Root cellars are back. Or, rather, resourceful food storage is back. And root cellars are efficient and effective tools ripe to be put to renewed use.
The New York Times covered the trend in “Food Storage as Grandma Knew It.” Unlike Grandma, we can turn to the web for assistance — and the resources are myriad and growing.
Simply, a root cellar is an underground structure that uses the earth itself to more effectively store fruits and vegetables. They are designed to control temperature and humidity during both the winter and summer months. Root vegetables are well-adapted to winter storage and are staples of cellaring.
Here are a few assembled resources to help you consider starting a root cellar. If you decide to tackle it, let us know!
- Organic Gardening has a starter’s guide on the basics of building a root cellar. A more detailed guide is available here.
- Seeds of Knowledge offer some advice on preparing vegetables for a root cellar.
- eHow offers a simple web guide on How to make a basement root cellar.
- How to build and stock a root cellar from LogHome.com.
- More detailed instructions and information are available at Mother Earth News — looks to be a large resource.
- GreenHomeBuildling.com has a selection of books and resources on cellaring and more.
- Related, and just generally interesting, are details on how to dry or dehydrate vegetables.
- Writing and resources on less traditional root cellars, including reusing old freezers and simple cellars from garbage cans.
Photo courtesy of lxavian.
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Nice piece! I’m pleased to have found your site, and have included a link to you from my “other sources” page. All the best to you.