Page 176 - The Lost Ways

Standing Water

Probably the most basic way to introduce moisture to a room is to simply put water there;

wide, shallow pans have more surface area for more rapid evaporation, or a bucket in the
corner might be enough if you don’t want to check it that often.

Bury Your Treasure

If you’ve tried the methods above and simply cannot keep your humidity level high

enough, try burying your roots in sand or sawdust. This prevents rapid dehydration and
preserves them longer.

A Condensation Nightmare

There is that point when the air temperature changes and the cycle of evaporation
becomes condensation. When this happens, you may be faced with a big, wet mess. That

much moisture will spoil your precious foods and encourage mold, mildew, and general
rot to take the room over.

Save yourself this trouble. Buy a thermometer and a hygrometer, and check the levels
regularly. Dew points vary according to atmospheric pressure, humidity, and
temperature. If you can find out what is normal for your area, you can prevent a disaster
by regulating these factors. Sometimes it’s as simple as cracking the door for a day or so.

Ventilation

Some vegetables stink when they sit, and some fruits give off ethylene gas, which speeds
the ripening and subsequent rot of your produce. This is why it’s important to keep the
air circulating.

Don’t underestimate the value of good ventilation when setting up your root cellar. The
key to good ventilation is to be sure it can be both monitored and controlled.

The easiest method is to simply put an intake vent close to the ground and an exhaust
vent close to the ceiling. Then you just let the air circulate naturally—cool air sinks and
heat rises. If you want to get fancy, you can install grates that open and close or a simple

fan in the exhaust vent.

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