#Modern root cellar install

The ideal root cellar is a cool, moist, underground space for long term storage of vegetables, fruits and even meats and cheeses. If you don’t discover what you need here, drop me a line at Q: What is a root cellar?

Answers to these questions offer the best way to learn root cellar building basics. When they first learn that root cellars really are an option for living better today, they get curious. Are you attracted to the idea of stocking up on bulk quantities of wholesome produce at low harvest prices, then enjoying them for months of savings afterwards? Are you concerned about food supply and security? Have you ever dreamed of regularly buying organic heirloom fruits and vegetables from small farmers in the autumn, then using these special foods to enhance your gourmet cooking throughout the year? These are all reasons people are getting interested in root cellars again.Įver since I wrote The Complete Root Cellar Book back in 2010, people have been asking me the same questions. UPDATED 21Feb2020: No matter how convenient it becomes to buy and eat prepared foods from the supermarket, this still leaves some of us wanting more. Potatoes like these are prime for cellar storage. Try root cellaring in your own life and you’ll probably never want to be without it again.You’ll get the freshest and most local produce of all if you grow your own and store it in a root cellar. Root cellars used to be a necessity of pioneer life, but modern homeowners are discovering them again, saving money, eating better and enjoying a new independence from the grocery store. Air can pass right through this type of foam, allowing condensation to occur underneath. Whatever you do, never use the white, beady expanded polystyrene foam insulation in a cold room. This prevents indoor air from getting behind the foam and condensing during winter. This foam needs to be sealed to the wall along all edges using caulking or spray foam. Extruded polystyrene foam is a good option for this, covering the foam after installation with cement board or mold-proof drywall. Extend this wall insulation so it’s 12” below the level of soil outside. The solution is to add 2”-thick sheets of closed cell foam insulation to the ceiling of a cold room and part way down the walls. The problem with so many cold rooms is insufficient soil cover around the structure. The second reason for venting is to expel gases given off by produce. Whenever you need to lower the temperature or humidity inside the cellar while it’s cooler outside than inside, open the vents and monitor temperature. First, you’ll want to admit a controlled amount of cold outdoor air into the root cellar during autumn, winter and spring. This encourages ventilation of the entire root cellar space, and that’s important for two reasons.

One vent opens at ceiling level, and the other one at floor level.

#Modern root cellar install

You’ll also need to install two 4” diameter vents to the outdoors.

Choose one corner of your basement (ideally the northeast or northwest corner), build two insulated walls to define your root cellar space in the basement, then install an insulated door and shelves. This below-ground space is naturally cooler. These days basements are still a great place to build a root cellar. Traditionally, root cellars were often built in the earth below pioneer homes to keep food from freezing over winter.