Freaky-cheap Annualized Thermal Inertia, represents a sustainable building solution that merges affordability and energy efficiency. Developed by Paul Wheaton, WOFATI draws inspiration from Mike Oehler's earth-sheltered designs, enhancing them with cost-saving strategies and a focus on harmonizing with the surrounding environment. This innovative approach prioritizes using locally sourced natural materials like wood and earth, thereby minimizing reliance on manufactured products and lessening the building's ecological impact. The concept of Annualized Thermal Inertia is central to WOFATI design, harnessing the surrounding earth as a thermal mass to regulate temperature fluctuations throughout the year. This natural heating and cooling system stores summer heat for winter warmth and retains winter's coolness to moderate summer temperatures, significantly reducing energy consumption. WOFATI buildings typically feature large windows strategically placed on the uphill side to maximize passive solar gain, further enhancing energy efficiency. As the name suggests, WOFATI structures are ideally situated on or near a woodland, emphasizing a symbiotic relationship with nature. Examples of WOFATI buildings, including Allerton Abbey and Wofati 0.8, can be found at Wheaton Labs in Montana

Hugelkultur, meaning "hill culture," is a sustainable permaculture gardening method that uses buried wood to create raised garden beds. This technique involves layering logs, branches, and other woody debris at the base of the bed and covering them with soil. As the wood decomposes, it acts as a sponge, retaining moisture, improving aeration and drainage, and releasing nutrients, reducing the need for watering and fertilizers. Hugelkultur beds are ideal for growing various plants, especially those that prefer well-drained soil. By harnessing the natural process of decomposition, hugelkultur promotes a thriving garden ecosystem and aligns with permaculture's goal of sustainable systems.