Course CodeASS102Fee CodeCTDuration (approx)600 hoursQualificationCertificate LEARN TO BE MORE SELF SUFFICIENT! A unique certificate to undertake in preparation for a change in the way you live; or perhaps in preparation for establishing a business or career providing services to the community in this discipline. The course comprises of two core self sufficiency modules and then a choice of four electives. To complete the certificate you must successfully complete all assignments and pass exams in each of six modules as follows: Compulsory Modules: Self Sufficiency I Self Sufficiency II Elective Modules Any four of the following electives: Alternative Energy Mud Brick Construction Permaculture Systems (gain a Permaculture Design Certificate) Advanced Permaculture Sustainable agriculture Poultry Organic Plant Culture Herb Culture Compulsory Modules: Self Sufficiency I covers ten lessons which develop your understanding of self sufficiency, food and nutrition, and making the right decisions about changes in lifestyle; as well as showing you how to do a whole range of practical things such as mud brick building, making crafts, growing fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other crops; raising poultry, sheep & goats, extending the life of clothing, conserving energy, recycling, simple home medical care and first aid, and lots more. In Self Sufficiency II you learn to be self sufficient with your food. You learn about nutrition and how to balance your diet, as well as how to produce, process, store, and use different types of food. This includes berries, nuts, milk, cheese, eggs, bread making, preserves, & dried food. Cooking, freezing, drying, bottling, making bread, planning a vegetable garden to give produce all year round, and lots more are covered over ten lessons. Modules Core ModulesThese modules provide foundation knowledge for the Qualification - Certificate In Self Sufficiency. Self Sufficiency I ASS100 Self Sufficiency II ASS101 Elective ModulesIn addition to the core modules, students study any 6 of the following 7 modules. Alternative Energy VSS102 Herb Culture BHT114 Mudbrick Construction ASS103 Permaculture Systems BHT201 Advanced Permaculture BHT301 Food Processing and Technology BSS301 Organic Plant Culture BHT302 Note that each module in the Qualification - Certificate In Self Sufficiency is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately. LEARN TO GROW THEN PROCESS AND STORE FOODS Being self sufficient starts with choosing what to grow, then knowing how to process and store supplementary produce so it is available all year round. Different types of plants do require different conditions. Some need better drainage, others may tolerate poor drainage and even very moist conditions. Knowing the alternatives and their soil and environmental needs is key to moving toward greater self sufficiency. Consider How to Freeze Your Own Food Freezing is the fastest and most economical way of preserving food it is also very easy as long as you follow a few guidelines for specific produce. You should endeavour to freeze food as quickly as possible so the best type of freezer for home food storage is the deep freeze, not the small frozen food type compartments as the temperature in these is not adequately cold enough to keep food for long periods of time. The equipment required for home freezing is very similar to that for preserving and bottling. The hard work will be taken out of the process if you also have access to an electric blender, food mills and shredder and choppers and an air extractor. However these are not essential. Freezer bags, tapes, suitable plastic containers, labels and a water proof are. General procedure: Pack food in airtight containers such as plastic freezer bags or plastic containers. Before sealing the container, remove as much air as possible. Write the date of processing on the container. Most frozen vegetables can be kept up to 8 months in a standard home freezer. When you put the container into the refrigerator, place it as close as possible to where the refrigerant circulates. This is the coldest part and is where freezing will be fastest. Leave a small air gap between containers when first freezing. This increases the rate of freezing. You might turn the freezer up to high when first freezing then turn it back later. Avoid too frequent opening of freezer door when a new batch of vegetables is being stored. Blanching Some people suggest that vegetables should be blanched before freezing. Blanching is a process of cooking or part cooking. Some people believe it reduces the pungency of certain strong flavoured vegetables (e.g. cabbage or onions) while others believe it is necessary for the freezing process. How to blanch vegetables Put prepared vegetable into 1 to 2 litres of boiling water or steam it for several minutes. Plunge the vegetable into iced water to rapidly cool. These extremes of temperature are said to kill harmful bacteria and keep the vegetable fresh. Allow to dry thoroughly before placing in freezer bags. General Guidelines The freezer should be set to its coldest setting about 12 hours before adding new unfrozen produce. This helps to prevent formation of ice crystals on the food. The faster you freeze your food the better as it is helps to retain flavour and colour. Only freeze top quality fresh produce Some foods do not freeze well and these should be preserved by other methods: cucumbers, celery, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes (unless they have been cooked and pureed) and most greens other then spinach, kale, and similar. Quick freeze produce as quickly as possible Handle produce as little as possible Keep food to be processed in the refrigerator Freeze in meal sized portions Package well to prevent freezer burn and try to eliminate as much air as possible from the freezer bags Label and date produce Put newly processed food in the back of the freezer or on a different shelf to unused frozen produce. Used those with the earliest date first Make sure the rims of containers are wiped clean with a clean cloth before placing lids into position Leave around 2.5cm space around packages Leave a 1.5mm head space in containers to accommodate expansion If you experience a power failure do not open the freezer door, a full freezer will retain its temperature for around two days. However the less you have in your freezer the quicker it will start to defrost. Do not take any chances with thawed produce it is better to throw out food if you are not sure rather then risk illness through contaminated food. Only defrost food before cooking if necessary; ie. most vegetables are cooked from their frozen state. Meat and full meals should be defrosted in the refrigerator. STUDY THIS COURSE TO LEARN MORE Make better selections of what foods to grow Make better choices about where and how to grow produce Make better choices about how to harvest, process and store different produce