India has perfected a system for converting poop & vegetable matter into methane through the use of a home made biodigester. It was specifically designed for the ashram/small village scale to produce enough gas for each household to have a gas stove. I used to know the inventor's name but it has slipped my mind. No doubt Google knows.

Anyway, I think a home with soloar panels and a biodigester might be an interesting combo. Back to "5 acres and independence"!