Cheap DIY Garbage Can Root Cellar and Cold Storage Project
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- čas přidán 11. 01. 2021
- Ever wonder how you could keep your veggies fresh all winter without breaking the bank? Root cellars of interest to you but you can't afford it? Have no space in your home to store all kinds of veggies? Like digging? If you answered yes to any of these questions then stick around and see our project go from start to finish..plus a 2 month check in.
In this video we get to see and watch how we created our cold storage system using a cheap garbage can and wood shavings..and the ground as well to act as insulation. We go through project planning and talk about where are good and not so good locations to build the cold storage and then we get to digging a hole, placing in our garbage can and then start backfilling so water will not collect. Be sure to stick around to the end of the video for our full 2 month check on the system to see how things are holding up after the first 2 months.
How does it all work? This cheap DIY garbage can root cellar and cold storage project is like geothermal energy system in a way. As you go down underground the temperature remains constant. So when we dig the garbage can into the ground and cover it the ground will keep the veggies at a constant temperature without freezing. So if you have the time and want to learn how to live simply and preserve food simply stop on in and have a looksie!
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Now THAT is cool!! Came over from r/youtubehomesteaders glad to have you over there and even happier to find you on here!! Cheers!!
Thanks so much! Great to get feedback..really appreciate it a great Reddit group so far!
Have been tempted to put my trash cans in an existing HOLE in my property....the slant is a MUCH better idea!! Thanks!
super glad to see this worked so well for you guys! I sadly just lost all my potatoes and squash in a cold snap trying to store them overwinter. I really want to create a diy root cellar, so I might end up trying this. I rent the property I live on otherwise I'd love to build a permanent structure. Do you think this could work for store squash?
I am not sure to tell the truth. None of our taters have had issues this year or last. Small footprint so it can be easy to conceal if you did not want to ask. We have been quite happy with it and were able to have enough leftover to plant the following spring.
..that all being said, more space would be better too. I would love a full time root cellar which was bigger!
Very COOL. Will bears dig something like this up ?
We have had bears in the area but never an issue with any animals in 3 years. I am not sure bears would even eat a pile of potatoes but I guess it depends on how hungry they were.
@@EGBeav TY for replying. I only ask as I was thinking about makin similar project for an ice chest with ice blokes for a small refrigerator replacement to save on electric bill.
I’ve seen other videos where they say your potatoes should not be touching. Have you found that that is an issue?
The shavings do a pretty good job of preventing them from touching too much. In my recent potato planting video I hauled out the taters and there was some moisture on top but the spuds were all good. The wood shavings will absorb some moisture too. Curing the taters helps with both touching and.excess moisture ( so you don't need a vent a much). Thanks and good luck!
You should include an amazon link to the garbage can.
good thinking! Did the text show up OK in your opinion..or hard to see?
Any more updates? Did you finish off your stash? How long did they last? I have thought of doing this with an old igloo type cooler.
..there is an update video after 2 years of use. At the end of the video or sour video list. Works great!
czcams.com/video/tFZABRGjXbw/video.html
@@EGBeav thank you! That's awesome!
Do you re use the same saw dust when storing again for the next lot of vegtables?
Typically not. Of stored in a dry space the shaving will last for a long time and we only use 1/4 of a bag for over wintering the potatoes.
@@EGBeav thanks
Do you plan to continue using that same sawdust for years to come? And is there any reason to think leaves wouldn't work just as well? I noticed you have plenty. I do, too.
We could..but a bag will last for years if kept dry. Leaves will break down and have moisture in it so it would hurt and not help..in my opinion. The shaving cost $8 and we only use 1/5 of a bag per year
Maybe I missed it in the video, but what state or growing zone is this, to get an idea of severity of winter?
Hi. We are in zone 5a I believe. Winter's are long and some winter's can be very rough indeed. Not too bad this winter really though
Also, the cellar worked awesome. Got down as low as about -25c
That is stellar! Thanks so much for the video and follow-up!
Whats your zone? I live in -40F for weeks and weeks northern Alberta :/
Zone 6. I am sure depths and permafrost would dictate how well it would work. Probably the same depth you would need to go for concrete footers..around here 4 ft is sufficient. If you do end up trying I would love to hear the results!
I love potatoes! Why couldn't you store them in the lake?
..they were in a lake but the light was bad so I had to cut it. They are lake potatoes!
Why inverted lid covering?
So that the insulation on top is on a flat surface..plus I fill the inverted lid with more shavings. I will be filling the root cellar in a couple more weeks...works great!
I have a question. Are there any concerns for not using food grade plastic?
I don't think so..or at least I did not concern myself with it. Perhaps there is..but I usually have so much pine shavings that nothing is really touching the sides. Great question!
You did not put any holes in the bottom of the can or a vent on the top. How come?
Nope..wanted to keep it simpler..saw a couple of plans but it is cold here so I did not want outside air..been working great for 3 years like this!
Did you drill any holes in your plastic garbage can and lids? I have seen others drill holes in the metal trash can and lids for air flows, I'm guessing , and wondering why they did and you didn't (assuming you didnt)? The only difference is metal and plastic...why holes in metal and not plastic? OR does it matter? Thank you.
No holes in mine. Plastic and I wanted to see how it would do without holes or a vent. I store stuff late in the fall and it is a shaded area. I liked plastic due to to leaks .I have metal ones for bird seed and the seed always gets wet.
Some do it for venting..mine is small with no spaces and filled to the top..and air vent seemed pointless due to no real air circulation anyway for most of the stuff stored there. Good luck..I am doing another one in a couple weeks! And a review video next week of the cellar .2 years..works awesome!
@@EGBeav Thank you. I will try your method for potatoes and see if it will work in our zone, 7a.
We are in a colder area. You should be fine but let us know! Good luck!
Any update videos? Any upgrades?
I will do one up. There have been some updates in various videos where we talk about things. 2 years and works great. Doing another one this summer too!
Can you update?
We have used it through 2 full winters now and it works great! We just planted our potatoes again..so with the root cellar these are the same potatoes we started with and grow year after year. Love it!
Please no thump thump music!
I appreciate the advice! I seldom put music in the videos anymore..still finding my way!
Those potatoes look green too me. Which is not safe to eat when it turned green.
Yes, we don't eat any which are green but do replant them so we can get more next year. Some were green due to sun exposure before curing..never eat green potatoes!
You spend all summer lovingly nurturing your potatoes and tending to them with time love and patience; then at the last second before storing them you wail them into your barrel risking bruising and problems later on. I'll never get that. Why oh why can you spend hours planting, hoeing, weeding, fertilizing, digging, and simply cannot find the five minutes it would take to carefully arrange them in the wood shavings? The last thing you do to them is dump them from a height carelessly. I'm surprised you didn't pack them down with the back hoe bucket. I mean why not?
Hehe..if you think about industrial harvesting of potatoes they get tested fairly roughly..and the curing process helps toughen them up..you may have a point but we have been doing it this way for 3 years and never lost a single potato due to damage or cold weather..don't watch this year's episode..I was in a rush!! Thanks for the concern
.I will try to be gentler this year..I promise!!