Homesteading Department

The Naturopathic Institute is excited to present the Homesteading Department as one of the nine departments offered in our Emphasis Certification Program. The Emphasis Certification Program is launching in January 2026 in collaboration with the Embassy of Life Mastery.

H2: Department Overview

Considered to be one of the most frequently browsed topics on the internet, the study of homesteading is here to stay! There is an incredible desire to return to our roots, and in this Emphasis program, that is exactly what we will be focused on. Once this knowledge is applied, the student will be ready and feel empowered to implement their training in a small home, neighborhood, like-minded community, family farm, or even larger undertakings.

Required Courses · Course Breakdown · 2026 Course Schedule

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Courses Required

To earn an Emphasis Certification in Homesteading, students are required to take eight core classes and eight emphasis classes. The Naturopathic Institute’s Emphasis Certification program is registered with the state of Michigan and meets the educational requirements. After taking all the required courses, completing independent studies, and passing the tests, you will earn an Emphasis Certification in Homesteading.

Program Core Courses

1. NHE: Biology
2. NHE: Nutrition
3. NHE: Elements of Man
4. NHT: Food as Medicine
5. NHT: Field Herbology
6. NHT: Making of Herbal Medicine
7. NHP: Food as Therapy
8. CN: Herbal Adventures 

Homesteading Emphasis Courses

Not all courses are offered each year. Review the class schedule guide to learn what is available in any given year.

There are 12 Emphasis Courses offered in the Homesteading Department. You only need to take 8 of the following 12 Emphasis Courses (in combination with the eight core classes above) to earn an Emphasis Certification in the Homesteading Department:

• Animal Husbandry 
• Biodynamic Gardening
• Companion Planting
• Cordwood Buildings
• Creating a Homestead Kitchen
• Food Preservation 101
• Food Preservation 201
• Living Off the Grid
• Meat 
• Mushroom Cultivation and Harvesting
• Organic Raised Bed Gardening
• Permaculture
  

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Course Breakdown

Diploma Students

If you are enrolled in the Natural Health Program, you have already completed some of the core classes required to earn the Homesteading Emphasis Certification. Below are the additional classes you are required to take, based on the number of years in the program you completed, to earn an Emphasis Certification in the Homesteading Department.

 

Program Year Completed	Additional Core Classes Needed	Homesteading Emphasis Classes
Natural Health Educator	5	8
Natural Health Therapist	2	8
Natural Health Practitioner / Certified Naturopath	—	8

Emphasis Certification Only (Non-Diploma Students)

You must complete the 8 Core Program Classes and 8 of the 12 Homesteading Emphasis Classes to earn an emphasis certificate.

Personal Development

If you are taking an Emphasis Course for personal development, you will not be responsible for the homework or taking the test.

If you choose to take classes in the Emphasis Program for personal growth, then you are not held to the same academic requirements as Certification Students. Please go to the Emphasis Personal Development Page to fill out and submit the Alumni/Guest Individual Class Registration Form. 

Look for this icon when searching for a class from the Homesteading Department.

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2026 Homesteading Emphasis Course Schedule

1-Day Emphasis Courses are held from 9 am – 5 pm at 503 E. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, unless otherwise noted.

Not every Emphasis 1-Day Course will be offered every year. Here are the courses in the Homesteading Department that are being offered in 2026: