Section G · College-Preparatory Elective

Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 5

UC A-G approved Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 5 course delivered fully online through immersive VR and AI-enhanced instruction.

1/2 Year Online · Remote / Hybrid / In-Person Interdisciplinary Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 5 credits

Section GUC A‑G Requirement

College-Preparatory Elective — 1 year required

Must be chosen from additional courses in categories A–F (beyond the minimum requirements) OR from other UC-approved college-preparatory electives, including computer science, business, statistics, and interdisciplinary STEM courses.

Why This Matters for College Admission

G electives are where students develop depth and signal academic passion. AI, cybersecurity, data science, and entrepreneurship courses are highly competitive differentiators for tech-oriented admissions profiles.

What You'll Learn

Apply environmental science principles to real-world sustainability challenges

Analyze ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and biodiversity

Evaluate human impacts on climate, land use, water, and energy systems

Design evidence-based environmental solutions using scientific methodology

Interpret data from field studies, remote sensing, and laboratory investigations

Prepare for the AP Environmental Science exam

Course Structure

Unit 1Weeks 1–4

Foundations & Context

Core vocabulary and concepts
Skill baseline assessment

Unit 2Weeks 5–9

Core Content

Primary content delivery
Applied practice activities

Unit 3Weeks 10–14

Application & Synthesis

Real-world application
Final project or exam prep

Lectures & Reviews

Curated YouTube videos for Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 5

Hand-picked from credible educators — AP teachers, university lectures, and Khan Academy. Click a thumbnail to play in place; cookies are blocked until you click.

SpecialistFood Farmer Earth

Backyard Ecosystems: A Homesteader's Guide to Permaculture

Open on YouTube

SpecialistAndrew Martin

ABUNDANT OFF GRID PERMACULTURE LIVING - The Farmer and The Ski Racer

Open on YouTube

Specialistmartysgarden

Creating A SELF SUFFICIENT HOMESTEAD 5 Months In

Open on YouTube

TEDTED-Ed

How do solar panels work? - Richard Komp

Open on YouTube

Coming from The VR School

Originals in production

Permaculture systems thinking + advanced food preservation has zero rigorous YouTube coverage above ~10 minute primer videos.

Permaculture Zone Design: keyline + swale layout for a 1-acre lot
drone + design overlay · ~22 min
- Read a contour map and identify keypoints
- Lay out swales on contour with a A-frame level
- Stack functions across zones 1–4
Advanced Food Preservation: pressure canning safety, dehydrator chemistry, freeze-drying
kitchen lab + safety drills · ~24 min
- Operate a pressure canner per USDA guidance
- Compute target water activity for shelf-stable dehydration
- Compare freeze-drying vs. dehydrating for nutrient retention
Capstone: documenting a year of yields + pantry economics
student presentation template · ~16 min
- Build a yield/expense ledger for the homestead year
- Compute break-even on infrastructure investment
- Present results to a community panel

These topics are commissioned for VR School production after Dr. Cheteni's review — recorded in our VR studio, taught by expert faculty. Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 5 will receive these as immersive lessons alongside the curated YouTube library above.