in the kitchen Archives

Three jars of honey in a pot on the stove that are being liquified.

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…

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

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

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 Growing Food

Raised Garden Beds: Pros and Cons

Raised bed gardening. The envy of some gardeners, the misery of others. When I first started a vegetable garden, I had a traditional garden in the ground. Secretly though, I coveted raised beds for the delineation, the defined pathways. The paths that wouldn’t need weeding. The raised garden beds that would require less effort and…

Posted in Caring For the Homestead

How to Make Lard Candles

If the thought of candle making overwhelms you, I urge you to give this easy lard candle recipe a try. These homemade lard candles call for only two main ingredients, making it a beautiful and inexpensive gift and a necessary addition to any emergency kit!

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, 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 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

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 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…

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.