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
Build a Basement Root Cellar
Do-It-Yourself: Root Cellar Building Guide
Building a Storm Shelter
Root Cellar Plans
Simpler Root Cellars
Cold Storage Pit
Above Ground Root Cellar
Simple Basement Storage Shelter
Small, Cost-effective Root Cellar Design
Food Storage Designs
Winter Food Storage: Root Cellar Design
Pot in Pot Coolers
Pot-in-Pot Cooler Design
DIY – Pot in Pot Cooler Plans
More Info
Root Cellar Storage Guide
Preparing Food for Home Storage
Design an Arctic Root Cellar