Free DIY Projects for the Self-Sufficient Homeowner: 25 Ways to Build a Self-Reliant Lifestyle by Betsy Matheson Page A

half day at 140° or so.
     

 

Setting Up a Root Cellar
     
    Cool storage areas such as cellars can be outfitted to keep produce fresh for the table throughout the long winter months. A wide variety of foods will stay fresh and delicious if stored in the right conditions—a space that is damp and cold, but not freezing. Typically, 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for a root cellar environment. This type of food storage is entirely dependent on thermal mass and the natural cooling of outdoor air during the winter, and this isn’t vulnerable to power outages. Traditionally, root cellars are an underground space built under or near the home, insulated by the ground and vented so cold air can flow in and warm air out in the fall. In the winter, the vents are then closed and the cellar maintains a cold—but not freezing—temperature, thanks to the earth’s insulation.
     

    A root cellar doesn’t actually need to be underground, although they often are. Any cool, dark area will do.
     

How to Store Produce in a Root Cellar
     

 

How to Set Up a Basement Root Cellar
    Modern basements are typically too warm for long-term winter storage, but you can create an indoor version of a root cellar by walling off and insulating a basement corner and adding vents to the outside to let you regulate the flow of cold outside air into the insulated room. Your goal is to create a small room that is well insulated and will remain near freezing throughout the winter months. Cellar rooms are typically quite humid, so be sure to choose insulation materials that will hold up well in a moist environment.
    First, choose a location for your cellar that is as far as possible from your furnace, and near a basement window, if possible. The window is a great place to install a vent—simply remove the window glass, replace it with insulated plywood, and run the vent through a hole in the wood. (You could also run a vent through a basement wall—as you would for a clothes dryer.) Choose a northeast or northwest corner location if you can. The more masonry surface in your root cellar room, the better—masonry walls provide thermal insulation to help create the ideal temperature inside. If a northeast or northwest corner won’t work for your basement, choose the corner with the highest outdoor soil height.

Store only mature , high-quality vegetables in a root cellar: small, cut, bruised, or broken vegetables will not store well and should be eaten right away. Check on your stored foods frequently to see how they’re doing—if the vegetables begin to grow, the cellar is too warm. If they freeze, the cellar is too cold. If the skin starts to look dry or shriveled, the space is too dry. Remove decaying vegetables immediately to prevent rot from spreading to the rest of your food.
     
    To Store Carrots: Cut off greens and wrap them in small groups of newspaper. Bury paper packages in dry sand.
     

Building a Root Cellar
     

     

TOOLS & MATERIALS
    Chalk
    Eye protection
    Ear protection
    Construction adhesive
    Concrete nails
    Powder-actuated nail gun
    Drill
    Level
    Deck screws
    Circulating saw
    Insect mesh
    Sheet plastic vapor barrier
    Foam insulation
    Stapler
    Stick up light
    Fiberglass butt insulation
    Paneling or drywall
    Steel garage service door
    Weather stripping
    Masking tape
    4d finish nails
    Glue
    Wood screws
    Framing square
    Sander
     

How to Add a Root Cellar to a Basement
     

     
    1 Outline the root cellar wall locations on your basement floor with chalk or a chalkline. Don’t get too skimpy—the foot-print should be at least 4 × 6 ft. to make the project worthwhile.
     

2 Build 2 × 4 stud walls with a framed rough opening for a door. Anchor the sole plates for the walls (use pressure-treated lumber) to the floor with construction adhesive and concrete nails driven into predrilled holes (or use a powder-actuated nail gun).
     

3 Use a level to adjust the walls until they are plumb and then secure the cap plates of the framed