Hi Judy,
Passive
solar is great when it works well, most often (after ten years of services life) window often are more of a heat loss the gain. I am not saying don't design for it, just know to do it well, will cost money, especially on a large home. Fenestration to any architecture is important for not only natural light but general anesthetics as well. I tend to design in the vernacular for a region or climate, and if I what to "catch sun" will build a sun room or green house on or near the architecture.
I love bed rock in general as I try to use no concrete of very little as possible. In most cases it can be avoided. You are getting ahead of yourself if you have not got the land yet or, if you do, where you plan on building and what other infrastructure you will have/need. I love the enthusiasm of folks trying to "do there own thing" and move "back to the land" but so often I see an over romanticizing of it, and not good planing, projecting and logistics. SB is good where there is a good source of straw, and we really don't have that in general, so I find SB not that an environmentally responsible material if you are trucking it more that 20 miles (10 even). Slip formed clay chip and other earth based architecture is grand and has global roots, but is extremely labor intensive.
We need to get you ducks lined up before you start running around looking at everything. You should look, and read as much as you want for educational and recreational purposes, but for the logistical planning of your homestead, you need to get this done succinctly and efficiently. We are all in over our heads, so don't worry about that so much, just try slowing down a bit and organize your thoughts. The more you plan the better the design, the better the design of everything the more efficiently it will function. Here are some questions to get you going.
Do you have the land yet?
What is it's biome and topography like?
How big a space do you need to be comfortable for yourself, and plan for future changes and generations?
(Remember, most homes are going to cost a minimum of $75 per square foot and go up from there, and that is just you material cost on a national average, so plan for that, if not more.)
Will you practice
permaculture?
To what level and degree?
Will this be part of the living environment?
What skill sets do you have?
Can one or more people in your collective family work more than 50 hours per week on the homestead? If not, how will you plan on building?
Answer these questions and we will get some focus in this discussion a little better.
Regards,
jay