When a fuse blows in the first scene, Lisa mentions how that used to happen when they lived in New York. This episode was first broadcast the night after a major East Coast blackout that included New York.
Lisa washes the toaster in the dishwasher and heats the electric coffee pot on the hot stove.
Oliver assigns each electrical appliance a numeric value. The total number can not exceed 7 or the generator will blow. Values: can opener = 1; coffee pot, electric iron, mixer, and toaster each = 2; frying pan = 3; rotisserie = 4; dishwasher = 5; washing machine, refrigerator, and freezer each = 6.
The locals base their crop choices on their wives' aches and pains. Since Doris Ziffle is complaining of lumbago, they're planting corn. Swollen ankles mean carrots, cranky spells mean soybeans, cold means potatoes, a headache dictates asparagus and head knots mean wheat.