A couple of years ago we visited a barn conversion, which was completely off grid. They had gone for a wind turbine with batteries and a generator for back-up. They also had a bore-hole for water, modern septic tank and oil fired heating. That was one man's solution - I might be able to get more details if you're interested.
The way things have developed, I'd be exploring wood burner (logs, not pellets) and PV in addition to/in place of wind nowadays - depending on your geography.
I also know of someone who got hold of a fork-lift truck battery when the truck mast failed - that's a low cost way to get batteries, which can otherwise be pricey. Bankruptcy sales? Auctions?
Tony

Thanks Tony - Had actually looked into fork lift batteries and we are considering it. We will have a wood burner as well, for heating and hot water, its just the fridge/freezer issue. The house is situated at the foot of the Merrick hills in Galloway, Scotland. Weather there is famously cold and wet, with the odd few weeks of sunshine!! We are aiming for self sufficiency, so will need ample freezer space for our home grown veg and meat. Our budget is tight, and it seems that everything we look at is way out of our league. We shall keep looking, and any help or direction will of course be most appreciated
 
Ray & Wendy

I've no knowledge on the subjet, but how about running the genny on veg oil ?

I dont like telling you this publicly but there is no whisper facility:-
 
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/ae198/GasFridges.html
 
there are lots of places to buy gas fridges and freezers some cheaper too
 
a fridge runs on a heat pump and anything can power it, a waterwheel, bicycle, paraffin, any form of energy
 
we used to preserve our carrots in boxes of dry sand which uses no energy, potatoes in clamps, dried meat etc?