Root Cellar Design/Build

Root cellars and other means of passive food storage are simple and effective ways to reduce carbon footprints, monthly bills, grid dependency, and increase your food security. In this five-day course, participants will learn elements of designing for passive cooling and humidity control, and apply them to the construction of a root cellar from the ground up. Students will participate in the hands-on construction of either an actual monolithic subterranean ferro-cement root cellar or a drystack concrete block root cellar with a complete dry food storage area. Participants will learn about site selection, passive cooling, thermal mass, ice batteries, raw food considerations, planning crops for food storage, design considerations for different applications, and retrofit opportunities and methodologies. All Levels.