Root cellars have been used for centuries, before electricity and refrigeration was the norm they were used to keep the harvest good during the winter. While it’s not such a common sight today many rural homes have a root cellar. In a grid down scenario not having refrigeration can literally mean life or death. With a good root cellar or even a simple pot in pot cooler you can prolong the life of your foods and have a greater chance at survival.
How it works:
A root cellar is a great place to store food because of the low temperature and low humidity. This keeps food from freezing in the winter and overheating in the summer. The soil on top of the root cellar the earth acts as the temperature control.
Originally root cellars held mostly vegetables but they can also accommodate certain fruits and beverages. It was not uncommon in past times to have a root cellar full of alcoholic beverages. Some other foods can be kept in a root cellar primarily jams, salted meat, bread, butter, cheese and even milk and cream. Some food like salads, meat and pies can be kept in the root cellar but this will only prolong their life for a short time. Many other foods will sour and rot even if kept in the root cellar.
Some Examples:
Wanna build your own root cellar? Here’s how
Building a Root Cellar – Picture Sequence
Do-It-Yourself: Root Cellar Building Guide
Simpler Root Cellars
Simple Basement Storage Shelter
Small, Cost-effective Root Cellar Design
Winter Food Storage: Root Cellar Design
Pot in Pot Coolers
How to Make a Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator
More Info
Home Grown Fruit and Vegetable Storage
Preparing Food for Home Storage
Great Books
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Great post, better site! I came here looking to learn how to turn a downstairs pantry into a root cellar and though I found this info on another site, I’ve been back to this site twice today researching survival topics. That’s why I say, good post, but it’s a great site!
Thanks Jeremy! Feel free to give us any suggestions on how to improve but I’m glad you like it.
Great post, better site! I came here looking to learn how to turn a downstairs pantry into a root cellar and though I found this info on another site, I’ve been back to this site twice today researching survival topics. That’s why I say, good post, but it’s a great site!
Greetings and thanks for the site.
We just bought a great piece of land – 2 acres with an active brook at the back. It also has an in ground swimming pool – with ripped liner. Gives us the choice to fill it in or…… turn it into a root cellar. I also want to put a hoop house above it for seedlings.
Would love advice on what to do for the roof – I'll need to be able to walk on it. Any ideas?
Congratulations on your new property! I think converting your in ground pool to a root cellar is an awesome idea! Maybe you could even use part of it for an emergency shelter. Here is a link with some good information on the different types of roofing material with a walkable surface:http://reliableamerican.us/services/low-slope-roo…
thank you for this interesting information I will post a link on my blog so my readers can benefit from it also.
I LOVE the schoolbus idea for a root cellar. Having had several kinds of root cellars, that would be really cool. I bet one could take a semi trailer and do the same thing… hmmm… you got me thinking now!
Wow what a man made tunnels and caves.I just want to see more and more.
That's really a cool idea, nice post bro.
Learn to build a basement will help your family preserve and store food for the winter season. Not long ago, almost all families in the colder climates of the world had one of these guardians of the crop for storing food – a basement. Located on the ground – and away from the heat of the kitchen – a cellar maintains a temperature just above freezing and storage of food always practical for root crops, apples, meat and cabbage through a long winter .
Thanks Josh! We really appreciate the feedback. We work hard at the site but absolutely love every minute of it! We always welcome your comments/suggestions any time.
Thanks Z. .. which are a kind of fun to build .. n some things work well others do not work as well .. but everything is an experience and worth .. this weekend we're buildin a goat covered with earth bags
I like the school bus the best! Great idea on using what is available. Looks like it might have tough to park it though. :)
hello there thanks for the great insights, i come from a tropical country [tanzania] is it possible to use root cellaring alone. secondly what would be the best way of combining a root cellar and pot in pot into one thing
I have a fairly large room built in my garage that was used for a wood shop..I have no use for this room and don't want to waste it. Is there anyway I can have it converted into a root cellar without too much work or $?
I would like to use my kids tree house as a root cellar; any thought on how much insulation would do the trick since it is obviously above ground?
This make shift pallet root cellar is obviously patterned after the elderly, rural storage method some of us still keep in mind seeing way back when. The root cellar method allows for the storage of a massive amount of food in a tiny space that is naturally regulated at a constant temperature of about 63 degrees year round. The only proviso is that the lid must be kept on at all times. Back in the elderly days it was a door
Good work! I always like to leave comments whenever I see something unusual or impressive. I think we must appreciate those who do something especial. Keep it up, thanks