butcherblock countertops Archives

Wooden kitchen item sit on a white towel, atop a butcherblock countertop

Homemade Wood Butter Recipe

Have you noticed that butcherblock countertops are all the hype right now? Wooden spoons and wooden cooking utensils are making a solid comeback, too. Wooden…

Posted in Caring For the Homestead, Cooking From Scratch

In our town, once a year, a man comes from Florida and sells boxes of oranges and grapefruit from his truck. He drives to local businesses and neighborhoods, selling his boxes of fresh picked fruit. It is an honest, old fashioned way to make a living, if you ask me. The nostalgia of this practice…

Posted in Cooking From Scratch

How to Make Apple Scrap Vinegar

Learn how to make apple scrap vinegar using scraps from your apples. Today we are going to talk about the difference between apple cider vinegar and apple scrap vinegar. After that, I’m going to share my easy recipe for apple scrap vinegar. You will be shocked at how effortless the process is. It will have…

Posted in Growing Food

Container Gardening for Small Spaces

“I want to start a garden, but don’t have the space!”, or, “Gardening is too expensive, especially in containers.” Does this sound like you? Do you feel helpless to your garden dreams because you live in a rental, or an apartment? Or maybe you don’t have the equipment or time to dig up a plot…

Posted in Caring For the Homestead, Growing Food

Simple DIY Herb Drying Rack (for fresh herbs and flowers)

If you’re looking for a simple DIY herb drying rack for fresh herbs and flowers, you are in the right place! Not only is this DIY herb and flower drying rack decorative, but it’s also a functional way to dry herbs this growing season. This project uses inexpensive materials and takes 30 minutes to put…

Posted in Cooking From Scratch

Einkorn Flour Carrot Cake Recipe

We recently had a birthday in our house. A birthday that required an especially lovely cake made with einkorn flour. But not just any einkorn cake was requested. In particular, the birthday girl requested an einkorn carrot cake. Undoubtedly, I was particularly excited to create this moist and flavor packed einkorn flour carrot cake recipe…

Posted in Cooking From Scratch

Crystallized Honey: Uses and How to Liquify

If you are a beekeeper or a honey consumer, chances are, you have encountered granulated or “crystallized” honey. Today, I am going to talk about why honey crystallizes and how to liquify it. I am also going to discuss the differences between raw honey and filtered honey. Finally, I am going to share some great…

Posted in Farming the Homestead

Top 5 Broiler Chicken Breeds For Meat Production

Some might consider the best meat chicken breeds to be a 45 day chicken. Or, one that is fully mature and ready for butchering 45 days after hatching. But others can reasonably argue that the best meat birds come from chickens who are raised slower and are dual purpose. Meaning not only are they wonderful…

Posted in Cooking From Scratch

Canning Fruit and Jam With Honey

Are you looking for ways to reduce the amount of refined sugar your family consumes? Maybe you keep your own beehives, like me, and are looking for ways to use the gallons of honey you extract each fall by using honey as a sweetener. Today I am going to talk about the benefits of canning…

Posted in Farming the Homestead

5 Uses for Raw Wool Fleece On Your Homestead

Raw wool fleece is a topic that isn’t often covered. Consequently, most articles refer to sheep wool uses only after it has been cleaned. Today I am going to talk about raw wool and give you 5 Uses for Raw Wool Fleece On Your Homestead. What Is Raw Wool? So what exactly is raw wool?…

Posted in Caring For the Homestead

DIY Plate Wall With Fabric Decoupage Plates

I have always wanted a plate display wall in my home. The problem is, I can’t ever find decorative plates pretty enough to display. Or the plates are too expensive for my liking. So what’s a person to do? Make a DIY Plate Wall With Fabric Decoupage Plates, of course! I am so excited to…

Meet Tonya From Old Clay Farm!

Welcome to Old Clay Farm, the place where I inspire you to cook from scratch recipes, grow organic food, care for your homestead in a natural way and simplify farming.

I deeply believe that homesteading is not defined by where a person lives, but by the lifestyle choices they make. Modern homesteading means taking charge of your circumstances by creating a better life right where you are.

I am passionate about cooking from scratch recipes, using simple, healthy ingredients. Whether you buy your produce from the store, or grow your own, I'll show you how to cook with it, preserve it and store it. And if you're looking for guidance with cooking and using cuts of meat or butchering practices, I've got you covered.

I share tips, failures and successes on my journey of growing my own food in Northern Michigan. I hope to inspire you to grow something edible- no matter where you live.

Caring for my homestead (and the people on it) in a natural way is very important to me. I share DIY home cleaning recipes, things like how to make lard candles and home décor projects, all in an effort to cultivate a healthy and welcoming home.