Above Ground Root Cellar Ideas Needed

PATRICE IN IL · #1 07/27/08, 11:27 PM

I was hoping someone can give me some ideas of how to make an above ground root cellar. I live in Northern Illinois and it gets pretty cold here in the winter. I don't have a basement or the ability to dig one. I have an 8x10 vinyl shed and a pretty good sized detached garage. The garage is not in real good shape, roof leaks and is not critter proof. The shed is critter proof and is used to store canning supplies, holiday items, summer items and chicken feed. I have had items freeze in there in the winter as it backs up to an open field and the wind blows through there quite strongly. I'm looking to store root vegetables, squashes and some fruit for us and extras to feed my three hens throughout the winter. Thanks in advance.

Patrice In IL

sammyd · #2 07/28/08, 12:26 AM

Go to Amazon.com and order Mike Bubels book called Root Cellaring. It's pretty cheap and packed with the info you need.
Or check out the local library and see if they have a copy.

Beeman · #3 07/28/08, 08:18 AM

I've got an old chest freezer that we store potatoes in. Mine sits above ground and I added vents, where you are packing bales of hay around it would probably work. I have had a shed with a hole dug in the floor. Then the hole was covered with boards.

#4 07/28/08, 09:28 AM

When I lived in Alabama, I visited a homestead which had been built in the mid-1800's..adjacent to the home was an above-ground root cellar..I was fascinated! It was about 6 feet long, 3 feet deep and 3 feet wide..built of bricks with a wooden roof that was hinged..When I asked about it, I was told that in those days, the folks put their veggies in there and covered them with straw..it sounded good to me!

just_sawing · #5 07/29/08, 12:39 PM

A lot depends on what you have to work with. If you are capable you could do a double wall poured cement. This sounds worse than it is. You simply pour a footer fof the wals that are 18" thick. Then you form up the inside and out with the center filled with what ever insulation you choose. (Sawdust is fine) Place rods ever so often from the out side to inside for stability. You can use natural stone brick or just concrete. It sound hard but you can build it as you feel froggie and when you are done it will last probably longer than you. That is getting more important to me as I get older.

TundraGypsy · #6 07/29/08, 11:19 PM

I was just reading about 'Earthships' built in New Mexico. Folks were building their homes with used tires. The tires were the walls with dirt packed into them. Then they coated the walls with concrete.

I've been thinking about a root cellar for some time; looking for stuff I can scrounge. When I was at the dump recently, I saw a HUGE pile of tires; I bet I could have all the tires I needed. This might be another idea for making walls in a U-shape, and making some kind of roof. You'd need to be sure the tires were well anchored and not able to move around. Something to think about.