Yes, the Dwarf Wiki was very helpful -- that's how I figured out as much as I did. But it was still pretty painful.
As for farming outside... well, that defeats the purpose. After reading the story of Boatmurdered I figured I'd probably get overrun by the first goblin invasion that happened by. My only hope was to be entirely self-sufficient indoors -- but that means I need to farm indoors!!!
Can you build up a food storage? Crops can be resown, homes can be rebuilt - but your people can survive within the Fortress at Helm's..... err, whatever your particular Fortress is called.