Best Way to Store Potatoes in the Root Cellar/Storm Shelter

[@pinemeadowshobbyfarmafruga8319]

I'm planning a root cellar for my homestead. Looking at many designs to see what needs to be done for an effective I like the multifunctionality of your storm shelter. What a wonderful idea. I just subscribed to your channel today. We are so like-minded. I posted a video on my channel on storing root crops the same way in wood shaving. I also posted one on Discovery Channel's page storing citrus crops long term in buckets of sand. I learned the straw-wood shavings-river sand storage method from my grandfather's memoirs. Excellent tutorial here. Thanks and its nice to meet you.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

So glad to have you as a new subscriber! We can learn so much from the older generation. Seems like they had it all figured out and now we try to make things too complicated!

[@essemsween818]

You could do with either learning how to tie onions for storage and hanging them to save space. Or maybe getting some nets that hang or stick to the wall (like the ones to tidy up baby's bath toys?) I have a friend who used to save his wife's ruined tights (or buy cheap ones) for his Onions, you drop one down a leg, tie a knot right above it, drop the next one, tie a knot. It lets the air circulate whilst the knot means they aren't touching and because they stretch so much with the weight they hold loads of onions. It's actually a nice job to do when you're tired, sit chatting with a glass of wine tying onions because it's a mindless activity lol.

[@christinealwayschirping4115]

Nifty using storm shelter ,makes sense...thanks for sharing have a great weekend stay safe God Bless you both and your family

[@LorellaPlanBeeOrchardandFarm]

My mom does the same thing with straw and that seemed to work really well for her.

[@maraneesherman3096]

Awesome, thanks for sharing! I have the same storm shelter and about 200 lbs. of sweet potatoes to store and had been trying to figure out the best way to do it. We’re in Oklahoma and I’m pretty sure our winter weather is about the same as yours so I think this should work great and I’ll be picking up wood chips today, lol. I’m fairly new to your channel but have already watched many of your previous ones. Thanks again!

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

So glad you are following us! We have been really happy with storing things this way. Our spring potatoes lasted all summer using this method!

[@dianashelton1371]

Thank you so much for the information. I have been trying to get my mind around how to use a storm shelter for storage

[@tulipsmoran5197]

I have a safe room in my carport that is 1/4" steel 4x6x8 and locks (I live on a mtn so the bedrock eliminates possibilities of digging a shelter in). I decided to keep some of my expensive prep freeze dried meats in there along with firearm and ammunition. My thinking is that should a tornado actually come through and take my house, I won't be left without my preps. I had two safes bolted to the floor to keep valuables/papers as well. there's still plenty of room for me and two Springer Spaniels to take shelter.

[@lovetohuntlovetohunt6241]

Awesome vid thank you🤗

[@swianecki]

Your sweet potatoes look great. Interesting way to store them. Thanks for another informational video.

[@browncoathomestead2080]

Thanks for the great information for storing potatoes I look forward to trying that out myself. Thanks and have a great day.

[@missourigirl4101]

Great method! Thx! Fellow Missourian.

[@judyhowell7075]

Great video just need to find a cool place here in NW Florida

[@dennisst.germaine3497]

Great information! The only way we can do root cellars up north is to have it totally underground, by either a separate cellar or a partitioned cold spot in your home cellar. I have to say, I really like that that 1 piece chamber design you have. It appears to be watertight and well ventilated. God Bless

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

I grew up in Wisconsin and I can remember that the frost line is quite deep! Missouri doesn't get nearly that cold...at least not the southern part where we are.

[@tulipsmoran5197]

It's not a root cellar. They have installed a storm shelter for tornadoes. There are various designs, cement like theirs, steel and even some lower cost units made of steel reinforced resin.

[@jessicacrewlove]

Do you close the Box then after you've done the sawdust

[@carolynmoody9460]

Blessings

[@EsieKecil]

Great tips brother.. thaanks for sharing.😊😉👍👍

[@JerryDFarrell]

Great tips, I may install one of those shelters myself, planning to grow Sweet Potatoes myself next spring.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Our sweet potatoes did great this year. We ended up with about 135 lbs. from a 45 foot row!

[@johnhunter273]

Great tips!

[@perpetualfarmer8635]

I want to know about the extreme heat and how cool it gets down there. I'm in Texas and no one seems to have root cellars (everyone has storm shelter) but no one has root cellars. It is very hard to find any information on building a root cellar in East Texas to store food all year round. Can you expand a little bit about this and how one can find this information out?

[@jackiedonaldson7718]

What does the temperature stay in the summer time?

[@audramckinney]

Do you still use this shelter for your root cellar? I am in NW AR and trying to figure out if this would be a good option for me.

[@50shadesofgreen]

thanks for the tip

[@casicase5514]

Can you reuse the pine shavings?

[@bugoutbubba3912]

Will those sweet potatoes last until the next planting?

[@loripeer1]

can you use straw in place of chips?

[@uddercharmsfarm8159]

Haaa we are getting that same storm shelter installed tomorrow! I guess I know where I'm storing my extras!! I wonder if fermented and canned items would store well down there?

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

I don't see why they wouldn't. We have been VERY happy with it. The best part is we haven't had a single tornado warning since we got it installed!

[@susancampbell7279]

Where is the video about harvesting the leftover garden?

[@TheKristenGibson]

Nice! Did you build that shelter yourself? Do you have a link to the architectural design?

[@kflan3342]

A metal wire shelving unit would be a great storage solution for onions and butternut squash. Ventilation and does not take up a large footprint

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

+Kim Flanery Great idea!

[@SpiritedEarthWalker]

I'm huge on shelving!! Allows for more efficient storage. Too, hanging hooks in wooden blocks on the ceiling to let your herbs, onions, hot peppers etc to dry.

[@tulipsmoran5197]

Especially those units that fold. I use Origami racks...they easily fold for storage.

[@marywalraven766]

Does the wood chips keep the potatoes from sprouting?

[@judyhowell7075]

Mary Walraven wondering the same thing. I’ve heard you can grow potatoes in wood chips. Guess I could dry the chips first

[@sin46ned]

That's a wonderful shelter and root cellar. That must have been pricey, can you give me an approximate cost?

[@katshomekorner9194]

You are moving from the Homestead to the Farm. What are your plans regarding the root cellar? Move it to the Farm, or install a brand new one at the Farm?

[@Naneve1970]

👍🏼

[@Chantilly871]

When you lay the potatoes out to cure it's out of the sun, correct?

[@friedchicken17]

❤️🙏🤗