Welcome to BYC, it took me awhile to join but I finally took the plunge instead of skimming the stacks.
I think that many of us are enamoured with byc for similar reasons: chooks are hilarious AND feed our families. Hurrah for your leanings towards self-sufficiency. I have been surfing the permaculture and edible forest sites online too.
Does anyone out there have good edible landscaping plans that work for southern Quebec/upstate ny/northeast vt?