Off the Grid is a long established site with many good articles on reducing your dependency on the outside world. It includes views on self-defense, food, and shelter, as well as alternative energy. http://www.offthegridnews.com/
Eating the Weeds
This is a blog about the things you can find in Nature that you can eat. It covers things from the obvious nuts and berries to less obvious spices to make them more palatable.
http://www.eattheweeds.com/
Solar
A Starter Kit
While you can find cheaper kits, or more comprehensive kits, an 100w panel with the addition of a battery is sufficient to get you started, and learn the basics.
Stepping up to the 200 watts of panels will cost a bit more on the front end, but avoid the costs of replacing as many components if you decide to expand it. It'll run you about 75% more than the first 100 watts