Want to start a garden...

...and don't have time.  I work full time and go to school full time, so I'd like to hire someone who knows permaculture to at least design it and get the bigger plants in for me.
What should I look for in a person, other than local references and a license, and what are the typical rates I should expect to pay in the Seattle area?

Thanks-
Dave.

Good for you in being able to hire some initial help and design. I think the rates and styles will vary widely.

I haven't been looking at permaculture design rates, and I don't that kind of work myself, though from my experience with small businesses and contractors around here, I imagine $40-80($100?) per hour is in the ballpark. Hopefully others will chime in on that. (Higher-end architectural-quality design work would probably be above this range...)

Beyond rates and recommendations, I think you might aim at finding a designer/installer whose style is the best fit for you. There's permaculture and then there's permaculture.

Some if it is natural (or weedier) looking, some if it is more tidy and stylized. Some folks use lasagna-style mulching to get started, others do not want cardboard and paper in the soil. A good designer should be able to match a design to fit your personal style, wants and needs, though being human, we all have different strengths and weaknesses.

Does that help a little?

Thank you, yes.
I'm perfectly fine with using a cardboard or other fiber sheet mulch and I'm not looking to win any English tea-garden awards from BHG.
Basically, I want food growing in my backyard, as much perennial as possible and, if it happens to look nice at the same time, that's just an added bonus.

Dave.