root cellar

[mick silver]

in the morning a bud of mine will be at my home around 7 . with his dozer . i am hoping i can make mine as nice as tn andy .it going to be 25 by 25 . i hope we can get the forms up tomorrow then monday pour the concret . the top of the cellar will have a concrete roof on it . there a spring that runs year round that real close to were it going i may make the water run though the center on the cellar which would help keep stuff good and cool in summer

[ximmy]

take some pics... it's nice to see it in progress... :)

[skid]

It took me 3 separate pours for mine. Footings, walls, and ceiling. I can drive a tractor over mine, but it is nowhere as big as what you are planning. Unless you see the entrance you wouldn't even know it is there...

[MNeagle]

I'd be worried about excessive humidity if you have a creek running through it!

[skid]

I'd be worried about excessive humidity if you have a creek running through it!


High humidity prevents your veggies from drying out. Cold temperatures prevent ripening and rotting. My potatoes carrots and apples lasted through the winter last year and were still crisp in the early spring when everything was finally eaten. Much better than a fridge due to the inherent high humidity. You do have to check for mouldy food regularly and remove them. I had a few bruised apples and taters that went bad. However the healthy ones lasted till spring.

[Cebu_4_2]

plow it out for a cargo trailer and be done, will last at least 50 years with salty watery soil... just a suggestion. Might be a little bigger but prepping correctly will be a godsend if TSHTF Much less cost but more reliable than building a new from scratch with bricks and mortar. Plus you have access to your main house, put a vault door between you and the house with the savings.

[bellevuebully]

Good luck on the root cellar Mick.

Here's a great book.....root cellaring plus a whole lot more.

Root Cellaring isbn # 978-88266-703-4 ~20bucks

[skid]

Good luck on the root cellar Mick.

Here's a great book.....root cellaring plus a whole lot more.

Root Cellaring isbn # 978-88266-703-4 ~20bucks


BB, there's no link to your book. However, if it is the book "Root Cellaring" by Mike and Nancy Bubel (which I own), there isn't much detail on building a concrete root cellar. There are a few good tips in there on how to store things etc., but IMO the best thing in it is the pumpkin pie recipe :P.

An important consideration is having the correct size ventilation pipe for the size of your cellar. For a 25x25 you will need probably need a sixteen inch duct in and out. Even better would be several 8 inchers. Make sure the intake drops to the floor on one side, and exits out the ceiling on the opposite side to get the stagnant air out, or you'll have a mould factory in there....

Costco has some nice plastic shelving. There is no concern with rusting or rotting with plastic, and it is easy to remove and clean in the summer. I have 7 different shelves in mine and they will hold a lot of food. I will need to get out in the garden and start digging up all my potatoes and carrots sometime soon for winter storage.

Also, this thread should be put in the prep's forum so it doesn't get lost. Mick, if you have any questions, I may be able to offer some of my experience if you want.