I have always enjoyed the beauty of root cellars and the power of the earths soil around a small stone or concrete structure to keep the space a constant temperature, cool in the summer and warm in the winter, a constant 56 degrees year round. I have collected hundreds of photos of root cellars as I have travelled throughout the midwest and southern Missouri in particular. I hope to share these with you later, but I am also happy to share this plan I have found for a solid well designed root cellar that could be built anywhere for probably a couple of thousand dollars. The technology has not changed for hundreds of years, with the exception that new root cellars have more elaborate design allowing for ventilation. Here is a great design that will last for a 100 years or more. The plans are from the USDA from the 1970's, but I have not found newer ones that are any better.
Wow! I guess you could do this if you don't have a basement - or don't want to lose any storage in your basement. =) I think my grandparents actually had one something like this - though I think it was partially above-ground with dirt mounded up the sides. My memory is fuzzy....
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. We have no cellar or basement, so I'd love to do something like this.
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