Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
Moderator: ZS Global Moderators
- Halfapint
- * * * * *
- Posts: 4030
- Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:41 pm
- Favorite Zombie Movies: all?
- Location: Central Cascadia
Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
The SO found out about root cellars and wants one. I'm not completely sold on the idea, we have a corner of the house that's below the dirt on 2 sides, thick concrete on 3, and a very thick insulated door. The issue with it is that it's small.
The issue I have with the root cellar is that there's no flat land around the house where we could dig one down. The part that's cleared is where the septic tank is at. However we do have lots of hills sides we could dig out and then put something like a large 6'-8' drainage culvert. The issue with the drainage culvert is putting shelves and other things inside. I was thinking about a large concrete box, however where it would go it would be very difficult to get cement into (for that matter moving a culvert would be hard). I've got a 3 bag cement mixer but then I'd be running back and forth with wheel barrows of aggregate.
Anyone have ideas? Something that might be easy to purchase and transport that could be buried and not collapse under the weight of dirt (so connex are out, lol)?
The issue I have with the root cellar is that there's no flat land around the house where we could dig one down. The part that's cleared is where the septic tank is at. However we do have lots of hills sides we could dig out and then put something like a large 6'-8' drainage culvert. The issue with the drainage culvert is putting shelves and other things inside. I was thinking about a large concrete box, however where it would go it would be very difficult to get cement into (for that matter moving a culvert would be hard). I've got a 3 bag cement mixer but then I'd be running back and forth with wheel barrows of aggregate.
Anyone have ideas? Something that might be easy to purchase and transport that could be buried and not collapse under the weight of dirt (so connex are out, lol)?
JeeperCreeper wrote:I like huge dicks, Halfapint, so you are OK in my book.... hahaha
Spazzy wrote:Tell ya what... If Zombies attack and the world ends I'll hook tandem toddlers to a plow if it means I'll be able to eat...
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3EAJex1RVo[/YouTube]
might not be similar to your situation, but should give you some ideas.
If I was in your shoes, I'd be looking at the culvert, the shape would lend itself for weight distribution. you could either put walls in and install the shelves to the wall, or just have some shelves deeper than others.
might not be similar to your situation, but should give you some ideas.
If I was in your shoes, I'd be looking at the culvert, the shape would lend itself for weight distribution. you could either put walls in and install the shelves to the wall, or just have some shelves deeper than others.
Tropical Cyclone Ita: Category 5 landfall 2014
Tropical Cyclone Marcia: Category 5 landfall 2015
Tropical Cyclone Nathan: Category 3 landfall 2015
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie: Category 4 landfall 2017
Watsonville/Walsh River Bushfire 2018
North Queensland Monsoonal Event 2019
New South Wales Bushfires 2019
Tropical Cyclone Marcia: Category 5 landfall 2015
Tropical Cyclone Nathan: Category 3 landfall 2015
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie: Category 4 landfall 2017
Watsonville/Walsh River Bushfire 2018
North Queensland Monsoonal Event 2019
New South Wales Bushfires 2019
- Halfapint
- * * * * *
- Posts: 4030
- Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:41 pm
- Favorite Zombie Movies: all?
- Location: Central Cascadia
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
Cool idea, but damn...... $12,000 I could probably buy an excavator, concrete, make my own concrete bricks, and seal the concrete and buy a new gun or two for the same price. It's impressive but seems crazy to do for the cost. I mean just make a mold (mould?!) and pour concrete.
I watched some videos of people making their own concrete cinderblocks which for something small could be interesting. Just need a mold and could make my own bricks. would have to price out the cost VS buying ready made ones.
I watched some videos of people making their own concrete cinderblocks which for something small could be interesting. Just need a mold and could make my own bricks. would have to price out the cost VS buying ready made ones.
JeeperCreeper wrote:I like huge dicks, Halfapint, so you are OK in my book.... hahaha
Spazzy wrote:Tell ya what... If Zombies attack and the world ends I'll hook tandem toddlers to a plow if it means I'll be able to eat...
- flybynight
- * * * * *
- Posts: 3314
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2013 12:30 am
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
http://extension.illinois.edu/tog/storing.cfm
I first saw this on another site and they showed it real traditional with just a hole dug with straw and then vegetables and then covered with straw and some dirt. I might have that article stored on one of my puters I'll check and post it if I find it.
I first saw this on another site and they showed it real traditional with just a hole dug with straw and then vegetables and then covered with straw and some dirt. I might have that article stored on one of my puters I'll check and post it if I find it.
Not all those who wander are lost
John Titor was right <---
Way past the point of going gray man. See you on the other side ( or not
)
John Titor was right <---


Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
Split the difference and berm it? Get an excavator or whatever to dig out about half the cellar's volume, build and seal it, then pile the remaining dirt back on? (More complex in practice, but you'd need to research local conditions and considerations anyway.)
If you can't/don't want to build from base materials, maybe SIPs? They could be shipped in and held at the depot, and you'd just need a truck and flatbed trailer.
If you can't/don't want to build from base materials, maybe SIPs? They could be shipped in and held at the depot, and you'd just need a truck and flatbed trailer.
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
My FIL took an old freezer, pulled the door seal, lack and handle.
After removing the compressor and heat exchanger, he drilled several holes in the "back'.
I was buried 'face up' in the back yard next to the garden. When vegetables were stored, the top was covered with straw for added insulation. Check local laws, even with the door unable to 'shut' it may still be illegal.
We stored out spuds like described above leave in dirt, cover with straw. We called this 'pitting'.
https://lovelygreens.com/storing-root-v ... es-ground/
https://extension.illinois.edu/tog/storing.cfm
After removing the compressor and heat exchanger, he drilled several holes in the "back'.
I was buried 'face up' in the back yard next to the garden. When vegetables were stored, the top was covered with straw for added insulation. Check local laws, even with the door unable to 'shut' it may still be illegal.
We stored out spuds like described above leave in dirt, cover with straw. We called this 'pitting'.
https://lovelygreens.com/storing-root-v ... es-ground/
https://extension.illinois.edu/tog/storing.cfm
TacAir - I'd rather be a disappointed pessimist than a horrified optimist
**All my books ** some with a different view of the "PAW". Check 'em out.
Adventures in rice storage//Mod your Esbit for better stability
**All my books ** some with a different view of the "PAW". Check 'em out.
Adventures in rice storage//Mod your Esbit for better stability
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
could be worse, my local weather conditions make underground structures...ill-suited (currently getting ready for flooding rains)Halfapint wrote:Cool idea, but damn...... .
Tropical Cyclone Ita: Category 5 landfall 2014
Tropical Cyclone Marcia: Category 5 landfall 2015
Tropical Cyclone Nathan: Category 3 landfall 2015
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie: Category 4 landfall 2017
Watsonville/Walsh River Bushfire 2018
North Queensland Monsoonal Event 2019
New South Wales Bushfires 2019
Tropical Cyclone Marcia: Category 5 landfall 2015
Tropical Cyclone Nathan: Category 3 landfall 2015
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie: Category 4 landfall 2017
Watsonville/Walsh River Bushfire 2018
North Queensland Monsoonal Event 2019
New South Wales Bushfires 2019
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
Tell us again how you are not a zombie?I was buried 'face up' in the back yard next to the garden.
Pitting is cheaper than a cellar. Old style cellars tended to work but were prone to invasion by pests. That still is a way to go. How much do you want to spend?
You go 'round and around it
You go over and under
I go through
You go over and under
I go through
- Asymetryczna
- ZS Member
- Posts: 1293
- Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 3:56 pm
- Favorite Zombie Movies: The Road
- Location: Crow, WV
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
I recommend looking to Foxfire and The Farmer's Almanac in terms of worldwide web searching.
And keep us posted. Its an interesting topic.
With the links, posted blogs and comments this ought to help some:
https://www.almanac.com/content/how-build-root-cellar
And keep us posted. Its an interesting topic.
With the links, posted blogs and comments this ought to help some:
https://www.almanac.com/content/how-build-root-cellar
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
-
- * * *
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:02 am
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
Look at a basic surviveastorm shelter. Dual purpose.
- Halfapint
- * * * * *
- Posts: 4030
- Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:41 pm
- Favorite Zombie Movies: all?
- Location: Central Cascadia
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
I like this for the simplicity and can be done in basically a day. However talking with SO she was hoping for a "shelter" that we could use to store bulk foods and other goods in (when did she become a prepper?!?!?!). The property hasn't been well maintained in at least 10 years, and has been down right neglected for 5. The last year we've done a bit to help but still lots to do.TacAir wrote:My FIL took an old freezer, pulled the door seal, lack and handle.
After removing the compressor and heat exchanger, he drilled several holes in the "back'.
I was buried 'face up' in the back yard next to the garden. When vegetables were stored, the top was covered with straw for added insulation. Check local laws, even with the door unable to 'shut' it may still be illegal.
We stored out spuds like described above leave in dirt, cover with straw. We called this 'pitting'.
https://lovelygreens.com/storing-root-v ... es-ground/
https://extension.illinois.edu/tog/storing.cfm
What's that have to do with storage? Well there's a carport that was dug out of the hillside and left, over the years rain and gravity has caused it to collapse around the lets of the covered carport. I could dig back a little further and convert that to the storage/root cellar. The problem is
That's exactly it. I'm already looking at building a bit of a retaining wall to keep the earth back from collapsing around the carport. I could continue the wall and put a roof on it and complete it that way.Stercutus wrote:How much do you want to spend?
I wish I had some file sharing site to load some photos that worked with mobile (rarely am I on computer). I'd show you what I mean and what I plan to do. But like I said this is a LONGTERM project that I plan to do years down the line if ever, cost would be the big factor.
JeeperCreeper wrote:I like huge dicks, Halfapint, so you are OK in my book.... hahaha
Spazzy wrote:Tell ya what... If Zombies attack and the world ends I'll hook tandem toddlers to a plow if it means I'll be able to eat...
- Asymetryczna
- ZS Member
- Posts: 1293
- Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 3:56 pm
- Favorite Zombie Movies: The Road
- Location: Crow, WV
Re: Root Cellar/Long Term Bulk Storrage
To add to the list of considerations: Groundfridge
https://www.weltevree.eu/ventures/groundfridge/
https://www.weltevree.eu/ventures/groundfridge/
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau