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Infidel | 03-22-2006 06:34 PM
The Pallet Root Cellar Emergency food storage: The Pallet Root Cellar. By Ted Wright Fifteen years ago when I began my odyssey as a "Domestic Survival Specialist" I began compiling the educational materials I felt were necessary for the layman to fully grasp the scope of "Successful Survival." In routine fashion, I searched my own memory banks recalling the many systems and hard lessons that I learned by trial and error during my time both in the London bomb shelter and as a Special Forces combat soldier. This led to what I considered was a complete educational package of survival material covering all aspects of survival needs. High on the list, of course, was "Food & Water." Following a life long practice, my research led me to the study of the successful in this field; those who had conquered the very challenges facing today's post disaster survivor. I was led to the Native Americans and the early Pioneers who overcame the very problems we face today; storage and lack of refrigeration, both of which limit our efforts when it comes to food inventories. Since 1980, when I started teaching others, the priorities have changed. Oh, we still need to put away supplies of food, but the urgency is now more focused on the amount required due to circumstances other than natural disaster. Since we live as we do (under the computer processed bottom line), happily on the trail of increased profits, the inventory of "ready-to-eat/ready to sell" food in the pipeline has been reduced to the barest minimum possible. As a result, grocery stores no longer have a stockpile of goods in the "back room." We notice that every few days the supermarket is stacked up and down the aisles with boxes of goods waiting to be stocked directly onto the shelves. Given this information, the fact that we must all face is that throughout the whole country there is less than a few days food supply readily available. If the truck does not roll on time, we are plumb out of luck! Back in the 80's I developed my "Pallet Root cellar" to face the existing problems. This is obviously patterned after the old, rural storage system some of us still remember seeing way back when. The root cellar system allows for the storage of a great amount of food (and some beer, inside joke!) in a small space that is naturally regulated at a constant temperature of about 63 degrees year round. The only proviso is that the lid must be kept on at all times. Back in the old days it was a door. All food stored in the root cellar should be of the dry variety, tightly sealed in dry containers. Rice, grains of all kinds, beans of all varieties, as well as packaged food items such as soups and similar items. The product of our food dehydrator is also stored down there. A typical meal example could be to select some beef stew base packets, boil some white beans, put in some dried carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes and with sourdough rolls enjoy a fine "backyard stew!" The #3 video I have just completed fully outlines the treatment of food and water including, of course the preparation of food for the root cellar, all as an extension to Chapter 4 in my book, "The Home and Backyard Survival" Construction of the Pallet Root Cellar is very simple and can be made and put into use in a weekend. Here's how: * Collect six pallets from outside stores and garbage pick up points or the local furniture movers. * Measure your pallets (usually 4'x4') and dig a hole several inches bigger all round than the pallets. Be sure to allow enough depth for the top pallet to be below ground by 6" when it is put on. http://theepicenter.com/giffiles/tipoweek/towted1.gif The Root Cellar hole, larger than pallets. * Line the hole with a sheet of good thick plastic, the plastic should loosely drape in the hole. http://theepicenter.com/giffiles/tipoweek/towted2.gif Hole lined with plastic. * Place one pallet flat on the bottom for a "Floor." Be careful not to tear the plastic liner. http://theepicenter.com/giffiles/tipoweek/towted3.gif The floor installed. * Standing on the floor pallet in the hole place the other pallets around the sides to make "Walls." You will find that the pallets do not support each other because they are all the same size. http://theepicenter.com/giffiles/tipoweek/towted4.gif Walls installed. * Cut 2 pieces of 2'x4' the same width as the floor pallet and attach it to the top of the end pallets or side pallets (it does not matter which) using bailing wire or thick string. Now the pallets will not cave in. http://theepicenter.com/giffiles/tipoweek/towted5.gif 2x4s installed to hold walls. * Secure the four corners of the pallets to each other with wire or string and you will have a sturdy box to work with. * Pull the plastic inside the box and, as you stand inside, pull loose dirt down around the sides of the box taking up the space between the outside walls of the box and the sides of the unit. Pack the dirt down and "firm up" the box before you get out. Then, from topside, walk around the box tamping down the dirt with your feet. When finished pull the plastic back out of the box and roll it up. Now you are ready to stock the box with food. I use 30 gal plastic trash bins as containers and fill these first. Once food is placed in the storage unit, the top pallet should be put on. Pull the rolled plastic over the top to keep the inside cool. You may decide to put hinges on the "lid," as well as make shelves or other improvements to my basic design. As soon as the unit is full, cover the lid with a good 3" of newspaper, pull the plastic liner back in place and cover with a good strong plastic tarp. Then put rocks, bricks, or soil over the tarp to keep it in place. That's it. You are now the proud owner of your own "Root cellar" full of food. If you are careful in packing the items, you should have many months of food down there. This item is good for most natural disasters (except, obviously, floods) and as can be readily appreciated. Even if the house is flat, your food is still there waiting to be used. I am sure many of you have already envisioned many "Root cellars" all over the yard, some with food, some water, or clothes or? http://theepicenter.com/tow1102.html

Bugle | 03-22-2006 07:11 PM
Re: The Pallet Root Cellar Thanks Zhukher I am going to digging a root cellar sometime this spring. I still have almost 3 feet of snow on the ground so it will have to wait for at least a month. There are some good ideas here. I might have to buy his book. I like the idea of the pallets on the floor. I have a backhoe so I am going to dig a larger cellar. I am going to put it at the top of a north facing slope with a walkin door on the down hill side, level with the bottom of the cellar. After reading this I might try using a larger pallet for an insulated door. I am considering placing 8 or 9 foot railroad ties accross the top and then burying them with 2 feet of dirt making it level with the surounding ground. Might as well have extra room so that I can put more food and stuff in there. This way I will still have some room to arrange things. I won't have to dig through all of it to find what I'm after.

drafter | 03-23-2006 10:29 AM
Re: The Pallet Root Cellar I'm planning on digging one this spring also. I came across this extension office site with loads of plans including quite a few options for root cellers. http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/MISC.htm

brewer | 03-23-2006 04:00 PM
Re: The Pallet Root Cellar Here's what my neighbor did with great success. He purchased a used insulated cargo box truck with a blown engine at auction for $500. Site prep was to excavate a side of a steep bank to partially fit the cargo box into, Gravel and perimeter drain tiles Prep the cargo box ext. with asphalt emulsion Place and level box on gravel bed Backfill with pea gravel and dirt. There is a right and wrong way to backfill. He left about 12" exposed at the top. This cargo box has double wall aluminum sides and diamond plate floor, insulated heavy duty hinged lockable door. Plus he sold the rest of the truck to cover the excavation and gravel cost. Still tight and right after 7? years. Good luck.

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