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3.95 of 5 stars
Anyone can learn to store fruits and vegetables safely and naturally with a cool, dark space (even a closet ) and the step-by-step advice in this b... read full description

reviews

Feb 04, 2012
Ainee added it
As I starve for fruits and vegetables in my diet I find a book such as this to be divine. Things learned so far: 1. Gardening is the management of the soil since it is a most complex substance that one may ever have to deal with. 2. Regarding vegetables grown from ones own garden makes one lives/retire to complacency and a declaration of independence. So as an apartment dweller I cannot be complacent but displaced. Finished and returned to the library.

I am suffering from paranoia sinc More...
Feb 03, 2011
Ami rated it: 5 of 5 stars
If you have ever wondered how Ma in "Little House in the Big Woods" kept all her produce and harvest bounty so that Laura had good things to eat in January and never developed scurvy, this book answers all your questions. I can't believe there are so many methods to storing produce, besides canning and freezing, and I can't believe that I didn't know them before my 37th year. I did, after all, live in Iowa for the first decade of my life. Genetically I'm programmed to understand agr More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Mar 03, 2010
Jill rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book gives a lot of great information not just on root cellaring! It makes root cellaring approachable for anyone, even if you don't have and actual "root cellar." I especially enjoyed the first half of this book that gives information on when to start different vegetables and different ways for storing them. Recommended!
May 08, 2010
Mary rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Okay, call me fruity if you like (pun intended!) but I want to do this. The appeal to be completely self-sufficient is like a siren's song to me.

Good thing I've stuck wax in my ears and tied myself to a mast...

(3 stars for the boredom factor, but wow what a lot of ideas it gave me!)
Aug 14, 2010
Andrea rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Three stars as i think the book too quickly makes the assumption that there is a time where the ground is frozen in all areas. Living near the SF bay it just doesn't get that cold here. Even still there were lessons to be learned about how/where to store goodies. There are inventive ideas like under existing porches and in closets along side the giant built structures or full basement conversions. The explanations were extremely detailed with great diagrams and easy to understand.
Apr 25, 2010
Lynne rated it: 5 of 5 stars
An excellent resource for anyone looking for ways to preserve fresh fruit and vegetables. Some are simple, some require construction... it's all a matter of what you need and are able to do. Cellaring requires little to no energy use, and virtually anyone can find suitable space and materials.

I can't imagine there is a better book out there on this subject.
Nov 20, 2008
PJ marked it as to-read
Another great reference to have on-hand when it comes time to store food over the winter.
Nov 22, 2009
Jessica rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Good information - we're just not ready to take on these projects just yet.
Jan 02, 2010
Jeffrey rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Great book for anyone who cooks with produce a lot. Even for those of us with no hope of digging a hole in the ground, it gives appropriate storage techniques that can be used by anyone who has ever had a piece of fruit or a veggie go bad before it was eaten.
Jun 23, 2010
Widsith marked it as to-read
Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables by Mike Bubel (1991)
Apr 10, 2008
Duncan rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Due to circumstances, I have been living on a lot of food storage. The body does not like too much dry and processed food. A dear friend of mine sent me this book on preserving garden produce in a more natural state. Thank you! Next year will be so much easier! I'm still reading it, but it has suggestions on which types of plants to grow, when to harvest them, and how to store them. If you don't have a root cellar it doesn't matter. The book seems to provide many alternative ideas on how More...
Dec 06, 2008
Kristen rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Useful tips on storing food without having to can it. Who knew that attics are good places to keep winter squash?
Feb 10, 2009
Miriam rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Has almost as much about how to plan, grow, and harvest food for root cellaring as it does about making a root cellar (makes sense, of course). Pretty awesome. I like that it has very detailed fancy options, but also descriptions of people doing things much more simply. And that there are plenty of options that work if you're not out in the country. Looking forward to trying some of this ourselves next season!
Oct 22, 2008
Angelyn rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Wouldn't it be great to have your own fresh veges all winter long that you grew yourself! I thinks so but I was a little disappointed that it is so complicated. Different vegetables need to be stored at different temperatures etc. There are lots of ways to do it though. At least you can easily store winter squash in your basement at a warmer temperature and they will last nicely.
Aug 11, 2008
Christina rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Actually only read parts of this, mostly because I'm pretty sure that there is no way I'm going to construct a root cellar in our backyard. But I think I'm reasonably reassured that it might be possible to store winter onions in our sunroom, so it's not be a complete waste. Might be worth having around for future reference, for a different location or a harder time, perhaps.
Dec 20, 2011
Madam rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I loved this book, and thought it was very comprehensive and easy-to-read. Of course, this comes from the perspective of someone who knew absolutely nothing about root cellaring before I read the book. There are black and white photos and diagrams that show you how to build a root cellar, but you may have to do some supplemental research.
Aug 18, 2010
Lisa rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Using this book, I built a wonderful and functional root cellar in an unheated basement room. This winter, it is keeping a temperature of around 38 degrees. It's like having a walk-in fridge. It is filled with veggies from the summer garden, plus my canning. It cost me about $35 in insulation and materials. A gem.
Oct 08, 2008
Claire rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Very comprehensive book on root cellaring--truly the bible it was claimed to be. It made me mourn the dirt-floored section in our basement that we covered over with cement. Why? Oh why? How will we ever achieve 90-95% humidity now. Wail.
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Dec 17, 2009
rose rated it: 3 of 5 stars
being something of a reference book, i can't truly say i've "read" it. i will use this book, however, if we ever have a surplus that we're not canning. the authors are passionate about root cellars and therefore, it's actually pretty interesting.
Dec 20, 2011
Katrina rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I didn't get a chance to read the whole thing before it was due back at the library, but it was very interesting to skim through it and get some ideas. It definitely got my wheels turning...
Apr 27, 2008
Dan marked it as to-read
Root cellars are what we had before refridgerators. They don't use power, either . . . can't be too bad, and ideal conditions for winemaking, cheese making, and fermenting.
Aug 14, 2008
Junio rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is the go-to guide for root cellaring. If there's something you need to know and it's not in this book, then it ain't root cellaring.
Feb 01, 2012
Mary rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Great reference book
Sep 04, 2010
Bethany is currently reading it
Awesome! I just can't wait till my root cellar it done! It tell me what veggies need what temps, great for anyone wanting to store fruits and veggies.
Jan 09, 2010
Elie rated it: 5 of 5 stars
A must read for those who didn't grow up with this type knowledge around.
Nov 02, 2009
Michael rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting book, very granola for my taste... not quite enough on setting up root cellars inside modern homes though.
Feb 11, 2012
Doug is currently reading it
Feb 11, 2012
Kirsten marked it as to-read
Feb 11, 2012
Kelli rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Feb 10, 2012
Steph rated it: 3 of 5 stars