Observe, plan, design, apply, adjust, enjoy!
Mapping things before you start spending time and money is the one step you have to take. Nobody likes to have to redo stuff and realize that a mistake in the beginning process of your landscape design could result in an expensive price to pay.
Just like a puzzle, there are pieces that must fit together in a permaculture design process. Drawing maps will not only help you to identify a few things first, but will also give you confidence when it’s time to get your hands dirty! You want to maximize your efforts for a low-maintenance, sustainable and prosperous property design.
Tenth Acre Farm has a focus on Permaculture for suburbs and they describe what are the 6 maps you should have before you hit the first nail in your project.