Alternatives to a Root Cellar

Root Cellar Description

• Root cellars were frequently located underneath the foundations of houses. The earth was dug out to create a large space that was surrounded on all sides by dirt walls. Root vegetables, such as carrots, turnips, onions and rutabagas, were stored in the room, which is how root cellars got their name. The underground area remained cool year-round, did not freeze, had air flow and was watertight, all of which kept the vegetables healthy from harvest to harvest. Root cellars were dug into the ground in the backyards of homes without space underneath them, and rocks or wooden doors protected the contents from the elements.

Basement Root Cellars

• If your home has a basement, devoting a portion of it to a root cellar is easy. Choose the dampest area with a wall that faces the outside. Choose an unfinished wall where the earth is visible, if possible. Insert two 3-inch pipes into the outfacing wall, one high and one low, to create a siphon effect that keeps warm air going out and cool air coming into the room. Install valves in the pipes to control the air flow and prevent freezing. Cover the walls with insulation to keep the root cellar temperature as constant as possible.

Tank Conversion

• Converting a tank to a root cellar is a good alternative to a basement cellar. A good choice is a septic tank with heavy doors. Septic tank dealers frequently have tanks for sale that cannot be used for septic collections based on cracks or tiny holes, but that are acceptable for root cellars. Choose the best size tank for your needs and place it into a hole in the ground created by an excavator. Install ventilation pipes on the front of the tank for easy access and control.

Pot-in-Pot Refrigerators

• Miniature root cellars, called pot-in-pot refrigerators, will preserve many vegetables for up to three weeks. Buy two clay pots, one small enough to fit inside the other with a layer of sand in between them. Keeping the sand constantly moist creates evaporation in the inner pot that keeps it cooler than the outside one. The cool air and moisture keep vegetables fresh and healthy.