Container and urban gardening can be a simple, fun endeavor with a few basic items and techniques. Sub-irrigated planters (SIPs) help to regulate the water and oxygen levels in soil, producing naturally healthier plants. In short, they function by allowing only so much water to reach the plant's roots, and by circulating air through an easy-to-make system. The following links provide an in-depth description and how to for making your own.
http://www.appropedia.org/Sub-irrigated_planter
http://www.insideurbangreen.org/diy-sub-irrigation/
http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2012/03/sub-irrigated-salad-bowl-planter-how-to.html

Fresh eggs are an obvious result of having chickens, but the benefits do not stop there. In addition to being a beautiful, egg-producing, bug-eating pet, chickens contribute to healthy soil production through both their manure and composting abilities. A great chicken coop is the foundation for happy chickens, and the following links detail exactly what you will need to keep your chickens safe.
http://www.appropedia.org/Chickens
http://www.appropedia.org/Building_a_chicken_coop
http://diychickencoops.com/

Composting
Composting is a cheap, easy, and rewarding way to take useful remnants destined for the landfill, and repurpose them for your garden soil. What can be composted might also surprise you-- not just for food scraps, cardboard and dryer lint can also be composted!
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm
http://www.the-compost-gardener.com/how-to-make-compost.html#axzz1r6lWAgR2
http://greenliving.about.com/od/thegreenyard/tp/compost.htm
http://www.compostinstructions.com/what-you-can-and-cannot-compost/