Root Cellars--Storing food for the winter

[OHeather]

I have been fascinated by root cellars the last few years. The idea of having one is an interest of mine, but it seems like it would be so much work. My grandmother had one in her house, but it was never used like it was meant to be...as it had been usedwhen she was a little girl.

I love having a vegetable garden. Right now, it is only big enough for my family to grow and use what we can when the produce ripens. I haven't been able to store much for the long term. I suppose I could buy local produce to store for the winter. That would be better than going to the grocery store each week and paying much higher prices.

I found an article about starting a root cellar, even in a modern house, and thought that it was a good start to peak someone's interest in creating one in their home. Root Cellars: Safe and Secure from the Corporate Food Train (http://www.mofga.org/Publications/MaineOrganicFarmerGardener/Fall2008/RootCellars/tabid/984/Default.aspx).

[kristen.c]

How neat! I would love to do this when I have a house. DH just loves hearing about how we're going to build a house that has natural paint, recycled glass countertops, insulation made from jeans, bamboo flooring, and a yard filled with fruit and vegetables. Now I can add in that I want a root cellar too!

I don't know if a rain water cistern is pushing it too far... but maybe it can be near my root cellar?

[ocean_brez]

I saw a show on green restaurants recently (wish I remembered what is was). One of the green restaurants had a rain water cistern system that ran to the sink in the bathroom and then from there the water was recycled via piping to the toilet tank to be reused. It was sooo cool! :smile5:

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I have lived in a house with a root cellar...however the owner of the house put in apartments in the backyard so there was not much space to garden.

[jonjaktez]

I have a root cellar and have no clue how to use it properly.

It's under the house with an outside entrance. It has dirty floors and walls (except for the foundation of the house is brick). The dirt walls go up half way and have a shelf. There is also dirty steps that lead to the rest of the area under the house but with plenty of room for extra storage. But like I said, I have no idea how to properly use it.

[Foggy]

I grew up with a root cellar. The house I grew up in was once my grandparents' house. My dad helped build it. The root cellar wasn't under the house but rather it was a dug out structure into the hill side that was behind the house. It was blocked up inside. It was so nice and cool in there in the summer. We even had a smokehouse. Dad used it more as a toolshed and storage "barn" for the lawnmower, our fishing poles, garden tools, etc. though by the time I came along. I'm 40 but the things I grew up with (outhouse, root cellar, hand water pump even though we had running water in the house), how I grew up, etc. makes people think I was either Amish or if they don't know me ... that I'm in my 70's. lol We weren't Amish but we did live a similar lifestyle with gardening, canning, having animals, etc. except we had electricity and cars as well as dressed differently. I can remember helping Momma churn butter.

[Foggy]

I have a root cellar and have no clue how to use it properly.

It's under the house with an outside entrance. It has dirty floors and walls (except for the foundation of the house is brick). The dirt walls go up half way and have a shelf. There is also dirty steps that lead to the rest of the area under the house but with plenty of room for extra storage. But like I said, I have no idea how to properly use it.

If you would like to learn how to use your root cellar, check out the book "Root Cellaring" by Mike and Nancy Bubel. The book gives you instructions on how to keep your fruits in vegetables in a root cellar (how long, what type, etc.) and even tells people how to build a makeshift root cellar if they don't have an existing one.

[jonjaktez]

If you would like to learn how to use your root cellar, check out the book "Root Cellaring" by Mike and Nancy Bubel. The book gives you instructions on how to keep your fruits in vegetables in a root cellar (how long, what type, etc.) and even tells people how to build a makeshift root cellar if they don't have an existing one.


Thanks, I'll check that book out.

Does anyone know if you can store "store-bought" vegys in a root cellar?

[Foggy]

I don't see why you couldn't.

[HenryFord]

Hi Every One,
How are you I am Henry from California wants to say something
Root Cellaring is a wonderful procedure to keep your fruits and vegetables all
fresh for a long time in the winter.It saves money that you have to travel to grocery store buying vegetable and fruits spending a lot of money on them.
It is a great thing to grow fresh vegetables and fruits at home.You will get much delicious and yummy veggies at your home by just making a little much effort.

Thanks For Sharing....