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The Unbound Blog
Welcome to our blog! Here, you’ll find recipes for herbal remedies, chicken keeping, gardening tips, DIYs, and all the tips, tricks, lessons, and skills you’ll need to manage a homestead and become more self-sufficient. Whether you’re new to this lifestyle or you’ve been doing it for years, we hope you find our content entertaining as well as educational.
We invite you to comment often on our posts and encourage you all to make this a safe community space where
everyone is valued, and everyone can learn.
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Gifts to Give – Herbal Steam Stones
As we move into the heart of fall and the season of giving begins, we’re kicking off our annual Gifts to Give series, a long-standing Byers Ranch tradition that celebrates simple, natural, handmade gifts. Each year, we share a new batch of easy, botanical DIYs you can craft with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry or apothecary cupboard. If you’ve been following along over the years, you can explore all our past tutorials, from Mulling Spices and Fire Starters
Nov 55 min read


Seasonal Self-Care Rituals for Fall
As summer fades and the first hints of autumn color the trees, our days naturally begin to slow. The air turns crisp, the evenings come...
Oct 83 min read


Fall Into Immune Support: Herbs, Rituals, and Remedies for Seasonal Resilience
As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, the shift into fall asks more of our bodies than we often realize. Cooler mornings,...
Sep 305 min read


Discovering the Wonders of Kokum Butter: Nature's Hidden Gem
At markets and online alike, one of the questions I hear most often is: “What is kokum butter?” It may not be as well-known as shea or...
Sep 174 min read


How to Upcycle Herbs After Making Infusions, Oils, Tinctures & More
If you’re like me, you do your best to make sure nothing goes to waste in your kitchen or apothecary. Every root, flower, and leaf is the...
Sep 34 min read


Staying Cool Naturally: Herbal Allies for the Dog Days of Summer
When the high desert sun is at its fiercest and the monsoons are late, staying cool becomes more than just a comfort; it’s a necessity....
Jul 214 min read


Frankincense for Skin: Why We Use It, How It Works, and How to Infuse It
At Byers Ranch Apothecary, we like our skincare how we like our land — wild, intentional, and rooted in tradition. And few ingredients...
May 224 min read


Spiced Dandelion Bitters
This article is an excerpt from the article “Spiced Dandelion Bitters for Spring Gut Renewal,” published in the Spring 2025 edition of...
Apr 224 min read


Unlocking the Secret to Making Golden Milk
Golden Milk reigns supreme as an anti-inflammatory, healthy, and healing drink. Its earthy, warm, and golden spice is a powerful...
Apr 84 min read


After Sun Black Tea Salve
Winter is nearly at its close, and that means the warmer days of spring and summer are on the horizon. Warmer days usually mean longer...
Mar 175 min read


The Best Botanicals For DIY Facial Steams
Facial steams are excellent for the skin and a must-try ritual for overall self-care! After a long day, simply breathing in the sweet...
Feb 186 min read


A Guide to Herbal Actions
The world of herbalism is a unique combination of art, science, history, and modern medicine that speaks of an ancient relationship...
Feb 115 min read


Oil Infusions Part 3 - The Alcohol Intermediary Method
Welcome to the third and final edition of our three-part Oil Infusions Series . Today, we are discussing the Alcohol Intermediary Method....
Feb 45 min read


Oil Infusions Part 1 - The Cold Process Method
Oil infusions are the basis of many herbal formulations. From salves to soaps and lotions to skincare, before you can begin any recipe,...
Jan 165 min read


DIY Rosehip Facial Serum
This DIY rosehip face serum recipe belongs in everyone's natural skincare regime. Made using dried rosehips, jojoba oil, and apricot...
Jan 94 min read


How to Make Black Drawing Salve
A homemade black drawing salve is a perfect addition to your home apothecary or herbal first-aid kit. Insect bites, stings, splinters,...
Jan 26 min read


DIY Decongesting Botanical Vapor Steam
Cold and flu season is officially upon us, and respiratory infections seem to be common this year. I don’t know about you, but for me,...
Dec 30, 20245 min read


Herb Spotlight - Pine
Welcome to the 10th installment of our Herbal Spotlight Series ! This month, in honor of the season, we'll discuss pine. Yes, the very...
Dec 23, 20245 min read


Gifts to Give - DIY Cuticle Oil
Welcome to another edition of our Gifts to Give Series . If you love making DIY gifts, be sure to check out the rest of the posts in this...
Nov 21, 20242 min read


DIY Herbal Vapor Rub
When a cold or flu strikes your home, relief is what you seek, and Vicks VapoRub is one of the most used products around this time of...
Oct 31, 20245 min read
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