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
Nutritional Benefits of Organ Meats and Cooking Tips | Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:32
Why are organ meats healthy? What is Pluck, and why do we eat it almost daily? Learn more about nose-to-tail eating in this blog post and podcast interview with James from Pluck.For more information, visit the blog post…
What Wild Game Do We Harvest? | Pantry Chat Podcast SHORT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:47
We’re all busy and have a lot on our schedules, and sometimes we only have time for a quick podcast. Come listen to this podcast short as we answer your questions in a short amount of time. Today’s podcast short is all a…
What’s a Good Lung Tonic? | Pantry Chat Podcast SHORT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:22
We’re all busy and have a lot on our schedules, and sometimes we only have time for a quick podcast. Come listen to this podcast short as we answer your questions in a short amount of time. Today’s podcast short is all a…
Can You Freeze Raw Milk? | Pantry Chat Podcast SHORT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:07
We’re all busy and have a lot on our schedules, and sometimes we only have time for a quick podcast. Come listen to this podcast short as we answer your questions in a short amount of time. Today’s podcast short is all a…
Breeding & Hatching Out Chickens | Pantry Chat SHORT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:09
We’re all busy and have a lot on our schedules, and sometimes we only have time for a quick podcast. Come listen to this podcast short as we answer your questions in a short amount of time. Today’s podcast short is all a…
Are your chickens resilient? (Feeding Chickens in hard times) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:51
What would we do if we didn't have access to chicken feed? How would we feed our chickens in hard times? Our guest Dalia from Chickenlandia is here to share her tips with us today.For more information and the show notes,…
Meat Chicken Breeds | Pantry Chat Podcast SHORT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19
We’re all busy and have a lot on our schedules, and sometimes we only have time for a quick podcast. Come listen to this podcast short as we answer your questions in a short amount of time. Today’s podcast short is all a…