Going Green Series - Part 4
Did your grandma have a root cellar? Hey, mine did too! By the time I got to see the root cellar though, it was pretty dilapidated with only a few crooked shelves and some broken glass and rusty can lids scattered on the floor. Not very impressive. The door was old and rickety and I remember it was very dark in there. In fact it was a little scary. So I'd like to get THAT image out of my mind. How 'bout a nice 'Martha Stewart-ish' type root cellar? Does Martha do root cellars? Oh surely she must! Hmm....let's investigate this further.
Okay, I'm back. My Martha-Stewart-root-cellar search was a big disappointment. If she's got one, she's not letting any of us see it. Mary Jane, on the other hand, (the farm-y version of Martha) came through spectacularly. Thank you Mary Jane Butters!
Another great one I stumbled on to was the Tiny Farm blog. I'm going to have to camp out on this one even more. They're trying all sorts of creative ways to make 2 acres work for them. My kind of people! And here is a nice little article about root cellars (She also gives manners on having tea...can she tell me how to hold a teacup?--I'm very impressed! She must be a Romantic Mom too). O-O-H-H!! And here's another good one! She gives us a bona fide tour of her root cellar with lots of pix! C'mon, let's take a look!
Wow! That was fun! Did you have fun? I had fun...and I learned some things too. I'm beginning to think I might actually be able to do this...where's the shovel? Now let's look at root cellar construction. How might I go about doing this whole root cellar thing? Walton Feed looks like they know quite a bit on this subject. They've got everything from the old-fashioned version (like my grandma's--without the broken glass or rickety door) to a "Grandpappy of all Root Cellars" version you just have to check out! And here's one for all of us DIY's who need a little jump-start:
For an even simpler DIY one, Treehugger really comes through. I think my 8 year olds could handle this one.....even hog-tied! (that means tied up like a hog, which means....get back with me later!)
Earth-House has some good info and many styles to choose from--complete with photos (I love photos! No, let me clarify...I NEED photos!).
And we mustn't miss the Root Cellar Capital of the World, of course. If you're easily entertained (like some people I know personally) make sure you click on the cellar doors. Pretty clever, huh...! Wish my web site could do that. Where's that web master brother of mine and his clever, talented, co-partner-in-master-webbering wife of his when I need them? Excuse me, I just had to do a little plugging there--ya, know families have to do that.
Doo-ta-doo-ta-doo......still with me? Ready to start diggin'? Inspired to do that homestead thang? Okay one more. Here's a blog with some links--probably the same ones I found or better. I like their "100 mile diet"....very catchy, good idea.
Well, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty well convinced I can do this. I think I have officially overcome my fear of root cellars. I can just see all those gleaming glass jars full of all sorts of delectables fresh from the garden already...smell the sweet scent from those rows and rows of apples....baskets full of carrots and turnips and squashes still dusty with the earth and soil...our very-own-garden earth and soil. Umm, I can see it already...and the daffodils haven't even bloomed yet! And I bet I can even out-do Martha Stewart...or at least beat her to it! Where's that shovel...where are those kiddos?!! We've got some diggin' to do!
Comments
I've really enjoyed your blogs. Regarding spring--there's hope, it will arrive. Spring was always such as blessing to me. I remember the little crocus flowers pushing their colorful heads through the snow; a sure sign of spring. We're having our own sort of spring here in South Florida. It's a lot like what you call summer. :-) We've just put in tomato plants and refurbished some flower beds. Everything is growing, growing. The nights are still refreshingly cool and early morning walks are delightful. Finally, the pool's warm enough for a swim.
Root cellars--I grew up with my grandparents' root cellar just steps from my front door. I loved it because it was dark, damp, and best of all cool inside; even on the hottest August afternoon.