OUTDOOR CELLAR STORAGE

Outdoor cellars or caves may be cheaply built for more or less temporary use or they may be very expensively built of concrete, brick, or clay blocks.  Of course, the latter are permanent storing places and offer perfect storage for potatoes, carrots, cabbages, parsnips, beets, turnips and salsify.

The objectionable features of indoor cellar storage is that such storage does not furnish ideal conditions for keeping the vegetables fresh for any great length of time.

The objectionable feature to the pit storage is the inaccessibility to these pits during severe weather.

The outdoor cellar or cave overcomes both these objections.  The outdoor cellar or cave is an underground structure, preferably built in a hillside and fully covered with earth except at one end only where the entrance is located.  If there are doors at both ends it is almost impossible to prevent freezing in very cold weather.  The cave door should fit perfectly and there should be a hatchway or door over the steps leading down to the cave door.

A very satisfactory inexpensive cellar can be made by digging an excavation about 5 ft. deep and in this erecting a frame by setting posts in rows near the dirt walls.  Saw these posts off at uniform height and place plates on their tops.  On these plates place rafters.  Board up completely with the exception of the entrance.  Cover the whole with dirt or sod and in cold climates add a layer of straw or fodder.

A ventilation must be provided in the roof at the back end.  A sewer tile with the bell end up makes a very good flue.  A dirt floor is satisfactory as it contains moisture.  If there is any seepage use a drain tile to carry it off.

The more pretentious permanent cellars are provided with air spaces to furnish insulation; are provided with large ventilation shafts through the roof and cold air intakes under the floor.  Thorough drainage is obtained by placing a line of tile around the outside wall and also by having the air intake serve as a drain for surplus water that might get into the cave.  The floor is cement or concrete.  Such a cave is expensive but is a permanent structure and a good addition to any farm or estate.  If properly made it is possible to maintain a temperature of 34 to 38 degrees without much fluctuation during the winter months.  This kind of storage is not only adapted for vegetables but apples as well.  It is better adapted to the Northern, Eastern and Western States than to the Southern States, where it is likely to be warm at the time the vegetables are ready for storage.  When making the cave, have it as near as possible to the kitchen door.  Sometimes caves are made so that they can be entered from the house, cellar or porch.

ATTIC STORAGE