side dish Archives

A large white bowl is filled with the necessary ingredients to make a cold Chicken Grape Salad

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…

An enamel spoon sits in a stockpot full of creamy mashed potatoes ready for freezer meals.

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.…

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 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 Cooking From Scratch

Uses For Jam and Jelly

Can I confess something? I have two drawers in my kitchen filled with jam! I call it my ‘sweet drawer’. It’s a source of pride and I love showing it off. Without fail, I open the drawers and the person I am showing it to is always taken aback. They always exclaim, “What do you…

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 Cooking From Scratch

Einkorn Flour Sourdough Pumpkin Donut Recipe

I am so pumped to share my Einkorn Flour Sourdough Pumpkin Donut Recipe with you guys! This no yeast donut recipe comes together quickly, giving you perfectly moist, baked donuts. Not only am I sharing my sourdough donut recipe, but I’m also including my quick maple glaze for donuts. I mean, really, what is a…

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

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 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 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

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…

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.