Don't know much about the climate in your neck of the woods. I suspect it is a bit different than the mid-Atlantic states... If you have enough frost days, you should be able to grow most northern fruit and nut trees, but should also be able to take advantage of your longer growing season to grow many more southern species and cultivars.
I am definitely with you Anna. I would like to grow much of my own food one day.
One of my dad's friends is amazing. He grows and raises about 95% of his food. His wife, 3 kids and their families live on 330 acres at the end of a 6 mile dirt road in the mountains of VA. It is about as remote as you can get in the east. They raise goats, sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, ducks and even turkeys along with fish. They have several bee hives as well. They have about 10 acres in orchards and 20 acres in pasture and another 20 in crops. They dry and can everything they cannot freeze. They have a dug out area they call the "root cellar" which is more like a root bunker for winter storage of potatoes, onions and the like. Plus they hunt for wild game.
The community is completely off the grid as well. With solar, wind and water power all their electricity is produced on site. Then again, they are kind of on the fringe and think the USA is about to come unraveled. Should they be right, they're going to be far more prepared than I am. MRE's only last so long!
