butchering Archives

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…

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…

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 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 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 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 Cooking From Scratch

Easy Chicken Grape Salad Side Dish

As Spring approaches, I find myself reaching for meals and side dishes that aren’t so heavy on the gut. Food that is quick, nourishing and light. Chicken Grape Salad is a crunchy, sweet, cold salad. Because this dish is packed with protein, it can be eaten as the main course for lunch, or as a…

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 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

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 cutting boards are used as kitchen décor, undoubtedly because of their natural beauty. It takes a lot of restraint to not buy every wooden cutting board and wooden spoon I…

Posted in Cooking From Scratch

Healthy Pop Tarts with Einkorn Pie Crust Recipe

Do your kids like to eat Pop Tarts for breakfast? With the amount of sugar per serving, I’m shocked to know that they are considered a breakfast food! That’s why I’m so excited to share my version of Healthy Pop Tarts With Einkorn Pie Crust Recipe that is filled with Honey Sweetened Jam. Not only…

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.