Everything You Need To Know About Root Cellaring

Everything You Need To Know About Root Cellaring - Preservation 101

Рет қаралды 100,676

Күн бұрын

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Root cellaring is one of the easiest and most energy-efficient ways to store your fruits and vegetables by using the earth’s natural temperatures. But what do you do if you don’t have the infrastructure to support a traditional root cellar? You get creative!
In this episode of the Panty Chat, we're continuing our series on preservation methods with an introduction to root cellaring. We're covering all the basics as well as the alternatives for homesteaders who want to get started with root cellaring, but don’t have the dedicated space for it.
To listen to this episode as a podcast, or to read the transcript or show notes, head over to: homesteadingfamily.com/preser...
Time Stamps
0:00 - Chit Chat
2:59 - Do we freeze our meat and how do we back up our freezers if the power goes out?
5:23 - Main Topic: Root Cellaring
6:55 - What is root cellaring?
9:03 - Pros of root cellaring
10:42 - Cons of root cellaring
13:03 - Ideal root cellar conditions
21:13 - Other food storage option
27:20 - Top priorities to root cellaring
28:37 - Root cellar maintenance
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MORE ABOUT US!
WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo
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#rootcellar #rootcellaring #foodpreservation #preservingfood #foodstorage

Пікірлер: 185

@armyguy9735 3 жыл бұрын

Hello I am a French Canadian and when I was a boy, my Grandfather used to grow LOTS of MINT around the house and barn. He said that rodents hates the smell. In the Fall. he sickle the mint and sprinkle it in the root cellar and his unfinished basement. When I had an RV, I had a mice problem, I spray peppermint oil along the walls, shelves etc... and it did the trick. Just an ideas to learn from each other. Big fan, keep up the good work, Peace in Christ.

@fourdayhomestead2839 3 жыл бұрын

I so that several times a year around my place, and also use discounted (or free) large leaf mint tea bags in my kitchen pantry. It's done the trick for several years.

@cbass2755 2 жыл бұрын

I had a mold problem in my basement last year. It was tested and I had NO black mold. He said it was every day mold from dampness, but has a lot of it. Anyways, I had it professionally cleaned and it smelled wonderful. He said they use a mixture of tea tree oil to wash the walls. I run two dehumidifiers down their and I’ve been fine since, but I like the idea of mint sprinkled in my pantry now that I’m canning for food preservation. Thank you for that comment!

@armyguy9735 2 жыл бұрын

@@cbass2755 My Grandfather also had a mold problem in his damp basement. In his day, he bagged charcoal in onion bags and the charcoal absorbs the extra moisture in the summer. In the winter, it releases the extra moisture to the winter dry air. It's self regulating. It was before the Dehumidifier was invented. Smart people in those days. Cheers

@cbass2755 2 жыл бұрын

@@armyguy9735 Wow! I just bought 2bags of charcoal..hum….thank you too for the educating comment! ❤️ Yes, people were smarter back then because the government didn’t take care of most people. They figured out things…:)

@rhondacraven1351 3 жыл бұрын

I always keep a couple apples in with my potatoes. The gas that a rotting apple gives off keeps potatoes from sprouting. Once the apple rots I replace with a new one. Just make sure you don’t use a wax covered apple from the store. My great grandfather taught me this. I have used it for years. I have even kept potatoes in a warm room and they have stayed firm with the apple in there.

@debkincaid2891 3 жыл бұрын

What a great thing to know! I've never heard this.

@joylouise5417 3 жыл бұрын

Miss Rhonda. What a great tip. Definitely on my todo list. Thank you SO much.

@reneeschweiger9921 3 жыл бұрын

Can you put the apple in an open baggie within the potatoes to keep it from dissolving directly on the potatoes? Thanks for the idea.

@rhondacraven1351 3 жыл бұрын

@@reneeschweiger9921 Maybe but I keep an eye on the apple and when it gets really soft I change it before it turns to mush.

@rhondacraven1351 3 жыл бұрын

Also I use about two apples to 50 lbs of potatoes. So I usually add about 8 apples in with my 200 lbs of apples.

@SteveUnrein 3 жыл бұрын

Great information, A long time ago, in the 1970's I had the opportunity to design and build a 3000 sq ft root cellar in Ohio. It had 10' poured concrete walls and concrete ceiling (a work shop was built over it). The ground was covered with pea gravel. There was three rooms with insulated and vapor sealed walls. The rooms stored 1. root vegetables 2. apples, (had to be careful as the apples would gas off and rot the root vegetables) and 3. onions. Each room had it's own temperature controlled ventilation and humidity control (which was done by misting the pea gravel floor). We were feeding over 100 people daily and producing most of the organic food on 18 acres plus nearly 100 fruit trees. Your information on the different temperatures and humidity required are spot on with what we did. I know this is overkill for a family homestead, but the principles work and if done right the first time can last for generations. I love what you guys are doing and thank God for your lives.

@ArlenDM Жыл бұрын

@SteveUnrein I'd be delighted to know someone in Ohio who would be a good root cellaring reference person? Any ideas?

@alyssanapoleon877 3 жыл бұрын

As another answer to the first question about a backup to the generator for the meat in the freezer: I got this idea from The Kneady Homesteader, having canning jars and lids set aside specifically for the meat in the freezer. So if you have an extended power outage you just can up the meat in the freezer. But you have to have a gas stove for this plan to work.

@phyrewillow6463 3 жыл бұрын

You can also use a camp stove outside. Or just use your regular stove if your freezer broke and you still have power

@favoriteswubby 3 жыл бұрын

There are a lot of KZfaq videos showing how to assemble a small rocket stove.

@rcat32 2 жыл бұрын

One video shows a lady canning over a wood fire outdoors to keep from heating up the house...Rain Country's Heidi? Maybe not...

@janebartlett8914 3 жыл бұрын

Winter in northern Idaho allows for using snow and ice itself as a back up source of emergency freezer space in a power outage.

@raylingomen2562 3 жыл бұрын

You may be like me and check the comments to see if anyone took notes on what the ideal conditions are, so here they are: Cold & Very Moist 32-40 degrees 90-95% humidity Carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips, celery, leeks, broccoli, brussel sprouts Cold & Moist 32-40 degrees 80-90% humidity Potatoes, cabbage, apples, grapes, oranges, pears Cool & Moist 40-50 degrees 80% humidity Cucumbers, sweet peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, ripe tomatoes Cold & Dryer 32-50 degrees 60% humidity Onions and Garlic Warmer & Dryer 50-60 degrees 60% humidity Pumpkins, winter squash, sweet potatoes, green tomatoes

@Kristian-Benton 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 💕

@carathompson8927 2 жыл бұрын

Thank You!

@rebeccagodinez8864 Жыл бұрын

Thanks

@RestingBitchface7 3 жыл бұрын

I grew up in commercial dairy and beef in the same area of Idaho where you now live. We used old buried refrigerators and chest freezers for decades as cold storage, and they were very important at the time. You don’t understand that because Idaho at the time I was growing up had fewer than a million people living there until after I had finished college. We used the boxes and lids of these appliances, after the motors and coils were removed, and buried them upright if possible on the North face of the highest point of the property. Doing so gave us year around cold storage to augment our root cellar and served three purposes: 1. Served as safe meat lockers during butchering and hunting seasons for aging and curing meats. Some of the chest freezers were used to hang carcasses whole. 2. Gave us extra space for the overflow from harvest. 3. Kept the vermin out, big and small, including wolves, bear, coyotes, and even mice, raccoons and rats. The added benefit of recycling appliances this way was the fact that we were in the direct path of three different wildfires in the 70s and 80s. Twice the house and the barn burned, but our food storage was completely secure. It helps to ask questions when you don’t know what you’re talking about.

@user-vl4iu6ps3s 16 күн бұрын

I really enjoy watching your videos, I feel like the information I get from you both is very well researched before you release it. Words matter, thank you.

@biaberg3448 3 жыл бұрын

Root cellars have been used here in Norway for hundred of years. We call it potato cellar. Old farmhouses were build with one, often with direct access from the kitchen. Wish I had one.

@maplegrovefarmandhomestead8284 3 жыл бұрын

We built a cellar into a hillside. We’ve had good luck with managing different environments by having 2 rooms. The room you enter has a little higher temp and lower humidity for my squash, onions and sweet potatoes. The second room, further into the hill, has higher humidity and lower temps for my potatoes, root crops, and cheeses. And we are in an area where roots cellars aren’t suppose to be successful.

@SpiritHawk 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent tip! Thanks!

@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123 3 жыл бұрын

That would be so nice to have !! Did you dig it by hand or machine and did you reinforce the ceiling and walls ? I guess smaller ones don’t need the reinforcement??

@maplegrovefarmandhomestead8284 3 жыл бұрын

@@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123 we dug by machine and installed concrete blocks for the entire sides. It has a concrete floor and on top is wood shed.

@cominginthecloudsforus 2 жыл бұрын

What area? We are in central VA and are wondering how well a cellar would work here.

@deboranndeborann933 2 жыл бұрын

Yea!!

@phyrewillow6463 3 жыл бұрын

As far as the question of the day, I keep about 8 dozen quart jars empty in case of a freezer failure to save my meat(if we can’t find a new one in time). I’m also making beef jerky(salt cured and dried), learning how to cure bacon so it can hang on a hook in the kitchen, and eventually cure ham hocks... the meats I like best canned(so far), are pork shoulder and beef soup. The pork is the best. Comes out like the best pulled pork you’ve ever tasted! Just add a bit of bbq sauce. 😋

@Silverstreamhomecrafts 3 жыл бұрын

Love canned pork shoulder! I've found it works just as well with pork neck which is often cheaper too

@saqibnawaz5139 Ай бұрын

Vry creative critical guide to Root Cellaring highlighting temp & humidty levels to save alot of food for alot longer time while just maintaining it weekly checking & taking out produces if dey start getting compromised to save undamaged produces

@ruthcowden1386 3 жыл бұрын

We built two insulated walls forming a room in our northwest corner of our basement. A cool air intake comes in near the floor and the warm air goes out above on the other end of the room. We actually keep a dehumidifier in there. Beets and carrots can go in damp sand. Our things last a long time.

@crestaogle 3 жыл бұрын

Hello! Do you have a printout of these guidelines? That would be incredibly helpful! I eagerly anticipate your videos each week. I’ve watched them ALL! 😍

@william_bz 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips, I was just about to throw out an old chest freezer. 😁👍

@suzannefolsom7470 3 жыл бұрын

Carolyn, you always have such great books! Would love a video of your library or a chat about your favorite books over a variety of subjects (cookbooks, herbal medicines, gardening, raising animals, raising kids, etc...)

@roonilwazlib3089 2 жыл бұрын

This is a god send, exactly how many I provide for on a daily. I have four freezers, three fridges and I’m looking at making a root cellar. Thank you both for imparting your knowledge xx

@deniseriley1949 3 жыл бұрын

I have learned so much from you guys. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

@rawfoodelectric 3 жыл бұрын

This topic is always on my mind. I need to get to this next step!!

@hvac1238 3 жыл бұрын

Good stuff as always, love that you put time stamps as well.

@megmcginnis239 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Josh and Carolyn. It has been an interesting gardening year for sure. Things that usually do well did not and I was surprised by things that did do well. I have to say that the bean tunnel I put up this year gets the gold star. The best beans ever!!! and cukes too. Now my winter garden is inside of it . I am very pleased. Thank you Josh for the bean tunnel video.

@jackiedumke7582 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the ideas and Information! It’s been a battle trying to figure out how to store my garden produce!

@cindyjean3208 10 ай бұрын

Excellent video… Answers to a lot of my questions… May God bless you as you go forward 🙏🏻💕

@HomesteadingFamily 10 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@tonyarueff3230 3 жыл бұрын

This was so informative and encouraging. Sweet potatoes is something I grow and would like to store in natural state. You've given me good information and I know I can start there.🙂

@diannamc367 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I hope I can use some of these next year!

@Greens5511 3 жыл бұрын

Lots of great info! Has given me good food for thought 😉

@fourdayhomestead2839 3 жыл бұрын

The book "root cellaring" was the 1st book I bought myself. Having a soon to be divided basement, I'm grateful for the book.

@doloresreynolds8145 3 жыл бұрын

That book is extremely helpful in understanding and designing a root cellar. I used the information to design one. The food storage information is invaluable.

@dinahsisson487 3 жыл бұрын

Love the Idea of a multi temp and humidity levels in one root cellar! Cannot wait to see the final plans for this :-) We were blessed to live with my grandparents all summer, every summer during my school years and they had a true root cellar in West Virginia. All my love for farming, homesteading and food preservation came from those formative years. My husband doesn't share my same love for this way of life but we try to meet in the middle as much as we can considering he's a city fella at heart and I'm a country girl at heart ;-). I did notice that you had one of your books on the table with you but you never commented on it. Did you mean to share information about that book as well? You guys are awesome and I love all I learn from you and adding it to what I learned from my grandparents!

@ShelleyGosselin-mn7wb 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the great info Carolyn& Josh. This video just popped up in my YT feed as I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner here just outside of Ottawa, Canada. I grew up with root cellars and my Dad's home is in the "Root Cellar capital of the world"- Elliston Newfoundland, Canada! I don't have a root cellar myself but I move my fruit & veggies around between our insulated garage (fall, winer, spring) and our basement (has air condiotion) in summer. Today, I am cooking a Butternut squash from Last year! It is perfect outside with not one blemish, and just starting to get a little dry inside. Just amazing!

@joanxox4191 3 жыл бұрын

Also if you live in an area like we do in Alberta Canada where there is cold winter weather a corner closet will also work to keep root vegetables for a few months. We have done this for pumpkin squash onions garlic and potatoes. This worked when I lived in a mobile home. Now I have a house with a basement and have made a room in a corner. One step closer to getting a proper root cellar. Also my mom has stored zucchini under her bed up until June. The bedroom is in the back corner of the house.

@Sue-ec6un 3 жыл бұрын

Great info, as always! Thanks 😊

@HippieHillHomestead 3 жыл бұрын

We use sundanzer 12v-24v dc solar deep freezers. Great video full of information.

@brightstarr57 3 жыл бұрын

Great ideas and tips! Thanks!

@marygallagher3428 3 жыл бұрын

Very helpful video, thanks!

@abigailg9188 3 жыл бұрын

We missed your new video today and hope that all is going well. You’ve become good friends in our home.

@RustyRoosterHomestead 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips God bless.

@theresalee9392 2 жыл бұрын

🌻That’s my inspiration… “letting go of ideal”. 🌻

@kwall1464 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful, thanks so much!

@studypartner9643 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the upload

@huasonshine4120 9 ай бұрын

I still have a half dozen butternut squash from last year harvest time to harvest time, just stored uncovered in a plastic bin in my dining room in line of my line of my AC

@sandraerby5027 3 жыл бұрын

I really love your video. I am 66 yrs.old. I have just finished my pantry. So I am fixing my kitchen .so Laundry room and my pantry are all one long room. I love your kitchen I am doing my kitchen this God bless

@maryfilson4178 3 жыл бұрын

I'm looking forward to taking the master canning class. 👍👍

@crestaogle 3 жыл бұрын

It’s a really great class! I’ve been canning for years, but I never adapted my own recipes... now I have the confidence to do just that! And the Roasted Eggplant Puttanesca is AMAZING!!!

@camicri4263 2 жыл бұрын

Great tips! Thanks! Hugs

@lisamonalisahikes 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing

@debkincaid2891 3 жыл бұрын

This is very timely for me. We will be moving into our newly purchased home, which has a basement, in early summer/late spring. It's located in SE Idaho. We're thinking about creating both a cold room and a cool room & outfitting them with humidifiers & fans to move the air. I like that idea of installing a pipe into the basement to bring in the cool night air (house is at 4800 ft elev). Perfectly doable. I have a question for you, please. Our HVAC unit for our forced air is located in the basement. Any ideas about how to keep that from interfering with my basement-root cellaring plans? All advise appreciated. I love your channel!

@srg6532 3 жыл бұрын

A professional root cellar can be done with a door as tight as a commercial freezer door to eliminate degradable seals and limit rodents. An insulated stainless door and frame are good choices but are expensive. It does make for a good selling point as a modern wine cellar though.

@deanna4814 3 жыл бұрын

I wish this was a option here in Central Florida but it does not. Still great information to know. God bless

@susandennison2833 3 жыл бұрын

great book

@rebeccamercer4160 3 жыл бұрын

Good morning Carolyn and Josh What if you have a crawl space? Would that be like a cellar to store food? Thank you and God Bless you both , your family and all whom you come in contact with.

@dancnluc1 3 жыл бұрын

I remember my grandparents having a crawl space that they kept potatoes in. They never had issues with their potatoes and they lasted forever. Our basement is too damp to use as a cooler. We have an extra room with no heat and have actually kept quit abit in there during the winter months for several months. Some times we would open the window some. I would put towels down at the door to keep the cold air from getting into the rest of the house.

@naeemah2027 3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a plan. I'm looking for other alternative methods until I can actually get one in the ground. I live in the warm/ hot climates in the southern region.

@debkincaid2891 3 жыл бұрын

I'd like to use this idea, but, a question: how did they keep from attracting critters to the potatoes? And, what kind of container was used, do you recall? Baskets?

@dancnluc1 3 жыл бұрын

@@debkincaid2891 they did not use any containers. They cured the potatoes then stored under the house.They did use lime and torn up newspapers. I never could understand how they did not have pest problems. I even remember my grandmother keeping a large bowl of flour underneath a cabin with her rolling pun and a sifter. She never covered that bowl. Every morning she made homemade biscuits. She never had problems with pest there either.

@ladyindigo9835 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful,

@naeemah2027 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful tips and tricks. I really want one soon. Why does the humidity have to be so high?

@jennasosa7740 2 жыл бұрын

Instead of a dug in root cellar, you can heavily insulate a basement room and use a "cool bot" and window AC unit (if you are in a hot area). If in a cold climate ventilation from the outside is sufficient.

@Diana_the_green_dragon 3 жыл бұрын

You could make a multi chamber root celler and maybe one of them to be like a walking fridge. Since you have a large family it can be good to have canned goods in one part, root veg in one, fruit in one and cured meats anf chesse in another.

@user-gk2ut8mc5e Жыл бұрын

Happy to find this chat!! Q: Since the temperature and humidity requirements vary, how could that be achieved in just one cellar?? Ty

@srg6532 3 жыл бұрын

Styrofoam sheets can be bought at reasonable prices at various thicknesses and R values. They are great for R values and don't readily breakdown or rot at the higher humidity.

@srg6532 3 жыл бұрын

Make sure to check up on the newer freezers. They will have the new freon, may run at higher pressures and may not hold up as many years as the older freezers. Also, check on availability of parts for the newer freezers. The manufacturers may not carry as many parts for new freezers like they used to.

@cuttingedgequilter 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very informative video! I wanted to let you know about the typo in your description. It says in this episode of the panty chat ;)

@kathygarner419 2 жыл бұрын

Put a room in your basement near a window. Stand up some walls. Insulate the walls. Put an ordinary air conditioner and a coolbot in the window. Install a door eureka. You now have a walk in fridge/cooler. No going outside in the winter or having to dig out the door and path to the root cellar.

@rawfoodelectric 3 жыл бұрын

I tried shaking cream in a mason jar. After 30 minutes...it was only whipped. I gave up. Using the kitchen aid next time. And, yes, I set it out and the temp was 60.

@tealkerberus748 9 ай бұрын

Seems like even in a climate that doesn't suit root cellaring well, it's a good way to quickly store a lot of fresh harvest so that you can get back to it and freeze-dry or process it some other way once you've finished harvesting and have a bit more time for those activities.

@deniseriley1949 3 жыл бұрын

Question. As the root cellar stored foods end the near of their shelf life (carrots stored now but still looking good come spring) do you cook them for consumption right away or could those items be processed through canning?

@debkincaid2891 3 жыл бұрын

It's really not a good idea to try to can foods at that stage--the pH changes, which means the processing times for fresh produce would not be sufficient to render them safe. And, if you processed them longer, the flavor & texture of food already past it's prime would probably not be very appetizing. Best to either freeze or eat it up now. My 2 cents. ♥️

@judybaugus2909 3 жыл бұрын

Even if it only helps you keep things for a month or two longer. Its that much more time to preserve make apple butter or what more dehydrate more tomatoes etc... because September and October need to have 30 hour days to get it all done

@MFaith777 3 жыл бұрын

Would a freezer in the ground work in Minnesota or would the ground freezing still be too cold and not humid enough?

@nellsinnock867 3 жыл бұрын

This may be a HUGELY impractical suggestion, but I thought I would chance sharing it with you. I have thought alot about how to construct a root cellar in my first house when I get one (at the moment I am in an apartment). Would it be practical to use those metal shipping containers, the large ones of course, and then you would just need to dig the hole and lower one or more down and put in a hatch. And they actually seem to have a sort of modular quality to them so you could do 2 or 3 next to each other with openings between. (3 of them side by side would give you a 24' x 40' space) I know there would probably be a bit more involved than that, but it would be a shortcut compared to actually building one. What do you think??

@mykindpharm 3 жыл бұрын

This is something I have been thinking about as well... one good thing about those containers, if they are are not altered, they are rodent proof! There would need to be ventilation added to them as well They would need to be treated on the exterior so not to rust... Digging a hole and figuring out how to keep the integrity of the container and be able to access it year round is the daunting question for me

@mollywilder2031 3 жыл бұрын

@@mykindpharm I had looked into this and the shipping containers are not built to withstand the pressure from the earth above and around the container.

@mileetn 2 жыл бұрын

@@mollywilder2031 that is what we found out when we thought of using one for a storm shelter.

@crystalcarpenter6738 2 жыл бұрын

@@mileetn My son in law used to weld these containers. They would have to be special ordered to reinforce these for any kind of underground then you are supposed to get them treated/ sealed for underground. (Cha- ching) BUT if you were to ever use one of these for a storm shelter, be able to have ventilation in case you were buried by debris.

@user-vw6kd4um5p 8 ай бұрын

Hi. I just want to ask how to freeze dry cooked steamed rice. Thank you.

@Bloodywasher 2 жыл бұрын

8:40 "let's just dive right in" number 1

@RoseFelton 3 жыл бұрын

This was great information! I talked to you once before about living in Arizona, having rocky soil and what could I do in place of a root cellar. Well, while listening to you today I've decided to use an old upright freezer that's in our garage. It quit being cold enough to use for a freezer, but I can use it as a make-shift root cellar. I don't have a lot of vegetables to put in there, but there are a couple winter squash, some garlic and onions and a few other things from the refrigerator that's taking up space. Thanks! OH, I also wanted to ask....was Carolyn feeling down the day this was taped? She looked like she wasn't feeling well. Wasn't smiling a lot like she normally does.

@VagabondAnne 3 жыл бұрын

I think that’s a pretty sexist comment.Caroline looks fine. If she’s not VannaWhite, no, she’s not depressed, she’s just an actual human. I don’t think she smiled any less than her husband did. So many double standards!

@VagabondAnne 3 жыл бұрын

So tired of people thinking that women need to Freaking SMILE all the freaking time!!!

@rachelparmater892 3 жыл бұрын

Rose, I think your question was heartfelt, there is so much to during harvest time and grandma in care. No one can smile all the time. I know she will enjoy the break from the homestead. God bless their family and all their KZfaq family.

@danamariebyrne9760 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, I was curious how do you keep mice out of your root cellar and from eating your potatoes and root vegetables.

@rosezingleman5007 3 жыл бұрын

Some folks in these comments say mint will keep them out, even mint teabags. I’m going to try that.

@spawnofkings3059 2 жыл бұрын

I’m looking into turning the old cistern in my basement into a root cellar.

@bluebutterflywellness2273 3 жыл бұрын

I'm just thinking out loud here, but I live in a tiny attic apt in a New England city with uninsulated storage/closet space on my level and am wondering if I can keep some colder root veggies in aereated 5 gallon bins with soil during the winter as it is uaually refrigerator/freezer temp in that space. Thoughts, anyone?

@crestaogle 3 жыл бұрын

That may work, but I would definitely be careful during the warmer spring and summer months! Good luck! I’d love to hear how this works out for you!

@bluebutterflywellness2273 3 жыл бұрын

@@crestaogle Thanks for your feedback! 🤗 I'm new at this and will let you know. Btw, it is HOT as Hades up here during summer so I could only do this in late fall and winter. 🙂

@venicemitchell1407 3 жыл бұрын

Good idea. Prep that area before to keep pests away.

@bluebutterflywellness2273 3 жыл бұрын

@@venicemitchell1407 Thanks!

@justpatty7328 3 жыл бұрын

Definitely worth a try. I think it would work. If it gets below freezing, maybe use a cooler to prevent freezing and thawing fluctuations.

@taxat10n1sth3ft Жыл бұрын

My parents' land is in the PNW right next to the Pacific Ocean. Can I build a root cellar if the sod is basically sand?

@vmorganbogart 3 жыл бұрын

How do you get the different temperature & humidity levels in one root cellar? There seems to be such a wide range. Blessings, Love & Hugs from Vicki in Ft. Worth, Texas 🇨🇱🇺🇸👍❤️🥰🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@dinajohnson3435 3 жыл бұрын

One thing is where you store... on the floor will be cooler than up by the ceiling-warmer air always rises... not a big difference in temperature but enough to make a small difference. Creating troughs, or ditches in the cellar can also help. I am still looking into options here in southeast Idaho for a cellar.

@tinnerste2507 3 жыл бұрын

I have a 350 year old root cellar and it changes slowly throughout the year with the seasons. In spring and fall when it gets a few degrees warmer, the rain seeps into the walls and it cools the root cellar down even though its warmer outside it can feel cooler than january when the rains are frozen ss snow. Ours is between 10 degrees celcius and 3 over the year, but i put lots of water jugs to get through any minus 20 weather thst lasts more than a week. You can also adujust ths temp and humidity a bit by leaving the door more or less open or laying some insulation over the horizontal door, if you have two doors like mine has. I also bury water barrels, which are platick, and its even easier to control humidity, you just need to wipe the inside with a wet or dry towel and then close it up again.

@tinnerste2507 3 жыл бұрын

Also, i keep an eye on the conditions with a little battery powered "weather station" usually 15 euro and it tells me percent humidity and temperature.

@fourdayhomestead2839 3 жыл бұрын

Vents (2 pvc pipes, one low & one high on opposite sides of the cellar. Moist sand on my concrete floor keeps humidity stable.

@zepheniahdraws 11 ай бұрын

This is my thinking so far: moisture and cool air sink, so whatever needs the coolest temps/highest moisture store nearest the floor. If you're doing the carrots in damp sand like she was talking about, that's going to help with keeping it more moist and cooler, things that can stay a little warmer/drier store above. Vent excess heat from the top of the room. I'm thinking about venting into a mushroom growing space (little warmer, high humidity) then vent that CO2 enriched air into a seed-starting/propagating space.

@dinajohnson3435 3 жыл бұрын

Curious what book you had in front of you please Safe travels on your trip!

@rebekkas4164 3 жыл бұрын

I recognize it: Root Cellaring by Mike and Nancy Bubel

@diannamc367 3 жыл бұрын

I was just seeing that too. Very interested in what it is.

@mykindpharm 3 жыл бұрын

I live in southeast Idaho, high mountain desert, zone 4 but more like 3... LOTS of wind, it can be snowing first thing in the morning and t-shirt weather come that same afternoon! EVEN in the summer! A big difference from my upbringing in Indiana... I had believed I was going to be getting and addition with a basement, but that didn't happen... so now I am scrambling to figure out where to store my canned goods (and where to get canning jars!! ) that is affordable and doesn't crowd us in our small home. Add in, very tight budget!

@crystalspringsranch2004 Жыл бұрын

Do you useykurcanningseals more than once?

@maryloomis8075 Жыл бұрын

Apples off gas. I usually will put an apple in with unripe avocados in order to ripen them within a day or two. They can be put together in a paper bag to ripen fast.

@zeddarain 3 жыл бұрын

What about an ice house. Pull blocks of ice from the pond to keep it cold all year?

@heatherm4621 3 жыл бұрын

I have tried storing produce in a giant cooler with the lid cracked open but condensation builds up on the lid and drips down into the produce, causing it to rot. Any suggestions?

@elizabethmeyer9257 3 жыл бұрын

Drill holes in the top. Open up the drain in the bottom. It should create a movement of air. Just like honey bees. You may need a small fan. Either bottom or top of cooler

@popeyeandy959 6 ай бұрын

I'm kinda screwed as I am in small house on a concrete slab in South Texas (Corpus Christi area) with no out buildings.

@ArlenDM Жыл бұрын

I'm looking for a good root cellaring person who might be able to do an event demo in Ohio. Any ideas, Mr. @SteveUnrein?

@staceyjones3261 3 жыл бұрын

I like the idea of coolers in the garage. However, cracking the lid gives rodents room to get in and have a feast. How do keep these critters out? Also, besides apples what else would work in coolers?

@anna7118 3 жыл бұрын

My elderly neighbor uses an old freezer in her enclosed back porch (not temperature controlled) year round as a sealed pantry for dry goods to protect from rodents.

@livesoutdoors1708 3 жыл бұрын

There are videos on YT showing how to ventilate old freezers when using them as root cellars. Most involve a pipe placed low with screening and another placed higher for ventilation also screened. Air flow is important.

@jennasosa7740 2 жыл бұрын

We keep apples in an extra fridge. However, the apples need to be kept in plastic grocery bags. We bag the apples in groups of about six. Just tie once, don't tightly knot. It slows down the gas production and ripening.

@nicolaharvey6364 2 жыл бұрын

Kids helping to put apples away, Quality control is tasting them, how many do you get back with teeth marks. When my brother was young he did that with all the tomatoes that mum was about to preserve

@shannonhopper8987 3 жыл бұрын

Do you have any books or sites you recommend where I can learn more about root cellar storage , root cellering, etc? Thanks for all info love learning for you guys.

@fourdayhomestead2839 3 жыл бұрын

The book "root cellaring" that she has in front of her is the best I've seen so far. Also on yt, it's a fully covered topic to check out.

@shannonhopper8987 3 жыл бұрын

@@fourdayhomestead2839 thank you!!!😁

@KristinaBakerSmith 2 жыл бұрын

We get the once a year random mouse... will storing in the cool basement attract critters?

@HomesteadingFamily 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it can…

@kenrisse1336 2 жыл бұрын

If you store 1000 lbs of potatoes you should have enough for a few mice

@KristinaBakerSmith 2 жыл бұрын

@@kenrisse1336 I decided I don’t care if I have potatoes 😁

@philipuk6424 3 ай бұрын

Can you please do a video on how to make cream from your milk?

@HomesteadingFamily 3 ай бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/etuhlraU3Ke4qnk.html

@ds285676 3 жыл бұрын

I use onions to ripped fruit. keep onions away.

@carolyncallahan8928 3 жыл бұрын

I see Carolyn you have a book in front of you, is there a good book to read up on root cellars?

@HomesteadingFamily 3 жыл бұрын

This is a great one! (affiliate) amzn.to/2Ho2k3v

@carolyncallahan8928 3 жыл бұрын

@@HomesteadingFamily thank you very much

@brendadodd1075 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! It's the Apples that let off a gas and will cause faster "ripen" to other produce.

@shirleyomalley4441 3 жыл бұрын

I'm in New England & adapt my

@shirleyomalley4441 3 жыл бұрын

Bulk head for winter storage

@kathygarner419 2 жыл бұрын

You need to segregate your apples from everyone else, they give off ethylene gas and will cause everything else in your cellar to go bad more quickly. I would store apples in a root cellar on the top rack and near the vent pipe in the cellar so that the ethylene gas will go out the vent quickly. Ethylene gas is lighter than air so it will quickly rise to the highest point in the cellar. Otherwise everything stored above the apples will deteriorate more quickly. If you cellar is going to be as big as you indicate you might want to consider making a small room inside the cellar where only apples and other produce that off gases ethylene can be segregated from the rest of your produce.

@robertgillis6245 3 жыл бұрын

A guy has a video on KZfaq where is used a 55 gallon galvanized trash can as a root cellar. He drilled holes in the bottom of the can. He buried the can up to the lid. I would put crushed stone underneath in the bottom of the hole for drainage. He put a PVC pipe with an elbow pointing down for ventilation. He layered different root vegetables with a layer of hay. After putting the lid back on the can , he placed insulation on top, and covered the area with hay. I thought the idea was interesting. GOD Bless America! GOD Bless the American people! Together let’s “ Make America Great Again!”

@MamaCinnamon 10 ай бұрын

I just have an unfinished basement. We can’t do a root cellar here.

@tonyamosig5775 3 жыл бұрын

Heavy equipment rentals from you hardware stores. Dig a cellar quickly

@jillfaber9865 2 жыл бұрын

How large a root cellar are you wanting to build?

@DrValerie800 3 жыл бұрын

There IS no cool/dark/moist here (Arizona, no basement, no "cool side of the house"); whatever I have that needs cool temps goes in the fridge. Sometimes that works, but not for months...except for onions. Fridge is usually at 40 F. I WISH I had a root cellar, or even a basement. Oh well.