Root cellars offer an alternative to modern refrigeration for keeping food fresh; using natural earth temperatures and insulation to naturally cool and insulate vegetables while using minimal electricity, root cellars are becoming an increasingly popular choice among homesteaders, emergency preparedness enthusiasts, and gardeners looking to enjoy homegrown vegetables year-round.
Root cellars provide more than monetary savings; they’re also great security against power outages or natural disasters, providing long-term storage for items like canned food or medicine that may not last as long. A cellar’s primary use, though, is to hold root vegetables that prefer cool, dark environments as this makes the space an effective place for storage.
Root cellars are spaces built below ground that are accessible via excavation, which typically include a ventilation system to circulate air and maintain moist conditions required to store root vegetables properly. They’re usually insulated so cold air won’t enter while hot air escapes; plus most will come equipped with waterproof covers to ward off precipitation.
Root cellars provide many advantages, including being able to store vegetables away from direct sunlight for extended preservation and flavor retention. Furthermore, the cool, moist environment reduces ethylene gas release from fruits and vegetables that could hasten their degeneration faster than expected.
Planning and building a root cellar requires several considerations, including cost and climate considerations. Not all vegetables store as well in this environment; therefore it’s essential to select varieties suitable for long-term storage in this manner. In addition, vegetables must be properly prepped before being placed into storage: brushing away dirt from their leaves, removing damaged or rotten parts from leaves or curing certain crops such as potatoes and winter squash before being stored away in a root cellar.
Building a root cellar is a labor-intensive project that may take weeks or even months to complete, which makes professional hardscaping services essential in helping with its construction and meeting all local building codes. Contact us now for your free estimate – we look forward to working with you!