DIY Skeeter Stick

We live in a fairly dry part of the country compared to most. So dry that when driving through the country you will see irrigation sprinklers everywhere. Dry conditions can make gardening difficult. However, the upside is we have little mosquito problems. Which is great; Our whole family reacts to mosquito bites about as bad […]

Time to spread our wings

So lately we have this urge to move. Spread our wings and find land, space and a new start. As of right now our ‘homestead’ is an urban one. We live in a small town of 40,000 people in rural Kansas. However we are near downtown in a historic area of our city. We have […]

Cloth diapering on a Dime

As any parent knows babies can be expensive! Diapers, clothing, formula etc. The list can go on and on. If you are a parent in a larger family no doubt you look for ways to spend less to get the same results. That is where cloth diapers came in for us!   When I was […]

Making Echinacea Tintures

Herbal Tinctures Tinctures are herbal extracts in a liquid. Most commonly in alcohol, but also can be in vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar. So when you are growing your own herb garden one very effective way to be able to use the herbs is to put them into tinctures. A Very simple and cheap […]

Thyme a favorite miracle plant

Rarely in life do we run across things that are true benefits in many areas of life. Thyme is one of my favorite examples, of things that are just that. Thyme is so amazing, in so many areas. Thyme in the garden is a miracle plant. Thyme in our bodies is a miracle cure, a […]

Feelings from a modern day mom

As a new mom of one child I remember thinking one day I wanted more, but that was not an immediate plan. Then when my son was two I married the man of my dreams and we were a little family and soon expecting a child. That is when I started hearing comments about what […]

June garden update!

        What does a garden grow? Herbs, veggies, fruits and food galore! This is my favorite little garden area this year it is doing just amazing! Valerian, Echinacea, garlic, onions, cilantro, dill and chamomile all live and are starting to thrive in this garden                 […]

Family Addition Coming Soon!

We have not made an official post yet, we have mentioned in a few post but we are expecting #4 coming in early fall. We waited a while to say much to anyone mostly for the fact the was a miscarriage just before this. That makes you a little gun-shy to say much. So with […]

Shea Moisture- Hair Color System Review

  We have been on a mission for several years to be more natural in the products we use and in our health. I recently came to the conclusion that had to include not just the personal care products for the family but for my beauty products as well. I have been searching and searching […]

Herbal Garden Love 2015

 Herb Garden Anticipation 2015 growing season comes with so much excitement and anticipation here at the upcycled family. This post is mostly because I am so excited about herbs and growing them I couldn’t wait any longer to show you the herb garden for the year. This represents our second year growing our own herbs but […]

Frankincense Essential Oil

When I first started this post I was thinking about doing my top favorite essential oils for around the home. However many essential oils are so amazing and deserve an in dept look at each. Frankincense essential oil is amazing.  Let me share the many, many reasons why you need this amazing oil in your life! […]

Urban Family Garden Starting

So as April comes to a close with in a few days we would like to share our garden this year this far. Herbs Planted Echinacea Valerian Borage Spearmint Lemon Bee Balm Stevia Dill Thyme Oregano Cilantro Basil Yarrow Sage Lavender Lemon Balm That sounds like a lot or that we must have huge herb […]

Spring= Money Saving Time

Spring has arrived and none to soon for us. We love spring. When the heater goes off, the windows open, and spring begins to permeate our lives. I love spring for many reasons. There are tons of ways to save money, and to make extra money. Here are a few money saving opportunities that come with […]

5 lessons learned from Home-Schooling

After 3 years of homeschooling, I am finally starting to feel comfortable enough to write this. It was 3  years ago when I was first considering homeschooling. I was scared to death to homeschool my kids! What if I screw them up and they don’t learn anything? What if they hate school and learning because […]

To Heal a Thyroid Part 3

Pregnancy and hypothyroidism. That is a short and tragic story in many cases. Far too often when the thyroid is operating at less than optimum level, the body can not support the pregnancy for long. Then a once joyous event turns tragic and heartbreaking. Far too many women have had to learn that pregnancy and […]

When spring comes to the Urban Homestead

Black Maca for Men

Black Maca for men Plagued by Nutrient Deficiencies Our society is a fast paced, high stress life. Our food is grown faster and less natural than what is normal or natural rather. Our lives are more stress filled with everything from physical stress, emotional, financial, and psychological. That takes its toll on our bodies,and the […]

The best things in Life are FREE

We live in a society that tells us nothing in life is free. And while most of the time that may seem true, we believe the best things in life are usually free. God our creator made innumerable amounts of creations to bless us. The Human body for example is absolutely amazing! It heals itself, […]

The Case For The Backyard Chicken

I wanted to bring the subject of chickens and eggs to the table today. 100 years ago chickens were grown by almost every household, city and country alike. The urban homesteading movement is on the rise along with backyard chickens. So many families are realizing backyard chickens are easy to keep and provide much healthier eggs. […]

Ways that ‘help’ live on one income

Living on one income As self proclaimed homesteaders, while trying to grow our little tribe and homeschool, grow much of our own food as well as tend to our flocks and so much more, we stay busy. Far to busy to be able to pull off our dreams and goals as well as work 2 […]

Sewing your own diapers??

Many handy mamma’s out there already use cloth diapers. Some new moms or moms to be want to use cloth, but they get expensive. Whats a mom to do. Disposables can be hard on the environment, baby’s skin and not to mention  you can not re-use. Have we ever considered sewing a diaper? I had […]

Treasured Junk

So we are all about saving money, using what you already have, upcycling, making something new beautiful and unique out of junk. After all this is where ‘The Upcycled Family’ came from (wink wink). Life is better with uniqueness. We are constantly in the middle of remodel somewhere in our 105 year old, crazy house. […]

Being a “man” in 2015 pt. 1

Hello gentleman and the ladies who may have been drawn to this post by curiosity. This post is certainly not meant to imply that I am “the man” but this simply is my opinion on what I’ve learned in nearly 34 years of life as a man. My intention is to give some insight to […]

The Nourished Man’s Beard Oil

Beard Oil Beard being at an all time high in popularity, makes no shortages in finding beard oil. I personally love beards. Men should have them. Women should love them (on men). A healthy beard may need help. A beard oil recipe for healthy nourished facial hair, and skinunderneath. The Recipe 1 oz. Argan oil […]

To Heal A Thyroid Part 2

What girl doesn’t enjoy having long thick hair? I mean our hair is our crowning glory, right? So what if that nasty little thing called hypothyroidism is stealing your beautiful hair? It’s depressing, right? Oh trust me do I know… Having excessive hair loss is one of many thyroid symptoms, but that doesn’t mean we […]

Top 10 supplements

Our top 10 can’t go without, supplements/foods 1.  Maca– We use red and black maca varieties. Black maca is my husbands, and is best for muscle-building, endurance, male fertility, and mental focus. Red maca I use, and is best for hormone balancing, female fertility, bone and prostate health. Maca is helpful in so many areas that is why […]

leave the winter blues, step into a greenhouse

I am not a winter person, I despise the cold. My mood, my body, every-part of me struggles during the winter. Today it’s 25° outside, but its 65° inside the greenhouse. I go there several times a day to feel a bit of spring. I  got to thinking as I was standing in the greenhouse […]