Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

Kaleva

(38,062 posts) Sun Aug 12, 2012, 01:57 PM Aug 2012

Info on root cellars and indoor worm composters

Using metal garbage cans

http://www.ehow.com/how_5894594_make-root-cellar-garbage-can.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_10025366_make-simple-root-cellar.html

Various other ideas such as a outdoor barrel storage pit.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07601.html

What to store in a root cellar

http://www.organicgardening.com/cook/what-store-root-cellar

An indoor worm composter

http://www.ehow.com/how_4460874_build-indoor-worm-composter.html

A project for me would be to convert part of my basement into a root cellar. I already have the lumber, nails, insulation and an old door which I'd need so it wouldn't cost much. I can regulate the temp with a basement window in that area.

I already have an enclosed pantry down in the basement which I can use this winter to store the apples from my apple tree and potatoes I can buy in bulk locally. I would need to insulate it which isn't a problem and it would be fine while I build a bigger and better one on the other side of the basement for next year.

The indoor worm composter is something I can do this week as I have the 5 gallon buckets and a container of bait worm is inexpensive.

6 replies

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Info on root cellars and indoor worm composters (Original Post) Kaleva Aug 2012 OP

Duh! Curmudgeoness Aug 2012 #1

Yes. I never heard of using metal garbage cans before till I came across it yesterday. Kaleva Aug 2012 #2

Clean and easy. It's ideal! Curmudgeoness Aug 2012 #3

I've also been reading about people using old refrigerators and freezers as root cellars Kaleva Aug 2012 #6

Learn about what must be kept separate appal_jack Aug 2012 #4

Yes. Some people may be limitied in what they can store. Kaleva Aug 2012 #5

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)

1. Duh!

Reply to Kaleva (Original post)

Sun Aug 12, 2012, 07:37 PM

Aug 2012

A metal garbage can would be ideal! And I have one sitting here unused since the trash company started to make us use their carts. I love DU! Learn something new every day!

Thanks for putting the effort into finding this!

Kaleva

(38,062 posts)

2. Yes. I never heard of using metal garbage cans before till I came across it yesterday.

Reply to Curmudgeoness (Reply #1)

Mon Aug 13, 2012, 09:11 AM

Aug 2012

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)

3. Clean and easy. It's ideal!

Reply to Kaleva (Reply #2)

Mon Aug 13, 2012, 07:43 PM

Aug 2012

Well, except for that digging a hole that deep part.

Kaleva

(38,062 posts)

6. I've also been reading about people using old refrigerators and freezers as root cellars

Reply to Curmudgeoness (Reply #1)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 11:33 AM

Aug 2012

This might work for you as you have a wet basement. I have some projects I have to do today but I'll look up those sites again later and port the links to them here. This might be something that could work for me also.

appal_jack

(3,813 posts)

4. Learn about what must be kept separate

Reply to Kaleva (Original post)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 10:50 AM

Aug 2012

Potatoes must be kept in a separate root cellar space space from apples, as apples emit ethylene gas, which ruins the taters. Onions, garlic, and winter squash like a dry, cool space, while most other storage crops like things more humid. So that's at least three different root cellars.

-app

Kaleva

(38,062 posts)

5. Yes. Some people may be limitied in what they can store.

Reply to appal_jack (Reply #4)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 11:30 AM

Aug 2012

I have a walk in pantry down in the basement with shelves that I can use this winter to store the apples from my apple tree. Apples that I can eat as is or make apple sauce with as needed.

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