Root Cellar Construction

Root cellar construction can be useful for those who grow their own crops or simply for those who want to keep root vegetables and other produce fresh. A root cellar is used for keeping food at a constant temperature and humidity. This keeps the food from freezing in the winter and keeps it at a cool constant temperature during the summer to prevent spoilage.

Uses of a Root Cellar

Root cellars are seldom seen today, except when small children are using them as forts to play in. These cellars were popular decades ago, but since the invention of the refrigerator and other such appliances, root cellars have become a thing of the past.

However, a root cellar can still be a good option if you have too much to store. Many types of food can be stored in the root cellar, but most of the time the cellars are used to store fruits, vegetables, and meat. Fruits and vegetables are generally placed in a root cellar after being harvested in the fall to keep them from freezing during the winter.

Although inventions throughout the years have made root cellars a thing of the past, it is not a bad idea to have one you can use today. You can build one yourself within just a few days, as they are not complex in construction.

About Root Cellar Construction

If you are considering root cellar construction and will be working with your own (plans –link to Root Cellar Plans), you should have a few construction materials on hand.

• Root cellars can be constructed out of a bunch of different materials. For instance, common materials used include stone, concrete, brick, or wood. Today, root cellars can even be made from a pre-constructed cargo container.
• Other construction materials you will need include the tools necessary to work with the prime component you are using to construct your root cellar. This may include nails, saws, hammers, and other smaller hand tools of this nature.
• Another major piece of construction equipment you will need is some sort of backhoe. You can purchase one of these if desired; however, it might be more advisable to rent this piece of equipment if you have no plans to use it at any point in the future.

Placing Your Root Cellar

One key component to root cellar construction is finding an ideal place outside to dig the underground hole for encompassing the cellar, if you plan to put the cellar underground. This is the essential part of keeping the food from spoiling. You must be sure to pick a spot on your property where you can dig without hitting power lines, electrical or cable wires, or an underground water source. Often, you are going to need a permit to do this to make sure you don't interfere with any of these underground structures, so you should check with your local municipal authority before you start digging. In some cases, there may also be zoning restrictions about whether you can build a root cellar or not. If you live in a place where there is a homeowners association, you will also need to verify the construction is okay on your lot.

Maintaining Your Root Cellar

Once you have placed the root cellar in the right place and you plan to begin using it, you should make sure the root cellar is not too dry or too humid. You may need to periodically adjust the humidity in the root cellar at varying points throughout the year if your local area is subject to shifts in climate.

As long as you make sure it is a solid structure with the right foundation and humidity, your root cellar is going to serve you well for a long time to come.