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
How to Pivot When Things Go Wrong on the Homestead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:46
Want to know what happens when you combine people, gardens, animals, and weather? A guarantee that things can and will go wrong when you least expect it! During this episode of Pantry Chat Josh and Carolyn talk about a r…
Positivity and Preparedness in Uncertain Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:55
COVID-19, flu season, civil unrest, education disruption, supply and demand issues. There’s a lot of challenges, uncertainty and fear affecting everyone right now, including homesteaders, in real, new and unprecedented w…
The First 7 Things You Must Do On Your New Homestead Property [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
You’ve bought your new homesteading property and you’re ready to move in. But don’t go buy the cow just yet! There are some key things you need to check off your list so you can be better prepared as you start to settle…
8 Things You Need to Know When Buying Homestead Property [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:47
There’s a big movement happening right now with people who are looking to leave the city life behind and make the leap to the country but making the move too quickly without the proper planning and due diligence, can spe…
How to Get Started Homesteading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:13
Josh and Carolyn debunk the most popular myths around what you really need to do to get started homesteading and share 16 essential skills you need to start mastering now before you can take it to the next level. Creatin…
Apartment to 40 Acres - Our Homesteading Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
Welcome to the first episode of Pantry Chat! Josh and Carolyn have taken their popular YouTube series and turned it into a podcast so you can get all your homesteading tips on the go. If you’re new to the Homesteading Fa…
Introducing Everyday Homesteading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:56
Desperate to grow, cook, and preserve real food for your family in only 5-10 hours a week, but stuck as a new homesteader looking for practical, tried and true methods that work? You wanted those pantry shelves filled ye…