Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar

The Upcycled Family

Traditional Skills for a Modern World

Home
Homesteading
Family
Health
The Home
Homeschooling
Shop

Cart

Your cart is currently empty.

Primary Sidebar

I’m Beth, lucky wife, mother to 5 little ones, Army Veteran, garden lover, homesteader and part-time chicken wrangler. Striving to live in a healthy and sustainable way on this journey through motherhood ♡♡♡ Read More…

Products

The Relaxed Homeschool Planner ~~$15.00~~ $12.00
The Simple Garden Planner ~~$12.00~~ $9.00
Homeschool Learning Calendar $7.99

The Upcycled Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Latest Posts

Best vegetables that come back every year

13 New Year’s resolutions to get healthier

DIY Winter Aquaponics

13 of the Best Non-Alcoholic Holiday Drinks

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Health Nuts

Nature Art | DIY Dreamcatcher

Turn your shower into a spa | shower diffuser review

Planting by the moon phases: what is that?

Elephant Learning Math Review

What are Herbal Infused Oils

Find us on the ‘Gram

Just a loving brotherly sourdough making competiti

Just a loving brotherly sourdough making competition here!⠀
🧑‍🍳⠀
Funny kids make just about everything a competition. ⠀
•⠀
•⠀
•⠀
• ⠀
#kidsinthekitchen #homemadecooking #homemadeisbest #letfoodbethymedicine #realfoodfamily #realfooding #realfoodforkids #realfooders #realfoodmovement #sourdoughbread #sourdoughstarter #sourdoughlove #wildyeast #realbread #artisanbread #naturallyleavened #fermented #fermentedfoods #healthytribe #momliferocks #momlifeisthebest #momlife❤️ #myboys #familylife #siblings #theupcycledfamily #brothersforlife #familyovereverything💯 #mytribe❤

Maybe I am crazy, but I have never been much of a

Maybe I am crazy, but I have never been much of a fan of this time of the year. Perhaps it's the short days, the cold nights, the feeling of being more detached from nature.⠀
🤷🏼‍♀️⠀
But for today being the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year I can't complain when we get temperatures this nice.⠀
😎⠀
I am excited at the thought that that the sun is soon going to reverse its path and slowly begin to make its way back to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.⠀
🙌🏼⠀
Happy winter solstice y'all!⠀
#happywintersolstice⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
⠀
#homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadliving #homesteadfarm #homesteadkids #homesteadmom #homesteadingskills #homesteadgoals #simplelife #simplelifehappylife #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablefood #theupcycledfamily #wintersolstice2019

They say more is caught than is taught. It is also

They say more is caught than is taught. It is also true that more is learned by doing than by reading about doing. I find that there are endless amount of ways to practice life skills which are just as much needed in a solid education as the traditional book work skills.⠀
📚 ⠀
Every week I give them the task of not only making a recipe from scratch but tripling that recipe as well. So why not start the school day with breakfast? Why not let them try to alter the recipe? Math skills, creativity, reading comprehension and all before breakfast ⠀
🙌🥞 ⠀
Today they experiment (with chocolate), they craft, they create, they hone some life skills the we dine!⠀
😋 ⠀
What life skills are your favorite to teach and let your kids run with?⠀
•⠀
•⠀
•⠀
•⠀
• ⠀
⠀
#healthytribe #momliferocks #momlifeisthebest #momlife❤️ #homeschoolers #homeschoolfamily #homeschooler #homeschooled #homeschoolrocks #homeschoolingmom #homeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschoollife #homeschoolersofinstagram #homeschoolfreedom #homeschoolmomlife #homeschoolfamilylife #homeschoolforthewin #homeschoolfun #simplelifehappylife #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablefood #simplemoments #ofsimplethings #theupcycledfamily

Every December we sit down as a family and we talk

Every December we sit down as a family and we talk goals, We make a vision board and we decide where we want to take the homestead in the next year. then we start planning!⠀
🙌🏼👩🏼‍🌾👨🏼‍🌾⠀
We of course, always, have more goals than we can accomplish around the homestead in 1 year. For 2020 we have decided we are not expanding things to much but spending more time perfecting things. ⠀
✔︎ Perfecting the garden⠀
✔︎ Adding better fencing⠀
✔︎ Adding several trees (fruit, shade and nut)⠀
✔︎ Fine tuning the forest garden⠀
✔︎ Create a chicken tractor from upcycled materials⠀
✔︎ Make a total milking station⠀
✔︎ Expand the aquaponics system⠀
✔︎ Add a wood burning stove to the house⠀
✔︎ Renovate our farmhouse bathroom. ⠀
Goals, no matter how big or small, rarely happen with out a good plan in place!⠀
✨⠀
So let's hear it what are some of your 2020 goals?!! ⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
#homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadliving #homesteadfarm #homesteadingskills #homesteadgoals #simplelife #simplelifehappylife #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablefood #theupcycledfamily #garden #gardenlife #gardens #gardengoals #gardening #2020goals #2020goalsetting #familygoals❤️

I spotted this rough bunch dragging logs out of th

I spotted this rough bunch dragging logs out of the trees, so I asked them what are they up to? ⠀
To which I got 🦗.....⠀
So I have a feeling they are creating something most likely for me. Heaven knows would it could be a raw wood piece of furniture or a future garden decoration.
🙌
I absolutely love hand crafted homemade goodies! We are always teaching these kids everything you need is already right around you, nature provides.⠀
💝 ⠀
Yay or Nay who else adores hand crafted nature made gifts? ⠀
•⠀
•⠀
•⠀
•⠀
•⠀
⠀
#homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadliving #homesteadfarm #homesteadkids #homesteaddad #homesteadingskills #homesteadgoals #simplelife #simplelifehappylife #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #theupcycledfamily #freerangekids #freerangekid #wildandfreechildhood #wildandfreekids #letthembewild #letthembe #bestillmyheart

Have you ever seen the newer Ghost Busters movie?

Have you ever seen the newer Ghost Busters movie? Well there is a character on that movie ‘Kevin’. Kevin is a pretty face but not a lot of practical value. Kevin isn’t very smart. Kevin is Kevin. ⠀
🤷🏼‍♀️⠀
This is our version of Kevin.⠀
🐓⠀
A big beautiful Partridge Brahma. I mean he is impressive, beautiful colors, full gorgeous feathers. But for Kevin that’s where it ends. This guy is a horrible rooster! He never crows, he never watches out for the girls, as far as roostering goes he is basically a complete failure. ⠀
🐓⠀
But he sure is a beautiful creature to look at. #kevinfromghostbusters⠀
🤦🏼‍♀️⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
#freerangechickens #chickensofig #petchickens #happychickens #lovemychickens #ilovechickens #raisingchickens #chickensofinsta #crazychickenlady #justaprettyface #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #theupcycledfamily #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadliving #homesteadfarm #homesteadingit #homesteadmom #homesteadingskills #homesteadgoals #happyhomesteading #homesteaders #thehomestead

There is about every shade of brown going on outsi

There is about every shade of brown going on outside right now. But I am saying enough! It’s time for some green again. Plenty of plants can do surprisingly well even in cold temperatures. Add an extra layer or two of protection and you will be very surprised at exactly what you can grow in the winter.⠀
🌱⠀
Who else is up for some winter gardening?⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
#homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadliving #wintergardening #wintergarden #wintergrowing #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablefood #theupcycledfamily #garden #gardenlife #gardener #gardens #gardening #homegrown #homegrownveggies #homegrownfood #homegrowngoodness #theupcycledfamily

The husband and I have a little bit of a “garden

The husband and I have a little bit of a “garden competition” started. Logically the deadest part of the year is where we decided to get this little garden-growing rivalry started.⠀
🤷🏼‍♀️⠀
He is growing in his newly revived aquaponics, and me in my tried and true greenhouse beds.⠀
🌱⠀
Out with this little spit-fire putting down some kale seeds in the greenhouse. ⠀
Who says you can’t garden in the winter?!⠀
👩🏼‍🌾⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
#homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #greenhouses #homesteadfarm #homesteadkids #homesteadmom #greenhouselife #homesteadgoals #simplelife #simplelifehappylife #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablefood #theupcycledfamily #garden #gardenlife #gardener #gardens #gardening #homegrown #homegrownveggies #homegrownfood #homegrowngoodness

For all you pepper growers out there...⠀ 🌶⠀

For all you pepper growers out there...⠀
🌶⠀
What's your fav peppers varieties?⠀
🌱⠀
Looking for some new fun pepper varieties for the next growing season⠀
🙌🏼💃🏼⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
#gardener #homegrown #homegrownveggies #homegrownfood #homegrowngoodness #organicgardener #organicgardens #organicgarden #growyourownveggies #growyourfood #kidsinthegarden #humanswhogrowfood #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadingskills #homesteadgoals #happyhomesteading #homesteaders #theupcycledfamily #peppers #growingpeppers

Its official! Today it's been 4 years since we too

Its official! Today it's been 4 years since we took our homestead dreams and moved them from in a small city across the plains to the middle of (a very rural) central Kansas. Most people thought and still think we are crazy. ⠀
👩🏼‍🌾⠀
We were dead set on learning and discovering skills lost by our grandparents or even great-grandparents generations.⠀
✨⠀
Since then we expanded from a small flock of chickens and a small greenhouse garden, to so much more. Goats, gardens, fencing, the art of fermentation, food preservation, sourdough. The things we have learned in just 4 short years have been endless; but so are the dreams for where we still want to go.⠀
✨⠀
To many more #homesteaddreams 🙌🏼⠀ #homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadliving #homesteadkids #homesteadmom #homesteadingskills #homesteadgoals #simplelife #simplelifehappylife #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablefood #theupcycledfamily #garden #gardenlife #gardener #gardens #gardening #homegrown #homegrownveggies #homegrownfood #homegrowngoodness

suns out funs out! ⠀ ☀️⠀ I like to wait un

suns out funs out! ⠀
☀️⠀
I like to wait until several freezes to do garden clean up. All lined up up with tools in hand family garden time!⠀
🌱🙌🏼⠀
When do you do garden clean up?⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
#homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #instagramhomesteaders #homesteadersofamerica #homesteadliving #homesteadfarm #homesteadkids #homesteadmom #homesteadingskills #homesteadgoals #simplelife #simplelifehappylife #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablefood #theupcycledfamily #garden #gardenlife #gardener #gardens #gardening #homegrown #homegrownveggies #homegrownfood #homegrowngoodness

We all make decisions in our lives some we are gla

We all make decisions in our lives some we are glad we did other we regret. I hope they always know that all of mine were for them. ⠀
Yes I actually like homeschooling, but the decision to homeschool was it was what's best for them. ⠀
I love to garden but my motivating factor was I want to KNOW what I am putting in their little bodies.⠀
Homesteading, raising animals, making REAL food all of it. ⠀
❤️⠀
#raisingthefuture⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
⠀
#healthytribe #momliferocks #momlifeisthebest #momlife❤️ #homeschoolers #homeschoolfamily #homeschooler #homeschooled #homeschoolrocks #homeschoolingmom #homeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschoollife #homeschoolersofinstagram #homeschoolfreedom #homeschoolmomlife #homeschoolfamilylife #homeschoolforthewin #homeschoolfun #mom #moment #momlife #moments #instamom #momsofinstagram #motherhoodrising #motherhoodintheraw #theupcycledfamily #motherhood

Load More... Follow on Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

Copyright © 2020 · Little Blue Deer by Shari Miller · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

LOA Planner