First, size is everything. A square meter can become a high‑yield unit if you layer it properly. Start with a vertical planter: deep‑rooted crops like carrots at the bottom, leafy greens in the middle, and a nitrogen‑fixing cover crop on top. Add a compost‑tea drip and a tiny pond for aquatic plants, plus a rain barrel to recycle water. If space allows, a small pollinator hive can boost yields. The trick is modularity – swap out a layer when output drops. Track every square foot’s water input versus food output; that data tells you where to cut or add. Once you know the baseline, reduce input until the system balances itself. Simplicity wins; the fewer moving parts, the more reliable the ecosystem.