Root Cellars

[Gregg Alexander]

Does anyone have one? I was thinking about building one for next yr , looking for ideas and or pictures or planns from those that have or have used one.

[Wisconsin Ann]

We don't currently have one, but my grandparents had 2 (one for onion type things, and another for taters, squash, etc.) Theirs were dug into the side of a hill. just dirt floor, with wooden walls. the foorstuffs they kept in tin/steel tubs, and in wooden barrels. (ventilation in the lids). the taters lasted well into the winter, as did the onions. squash didn't last as long, so they ate those first. (lots of pumpkin/squash pies in the fall )

I had a "root barrel" type cellar a couple decades ago. Lived in town, didn't need much room for roots, so I dug a hole into the hill in the backyard, put in a plastic 55gal drum so the end was toward the front, and cut a hole in the lid so I could reach in without removing anything but a small door. Insulation panel (the pink foam stuff) sealed up the front. Worked pretty well until sub zero temps. then stuff froze.

If I did the barrel thing again, I'd bury it way deeper, or maybe down verticle to a depth of 4ft at teh top of the barrel...below frost line. temps 55 there year round. (oh, I'd have a pulley system (like old fashioned water well) with a basket carrying the roots.)

check out Walton feed site:http://waltonfeed.com/old/cellars.html

[Seeria]

Definitely check out the Root Cellaring book by Mike and Nancy Bubel. Has plans for a variety of cold storage and root cellars.

[ceresone]

I knoe exactly what I want--next year. have a hillside perfect, about 50' from my raised bed gardens. I want poured concrete, 10x20, 2 rooms, door between, with floor drains, and ventilation pipes, both screened. Screen door, as well as heavy door to outside.

[oberhaslikid]

When I bought my place The root cellar was one of the selling points for me.Its 4 steps from my back porch,Its like having an extra room from my kitchen.It had 2 4 foot sections of shelves for canned food. We have put more shelving in for storing the canning and bottling equipment.I thought I would buy the styrofoam insulation and do the cieling to hold in the warmth in the winter and the cold in the summer. Big mistake! I ended taking it back out to let it breathe.I also have a building 12x18 on top I Love it.My husband goes there to get out of the house in the winter,I use it in the spring and summer to raise chicks too big for the basement.In large wooden boxes of course.

[Farmer Dave]

I've been wanting to build one for several years, both as a root cellar and as a storm cellar. My farm has only a mobile home which I don't want to be in during a tornado. The only thing holding me up is the cost of having someone with a backhoe dig it out for me.

[greg273]

Originally Posted by Farmer Dave

I've been wanting to build one for several years, both as a root cellar and as a storm cellar. My farm has only a mobile home which I don't want to be in during a tornado. The only thing holding me up is the cost of having someone with a backhoe dig it out for me.

Around here, backhoe work runs about $80 an hour, trackhoe work about $100. You can move a lot of dirt in a few hours with those machines. A good investment in your peace of mind, not to mention food-storage capacity. I've found that when I have 'been wanting something' for 'several years', its usually because its a useful thing, and when I get it, I ask myself, 'why didnt I get this sooner??'....

[Toads tool]

I refurbished the root cellar at my old house. It had fallen into a state of serious decay. This garnered me 5 more root cellar refurbishing jobs. All my neighbors wanted to get use out of their own once they saw mine. Luckily this work coincided with a temperary layoff; funny how things seem to fall into place when you need them too when you really try.
Unfortunately you can't move your cellar when you relocate.

[canfossi]

I am making one currently in my crawl space which is underground by about 4'. I am making it out of 2 x 6's and will insulate it and vapor barrier it. You have to have a flow of air on the top and bottom to let the warm air out and cool in, think that's how it works. I am building 2 bins for carrots (in sand), potatoes and apples. Then shelves on one side for canned things. I ahve looked there are some plans on the internet but not many that I could find. Mine is about 6 ' by 8' in size. Hope this helps. Chris

[Alex]

From another post of mine,

Three years ago we built a new one, they work great and stay at about 40 to 50 F all year, even though our outdoor temperatures can range between 90F and minus 50F (though only minus 35F for the last 12 years).


I Got Broken Slabs From Home Depot Bins, Grouted For Floor


I Insulated behind wall with 8" Insulation & then 6" T&G Knotty Pine - that I had around - left over - Then used old bi-fold Closet Doors I Tore Out Of Our Sons New Apartment


Stair From Old 2x6

Enjoy your root cellar, we love ours, works great, canning on shelf, flour in metal cans, bins for other, etc.

Gotta go, all the best,

Alex