butcherblock island 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, 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

What To Do With Sprouted Potatoes

If you are like most people, when your potatoes start to sprout, you toss them out. Somehow we have been taught that sprouted potatoes are no longer edible and must be disposed of. The sprouts and shoots seem to gross people out. I urge you to save your potatoes; there is nothing wrong with them!…

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

Simple Chili Dog Sauce Recipe for Batch Cooking

This Simple Chili Dog Sauce recipe is one that I keep in my freezer year round. The versatility of it allows me to not only use it on hot dogs and brats, but a multitude of other recipes. Not only does this Simple Chili Dog Sauce works as a recipe starter, but also as a…

Posted in Caring For the Homestead, Cooking From Scratch

Cleaning Vinegar

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 Meal Prep Mashed Potatoes

Fluffy, smooth, buttery mashed potatoes from scratch. Best served piping hot with gravy, or cheese and chives, or maybe even on top of a casserole. Mashed potatoes really lend themselves as a nice vehicle for numerous dishes. But do you know what they are? Time consuming to make from scratch! That’s why I am so…

Posted in Cooking From Scratch

Rendering Lard

Join me as I share my technique for how to effortlessly render lard. As a result, the mess is minimal and the results are delicious. And pretty! Afterward, I will share my number one favorite use for lard. I bet it will surprise you!

Posted in Caring For the Homestead, Growing Food

Chamomile: How to Grow and Use

Are you a tea drinker? A gardener? A make-it-yourselfer? Do you like to dabble in home apothecary? Then welcome, friend! Today I am going to teach you how to grow chamomile. Then I will talk about when to harvest it and methods for preserving chamomile. Last, I am going to share how my family uses this…

Posted in Farming the Homestead

Top 5 Best Egg Laying Chickens

Getting started with egg laying chickens can be overwhelming. As a matter of fact, a simple Google search of the best laying hens could have your head spinning. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of egg layers to choose from. From standard breed to heritage breed, to which color egg they lay- it can…

Posted in Caring For the Homestead

How To Organize Spices In A Drawer

Are you tired of pulling every spice jar out of your cabinet just to find the jar you actually need? If you’re looking for inspiration on how to organize your spices, then today’s post is just for you! Not only am I going to show you how to organize a spice cabinet, but I am…

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.