Page 173 - The Lost Ways

In most of the rest of the country, even if we get a little snow, we can situate our cellars
a little farther away. I still caution about placing them too far off since you still have to go
out there in the rain, wind, or snow.

If you have a good hill on your property, this makes for a great location for your root
cellar. If not, you can dig straight down and top the entrance with a bulkhead door. Maybe
create double doors to keep it safe from the elements.

Another thing to consider is that if your winters are especially mild with averages that

hover well above 30°F, a root cellar may not keep your root vegetables as fresh as just
leaving them in the ground over the winter.

The warm and dry produce should still be brought in and put up, however, so they don’t
rot.

What to Keep Where

If you find that you are indeed in the ideal location for a cold and damp root cellar,
congratulations! You are ready to sever your ties to the corporate food machine. The bulk
of your storage foods do best in this environment. Of course, there are exceptions. Some
produce prefers a dry environment instead. A dual chamber root cellar with damp and
dry rooms has more value than you can imagine.

If you can afford it, look into building a root cellar with both. Otherwise, a closed-in patio,

unheated basement closet, or any space that gets cool enough but stays dry will work
nicely.

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