I love this idea. It's been awhile since you did it, would you consider it a success? I'm wanting something like this at my retreat location for storing food and other stuff. Do you recommend it?
Very interesting question. I know that ground temperatures for semi-arid states are higher than the average ground temperature. Normally root cellars are only used in the winter months after harvest. I had never thought of using one during the summer months. In this case it might work but you would really have to insulate the lid with deep thatch or straw along with a reflective tarp. Even when well insulated, the minimum temperatures might only be perhaps in the 60s.
I might try this and incorporate a cold frame over the barrel to keep a constant temperature over the winter and make it easy to access the barrel if it snows.
It also might be good to put gravel on the bottom of the hole to pull more water away from the barrel when it rains... Humidity control is usually one of the features of a root cellar with stable cool air flow... Just got my wheels turning...
@MawWesty Thanks, I always talk to fast and mumble a bit. I was trying to fit everything I wanted to say into the length of the clip which probably should have been longer.
@furlougha you gotta have a WHOLE bunch of mice for them to get motivated enough to eat thru a blue barrel to find food. Sounds like you need a couple fat feral cats.Good luck!
@rebel69society Ha Ha ,,Yeah, my barn is probably full of mice.I do have cats hanging around but maybe more mice than they can eat...Take care and good luck to you too.
@davettalashley Hi, no problems as of yet. I think the plastic in most blue barrels have Bitrex (sp) which keep chewing creatures out. Not sure how to determine this.
Hi Dean, my wife and I are moving to a [very small] farmhouse in Virginia which has no root cellar. Overall, would you consider your experiment a success and would you recommend I try your technique as a 'starter' root cellar. Thanks.
@buffalopatriot Hi, yes it was very successful. One modification I would suggest is to place a waterproof tarp over the barrel, a 8x8 or 6x6 would work fine. We noticed spring rains will saturate the soil will flood up in the drainage hole in the bottom. Normally this was not a problem because the soil would absorb and spread out the rain. On the barrel that was tarped this problem was not a problem.
Hi, the longest I have tested this for at low temp was just below freezing for a month (daily) with average nightly lows of -20C (-5F). During this period the temp in the cellar was about 4C or 39F which is good for some things, actually too cold for others (like apples) I was storing potatoes so I didn't worry about it, but if I wanted to raise the temp I would have to put straw on top with a tarp. Usually I just have a coarse thick stick mat of thatch that is coarser than straw.
To operate the barrel at -25C (-13F), you would DEFINITELY need more insulation on top. Maybe even a fiberglass insulation layer with a tarp on top. I don't think just straw would do it - and if it did the layer would be think enough to be a pain when you wanted to get in to the cellar.
Hi, no it's certainly not a dumb question. Because if you raise your own food and would like to try and store it through the winter . . . that's a problem. Keeping food at between 35 and 47 degrees F depending on the food, can be a challenge. Traditionally root cellars were dug into a hill side to use the cold of winter and heat of ground as kind a poor man's refrigerator. This is an adaptation of small cellars I have seen make out of stone or tile.
to help with air flow, you might want to dig that hole a bit deeper, put some cinder blocks down on bottom, drill holes in the bottom of the barrels and lay fine screening on top of that and put the barrels on the cinder blocks. That will take care of any "liquid" build up and might prevent it!
May 2nd 2010 the temperature of the barrel is 49F. It is holding the cold very well. I have a lot of thatch on top which is helping and that I will take a picture of that. The temperatures here have been in 50's at night and upper 60's during the day.
As of today, the barrels worked great! Potatoes look and feel just like day one. Low temperature was around 35 F (mid Feb) which is a little cold for potatoes (makes them sweet, starch ->sugar at low temp). In April, the barrel temp is steady at 49 F because the ground is still cold.
Hi, this picture might help. I used slotted plastic pipe for internal ventilation and I also insulated the middle of the barrel as shown in the vid so that mid winter the air would want to travel down the tubes from very top to very bottom.
From Rural King, but they were part of a feed tub and I used the tubs for something else. I would just use garbage can lids . . . you have to insulate the lids. I had trouble keeping the temp down in Sept - Nov with no insulation and just thatch on top.
I love this idea. It's been awhile since you did it, would you consider it a success? I'm wanting something like this at my retreat location for storing food and other stuff. Do you recommend it?
TexasRoadrunners 2 weeks ago
Very interesting question. I know that ground temperatures for semi-arid states are higher than the average ground temperature. Normally root cellars are only used in the winter months after harvest. I had never thought of using one during the summer months. In this case it might work but you would really have to insulate the lid with deep thatch or straw along with a reflective tarp. Even when well insulated, the minimum temperatures might only be perhaps in the 60s.
DeanLeatherman 3 weeks ago
Do you think it works for the southwest like for Arizona temperatures above 100s?
elmergamez 3 weeks ago
This is a cool idea.
I might try this and incorporate a cold frame over the barrel to keep a constant temperature over the winter and make it easy to access the barrel if it snows.
It also might be good to put gravel on the bottom of the hole to pull more water away from the barrel when it rains... Humidity control is usually one of the features of a root cellar with stable cool air flow... Just got my wheels turning...
Thanks for posting. Good video.
armanflint 3 weeks ago
I like your voice;)
MawWesty 1 month ago
@MawWesty Thanks, I always talk to fast and mumble a bit. I was trying to fit everything I wanted to say into the length of the clip which probably should have been longer.
DeanLeatherman 1 month ago
Mice will eat through the barrel. I have used them for feed storage is how I know this.
furlougha 1 month ago
@furlougha you gotta have a WHOLE bunch of mice for them to get motivated enough to eat thru a blue barrel to find food. Sounds like you need a couple fat feral cats.Good luck!
rebel69society 1 month ago
@rebel69society Ha Ha ,,Yeah, my barn is probably full of mice.I do have cats hanging around but maybe more mice than they can eat...Take care and good luck to you too.
furlougha 1 month ago
very clever . .
Socksee 5 months ago
@davettalashley Hi, no problems as of yet. I think the plastic in most blue barrels have Bitrex (sp) which keep chewing creatures out. Not sure how to determine this.
DeanLeatherman 6 months ago
Hi Dean, my wife and I are moving to a [very small] farmhouse in Virginia which has no root cellar. Overall, would you consider your experiment a success and would you recommend I try your technique as a 'starter' root cellar. Thanks.
buffalopatriot 9 months ago
@buffalopatriot Hi, yes it was very successful. One modification I would suggest is to place a waterproof tarp over the barrel, a 8x8 or 6x6 would work fine. We noticed spring rains will saturate the soil will flood up in the drainage hole in the bottom. Normally this was not a problem because the soil would absorb and spread out the rain. On the barrel that was tarped this problem was not a problem.
DeanLeatherman 9 months ago
Hi, the longest I have tested this for at low temp was just below freezing for a month (daily) with average nightly lows of -20C (-5F). During this period the temp in the cellar was about 4C or 39F which is good for some things, actually too cold for others (like apples) I was storing potatoes so I didn't worry about it, but if I wanted to raise the temp I would have to put straw on top with a tarp. Usually I just have a coarse thick stick mat of thatch that is coarser than straw.
DeanLeatherman 9 months ago
To operate the barrel at -25C (-13F), you would DEFINITELY need more insulation on top. Maybe even a fiberglass insulation layer with a tarp on top. I don't think just straw would do it - and if it did the layer would be think enough to be a pain when you wanted to get in to the cellar.
DeanLeatherman 9 months ago
will it work for colder temp like below 25C? in Canada here
healingunicorn 10 months ago
will this work for in Canada, where our temp goes as low as minus 25-23 C?
healingunicorn 10 months ago
will this work for in Canada, where our temp goes as low as minus 25-23 C?
healingunicorn 10 months ago
Great Idea! I was wondering about air flow.
ForexStrategySecrets 1 year ago
Hi, no it's certainly not a dumb question. Because if you raise your own food and would like to try and store it through the winter . . . that's a problem. Keeping food at between 35 and 47 degrees F depending on the food, can be a challenge. Traditionally root cellars were dug into a hill side to use the cold of winter and heat of ground as kind a poor man's refrigerator. This is an adaptation of small cellars I have seen make out of stone or tile.
DeanLeatherman 1 year ago
Is it me just being a dumbarse but why would you use it?
I dont mean end of the world stuff but what does this do?
DreamsCatcher101 1 year ago
to help with air flow, you might want to dig that hole a bit deeper, put some cinder blocks down on bottom, drill holes in the bottom of the barrels and lay fine screening on top of that and put the barrels on the cinder blocks. That will take care of any "liquid" build up and might prevent it!
wheelori814 1 year ago
Absolutely excellent! Thank you.
Kashmir2000is 1 year ago 5
Temperature update: May 18 barrel temperatures 54 degrees. Potatoes still dormant.
DeanLeatherman 1 year ago
May 2nd 2010 the temperature of the barrel is 49F. It is holding the cold very well. I have a lot of thatch on top which is helping and that I will take a picture of that. The temperatures here have been in 50's at night and upper 60's during the day.
DeanLeatherman 1 year ago
As of today, the barrels worked great! Potatoes look and feel just like day one. Low temperature was around 35 F (mid Feb) which is a little cold for potatoes (makes them sweet, starch ->sugar at low temp). In April, the barrel temp is steady at 49 F because the ground is still cold.
DeanLeatherman 1 year ago
What about the air flow inside the drum?
Thank you for the vid. Sub you.
EarthElla 1 year ago
Hi, this picture might help. I used slotted plastic pipe for internal ventilation and I also insulated the middle of the barrel as shown in the vid so that mid winter the air would want to travel down the tubes from very top to very bottom.
DeanLeatherman 1 year ago
Cool idea, how did they work out this winter? I the potato bugs leave me anything I think I will try it.
mattcatlin 2 years ago
Where did you get the removable lids for those drums?
dsarti1 2 years ago
From Rural King, but they were part of a feed tub and I used the tubs for something else. I would just use garbage can lids . . . you have to insulate the lids. I had trouble keeping the temp down in Sept - Nov with no insulation and just thatch on top.
DeanLeatherman 2 years ago
I figured, No one seems to make lids for 55gal plastic drums
dsarti1 2 years ago
Interesting idea..
johnny102marvin 2 years ago