519K views · 10K reactions | DIY Off-Grid Homestead Root Cellar...

In the 1800s, a root cellar was a common underground structure on farms and homesteads used for storing produce and other foods like eggs, butter, cheese, and even meat and alcohol, thanks to the naturally cool and humid conditions. This food was vital for both man and beast providing vitamins throughout the winter. These cellars, often dug into hillsides and lined with stone, provided a vital way to preserve food through winter before the advent of refrigeration. They were fundamental to food s

"One of the most reliable tried and true methods of storing root crops is in a root cellar. Root cellars come in a wide array of shapes, sizes and configurations. We've tried different versions over the 40 plus years of living a self-reliant life. We started with a dug out area located in our barn insulated with hay bales over the top, we've had a root cellar in the crawl space of our Saskatchewan wilderness home and here in Nova Scotia, we have a deluxe root cellar in the basement. But there ar