Preservation 101: Root Cellaring

Preservation 101: Root Cellaring

Author: Homesteading Family October 18, 2020 Duration: 34:34

Root cellaring is one of the easiest and most energy-efficient ways to store your fruits and vegetables by using the earth’s natural temperatures. But what do you do if you don’t have the infrastructure to support a traditional root cellar? You get creative! 

In this episode of the Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn continue their series on preservation methods with an introduction to root cellaring. They cover all the basics as well as the alternatives for homesteaders who want to get started with root cellaring, but don’t have the dedicated space for it.   

In this Episode: 

  • Grandma Jeanie is doing much better and appreciates all of the support and well-wishes. 
  • The family is getting ready to go on a trip and is wrapping up all the loose ends for harvest season and their prep for winter.     
  • What is root cellaring and what are the pros and cons? 
  • Which foods are ideal for root cellaring and which foods should not be stored together?
  • What are the right conditions (temp and humidity levels) you need to keep for specific foods and how do you maintain them?  
  • What are some creative alternatives for homesteaders who don’t have the means to have a traditional root cellar?  
  • What are the top 3 priorities you need to know when it comes to root cellaring?
  • Learn the 3 maintenance tips you should follow when inventorying your root cellar.  
  • Josh and Carolyn talk about their future plans for creating their first official root cellar.
  • Question of the day: Do you freeze most of your meat and what is your backup plan if there is a power failure?

Resources: 

You know that every month, we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 subscribers? Each issue has seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, practical homesteading tips, and traditional wisdom from seasoned homesteaders. This magazine equips you to thrive on your homestead, whether you’re in the city, a suburban neighborhood, or on 40 acres. Subscribe today for just $9 a month.


There’s a quiet revolution happening in backyards and on small plots of land, where people are choosing to grow and preserve their own food despite busy modern lives. Everyday Homesteading, from the Homesteading Family, speaks directly to that reality. It’s for anyone who feels the pull toward self-sufficiency but is short on time, sorting through the noise to find what’s genuinely practical. This podcast focuses on methods that are tried and true, saving you from wasting effort and resources on well-meaning but unproven advice. You’ll hear honest conversations about fitting homesteading tasks into a realistic schedule-think five to ten hours a week-transforming that dream of a full pantry into a manageable weekly rhythm. Episodes delve into the nitty-gritty of growing food, cooking from scratch, and preserving your harvest, all with an eye on efficiency. The tone is less about achieving perfection and more about building confidence through simple, actionable steps. Tune in for a sense of community and grounded wisdom that makes the homesteading journey feel possible, starting right where you are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 278

Everyday Homesteading
Podcast Episodes
Must-Have Beekeeping Supplies | Pantry Chat Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:13
When it comes to keeping bees, there are some must-have beekeeping supplies to have on hand for keeping a healthy hive and colony. But are all the supplies out there necessary? Probably not! Listen to this podcast with b…
Buying the BEST Meat... How Do We Know? (Decoding Meat Labels) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:06
How do we know the quality of the meat we’re buying at the grocery store? In this Pantry Chat Podcast, we're decoding meat terminology to understand what we’re getting and how to know if it’s the best meat for us.For mor…
Grow THESE Herbs for your CHICKENS! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:32
Knowing how to identify poultry diseases, their cause, symptoms and know how to treat them can prevent stress for you and your chickens, empowering you to enjoy the self-sufficient life of homesteading. Join me for today…
How Many Animals to Raise for a Year's Worth of Meat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:54
Learning how to raise a year's worth of meat is pivotal in building resiliency. The good news is that there are many ways to go about this. In today's Pantry Chat Podcast, we're discussing how to break down how many anim…
Traditional Food - Eating the Old Way (with Sophia Eng) | Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:59
Learning the basics of traditional eating and why consuming whole-food ingredients is so important to our health is a journey. For Sophia Eng ( @sprinklewithsoil ) and I, this journey started after having children.Join u…
Hard Lessons on Successful Seed Starting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:58
There are two main reasons to start seeds indoors: to extend your growing season and for quality control. We've been starting seeds indoors for over a decade and have learned a lot through trial and error. In this video,…
Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:22
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our nine children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful Nor…
7 Reasons to Homestead in 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:25
There are so many reasons why we would encourage someone to get started homesteading. You may even be surprised that not all "homesteading skills" we recommend require an actual homestead! For these seven specific reason…
Stop The Holiday Insanity! Part 2 | Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:21
Don't let the "must-do" nature of the holidays add stress to this amazing time of year!Listen in for our tips on keeping your sanity during the holidays and just plain saying "no" when needed.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US…