Root Cellar Envy

We put so much work into our vegetable garden it makes sense we should try to preserve as much of it as possible. Maybe not all of us have gardens but belong to a garden co-op or find really good deals on fresh produce and and would like to save it. 

not a bad haul!

A generation or two our ancestors didn't have the luxury of  a 24 hour mega mart around the corner. What they grew, they ate, they canned , pickled, smoked, dried, salt packed or stored in a root cellar. I don't have a root cellar but I sure wish I did.

I can picture it with jars of jams, pickles and other mouth watering yummies lined up like little jewelled soldiers. Baskets of apples, pears, squash, and potatoes just waiting to be eaten. I can smell the air fragrant with clusters of onion, garlic, peppers, lavender and sunflower pods drying. And I can feel the cool air as I walk in the cellar and survey rewards reaped from a season of hard work. Oh how I long to have a root cellar!

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I rely on canning ...

HOT salsa in pint and a half jars

Hot squash pickles

onion relish

Zucchini relish

Polish Dill pickles

and freezing for almost all of my food preservation efforts. 

I have a food dehydrator but have yet to use it, I am ashamed to say. Next year, I swear I will use it!

But all my thoughts keep going back to a root cellar. My house has a cellar/ basement/ dungeon  that might work  as a root cellar. Or perhaps I could turn a corner of my detached garage into a root cellar. I have been reading up on it and one way or another I am gonna have a root cellar!

How about y'all--anyone have a root cellar? Memories of a root cellar from when you were younger? Ideals on making a root cellar? I would love to hear all about it!

A tisket, a tasket, that sure is a lot of baskets...

I don't know about you but I sure do love baskets. All sorts of baskets. Different colors, textures, sizes and shapes.  If I don't like the color--I paint them. Baskets bring a warmth and natural texture to a space. With so many varieties there is a basket for everyone. When the hubbs calls me a basket-case, he isn't far from the mark, haha! (And trust me when I say this is only a few that I have!)

I use them to hold dish towels in my kitchen.

I keep my first aid supplies in here.

Corral the TV, satellite and DVD remotes in the living room.

Try and control the dogs toys. (I didn't say I was successful- don't judge) 

Office stuff storage

Extra toiletries in the bathroom

I love to put plants in them.

They are great for  carrying my garden stuff.

But this is probably my favorite use most of all...

Wussie Cat comfy and cozy in her basket

Do you have any favorite baskets? What do you use them for?