Root Cellars and Food Storage

Comment

Comment by Sheryl Stewart on November 14, 2009 at 9:58pm

Hi Everyone. My name is Sheryl and I just moved into a home that has a huge pantry and root cellar. I haven't seen one since I was on the farm as a young girl and now wish I had been paying attention when my Mum and Dad settled the garden harvest in for the winter. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to start out. I feel overwhelmed!!

Comment by Michelle W. Flannery on May 27, 2009 at 12:55pm

Linda, I just posted a "Root Cellar Basics" discussion this morning with plenty of easy information about the use of a root cellar. You might find it helpful to get you started this season. Also, I posted a discussion on storage conditions (temperature and humidity requirement) that is also good to know. You're very lucky to have a root cellar already available to you.

Comment by Linda on May 27, 2009 at 11:29am

Thought I would join as I live in a 1952 house with a root cellar (18 feet by 3.5 feet) built (intentionally) into the foundation. It's in the corner of the Northwest foundation by the driveway and right now there is a crack in the drive that is allowing water down next to the foundation. Not a great situation for the foundation but probably OK for some veggie storage. It gets pretty damp in that corner. I have tried to dig down in the root cellar floor, thinking to remove some soil and replace with gravel but I hit concrete. I think it's a poured concrete floor covered with dirt but have not verified completely. It's pretty creepy in there! There is old wooden shelving that I have partially removed. Spiders etc. as there is a PVC vent through the top of the wall that is just above ground. Need to check the mesh covering.

Anyway, the architect homeowner who built the house had a good plan. I see it as an asset but I have not learned the ins and outs of storage there. Have expanded the garden and may someday get food to store. I'll hang out with you folks from time to time and learn.

Comment by Michelle W. Flannery on May 25, 2009 at 9:36pm

Jessica, you didn't say, but it sounds like you are living in an old house. Coal chutes were used to drop coal into a bin in the cellar for storage and use in a furnace or fireplaces. Many old houses only had access to the cellar from outside. Yours might have originated as a root cellar if it has a dirt floor and dirt walls. Even if it has a floor and some kind of finished walls, it will make a great root cellar. Root cellar is a specific name for a general idea -- cool storage. And from your description, you have that. Depending on how large it is, you can set aside a section of the cellar for cool storage. An ideal temperature is 40-50* f. Put up shelves, and leave plenty of floor space. You can store a large variety of fruits and vegetables in a root cellar. I can help you with methods of storage when you're ready.

Comment by Jessica Soulliere on May 25, 2009 at 8:50pm

Under my front porch, which ends about 8 feet from the front of the house and spans from one side to the other, is the coal chute on one side and a cellar on the other. I assume it's a cellar. It's really cold in the winter but not as cold as outside. Is this a root cellar do you think? The house was built in 1928.

Comment by Jessica Soulliere on May 15, 2009 at 6:31am

Now this is somethign I really want to do right

Comment by Corinthia Jenkins on May 6, 2009 at 7:30pm

Thanks for the invite

Comment by Michelle W. Flannery on May 6, 2009 at 6:28pm

Hi Ed. I'd really like this group to to look at a number of different ways of food preservation. So I think Smoke houses would make a good discussion too. Great idea!

Comment by TAR HEEL on May 6, 2009 at 5:59pm

Michelle, good idea for a group. You can ''hang hams'' too.,...