This should be a viable strategy, yes. When you build a stone structure on the resource, it doesn't take into account how much of it is left. You simply get the full benefit of the structure.

Ok, I have won on the hard new update. First find coal or pheat and get your digger to get you enough and turn one of your guys to be a brickmaker then you can find a stone mine and build it and turn one of your guys into block cutters. After 25 turns you should be able to build a stone coal shaft mine or pheat shaft. Only after you have 2 gatherer, 2 hunter, 2 harvester. you make sure you have bread maker, 2xmeat cutter. Slowly replace your food gatherers and harvesters to farmers and turn your hunters into ranchers and build the stone structures. Once you get all these up into stone you will only concentrate your energy on your technology. Try to get meat smoker, briner, meat butcher, preserver, bread maker and upgrade your guys to these professions ASAP. After that you can concentrate on the game. Good luck, it's not that hard!!!!