Here is an article about planning your homestead. It offers some things to think about when in the planning stage.
http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues...ed_Wilson.html
A note I'll add to this on barns. You don't see many round barns in this country but round was the design of choice not so long ago on many European farms. Round barns have some distinct advantages especially in colder climates. The manure can be stacked in the center of the barn offering free heat for the animals in winter. For those that use more manual methods, the round design saves time and the overall design is cheaper to build. You don't have to think large barn either. You could build a small one to house goats for example. Just a thought.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_barn
