Reddit mentions of Lasagna Gardening: A New Layering System for Bountiful Gardens: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding!

Definitely agree. The first year, I'd start the herbs and get some compost going, if you can. For your compost, make use of whatever is locally available in quantity (eg, grass, leaves, food scraps, kelp, pond scum). This website is a good resource.

I started out using the Square Foot Gardening plan with raised beds and had good success. Now I've added some lasagna beds, as I think this method is more environmentally friendly and sustainable (and easy!). (Mel's Mix uses peat moss, which isn't sustainably harvested, is my quibble.) I'd say whatever you do, don't bother tilling anything. Is a waste of time, IMO. No-till is where it's at. Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza is worth reading if you're interested in this method.

This is an amazing book for learning what can fit where. Remember that it is more for advanced gardeners so start small. Use it as a guide on long term plans.

This is a great guide to low-cost or free soil creation/amendment It also has a great guide to growing almost every veggie/herb. It works amazingly as a substitution for the very expensive recommended soil in This great guide to planting closer together to avoid weeds

Some ideas for reducing water usage:

Sub-Irrigation (there are a great many ways to do this, this is just one)

Hugelkultur Looks like shit but creates an amazing wood "sponge" under your gardens. After 2 years you pretty much don't need to water again (if done correctly). You also get a constant stream of nutrients from the wood breaking down. It is possible to "contain" hugelkultur beds to create more of a "I mean to do this!" order so people don't think you are just piling shit up everywhere.

Last fall, I read Lasagna Gardening (http://www.amazon.com/Lasagna-Gardening-Layering-Bountiful-Gardens/dp/0875969623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310442283&sr=8-1).

As I recall, the author recommended the following:

• thin layer of manure (or compost)
  
• cardboard to suppress weeds
  
• thin layer of manure (or compost)
  
• 6-8 inches of straw
  
• compost around the plants you start.
  
  Digging to loosen the soil seems unnecessary as the ground will loosen as the straw decomposes. So far, I've created an environment that my plants seem to be loving.
  
  I've also found this to be extremely useful for filling raised beds.