Storing winter vegetables can be simple

Denver Post ^ | 10-25-2009 | CINDY SUTTER

[MtnClimber]

LYONS, Colo.—If you're a gardener or an avid farmers' market customer, suddenly it's all about winter squash and stuff that grows underground. Those trying to eat a local diet might have a dim memory of grandma's root cellar, or they might know a homesteader type who has buried a barrel in the yard and covered it with insulating materials.

Turns out, if you want to be chowing down on some Colorado squash in February, you don't need a rig near that complicated. An unheated basement where the temperature stays relatively constant—50 degrees or so—works well in the state's dry climate. All you need are some shelves that allow air circulation.

[MtnClimber]

I just got a load of acorn squach and butternut squash on sale for 69 centa a pound.

[Gabz]

An unheated basement where the temperature stays relatively constant—50 degrees or so—works well in the state's dry climate.

Alas, a dry climate is not something I have ever lived in.........

[mountainlion]

OK how do I dig a basement in granite?

[tiki]

Just get an old refrigerator, vent it and store them in that.

[MtnClimber]

Mine was blasted with explosives. Guess it needs to be done before the house is built!

[melsec]

Here in Australia where the summer temps reach over 42C they used to build small double brick or concrete rooms with a concrete roof about 6 inches thick. The floor was usuallt concrete but raised of of the ground so not to draw any moisture. A heavy steel door (well sealed) completed the job.

I’ve been in one of these in the middle of a 40C day and I was shivering after about 10 mins so it was quite cold. Of course opening and closing the door often would release the cold so you would really only go inside once or twice a day at most.

Cheers

Mel

[MtnClimber]

Mel, What would you store in those rooms? It is about 0C and snowing right now here in Colorado. I have about 70-80 lbs of potatos stored that I harvested in the garden not long ago.

[mountainlion]

Mine was blasted with explosives. Guess it needs to be done before the house is built!

I bought my place already built without a basement. I have an old bulldozer so may be I could build a root cellar/ bomb shelter/fire shelter/ quiet place.

[melsec]

Well the thing is if it keeps out heat then it can keep out cold as well. I am not sure about 0 degress or less as we don’t get temps like that. In the real old days they used to keep meat and veg in these - they worked like a fridge and would keep things for longer but they were very dry here as summer where I live has very little humidity so veg would keep for months. Most of the info on these things are a bit lost but I know they used to store things on diferent levels depending on what humidity the veg required the less humidity required the closer to the floor things were stored (I think).

I am trying to find stuff out like this for myself as I would like to semi-retire and grow and keep my own food as well as a lot of fishing and a bit of hunting or bartering for meat.

Cheers

Mel