https://sites.google.com/view/electricfarm/home
I often hear people say they want to move to the country for the "Simple Life". Unfortunately there is nothing simple about country living any longer. The days of the wood stove and carrying water from the stream are gone replaced by a myriad of technologies all of which require a high level understanding to operate. Even the processing of food requires sophistication that city people take for granted. Alternatives must prepare for the eventuality of a power outage. Once the power goes out chances are you have lost your heat and water also. Communications are precarious technologies and whether satellite, telephone, or wireless they are all subject to weather events.
In 1996 we were without electricity for ten days but the phone service was not restored for over a month. I was thankful for the service provided by my Netbook charged with the generator which allowed me to do email and phone calls via Google using my Verizon MyFi. Computers and Satellite systems frequently don't work on AC from a generator. Even travel can be a problem as in this storm where there was no way to go anywhere as our main exit routes to Prattsville, Cobleskill, and Stamford were all under water. You can stay warm with a wood stove but even this technology is to a great extent dependent upon supportive technologies like trucking, chainsaws and the availability of gasoline.
I lived for 10 years off the grid and have experience these realities personally. I can say I enjoy country living but one must be prepared for the myriad of eventualities that are certain to occur.
Survivalist list:
The freezer is not survivalist technology. In less than 10 days you have to deal with it.
You should not drink surface water unless it is boiled. Spring houses, lakes, and streams do NOT provide potable water. The only rural source of potable water is a well with a proper containment seal. When the electricity goes out lacking a 240v generator your only alternative to get well water is "a small can on a long string".
For five years I heated my living quarters by each day foraging the town of Oak Hill for blow down from the trees. I would cut the wood to stove lengths with a BowSaw and stack it on a wood rack I made for the bicycle. The chainsaw and a truck are obviously a better alternative.
Most propane appliances today have a thermo-coupling which turns the gas off and on. When the power goes out you are left with a useless piece of hardware and no access to your fuel supply. Many wall mounted propane heaters will work without power(no fan). Kitchen stoves that require no AC can be purchased from RV dealers. I have recently discovered that restaurant commercial cook stoves frequently have no AC. I am going to purchase one but the $1800 cost is slowing me down.
This type of stove also has larger burners making it better for rural tasks like canning.
Unfortunately only a stop gap measure until the gas runs out. Always fill and operate the generator outdoors and after filling let it sit for 10 minutes or so before starting to allow any spillage to evaporate. Many rural home fires have been caused by improper or indoor use of generators.
Within 10 days of a power outage it is going to be necessary to salvage food from your freezer. The only alternative is to cook everything, load it in canning jars, and hot water bath it over a wood fire out doors. In many cases it will necessary to add tomatoes, vinegar, or ascorbic acid to increase the acidity as hot water bathing only works with acidic contents. Pressure canning over a wood fire is nearly impossible.
Note: Dried and powdered citrus peels can be used as a source of ascorbic acid (fruit must be washed prior to peeling as there is likely pesticide contamination). Vinegar is cheap and keeps forever.