Thanks for the recommendations and the chart. That actually provides a great template for developing a plan for one's life, from a capital-based perspective. Eight is a pretty large number of areas to tackle all at once, but they are still solid building blocks to work on, even if one at a time.

As to the total noob questions, I guess they'd largely be centered around where to start. Beyond a small, decorative cactus that a student gave me, I'm not growing any plants at all. I've always thought that I could eventually start with some basic herbs (chilies, basil, spring onions) but don't know if there's something easier or better to start off with. For context, I'm living in a tropical, semi-urban area with limited space. So, I assume that small potted plants would be best for growing things in a rented unit and that I'll have to put permaculture on hold until I own some land? Is that about right?