Since I don't plan to have electric (or only very little to recharge batteries for various radios and flashlights), I don't expect to have a frig. At least not in the modern Western sense. (Don't worry, I'll explore both of those concepts more later!)
As I was brainstorming my Wall O Jars concept, I also listed things I'd like to keep in the root cellar. For doing sizing math I decided to use banana boxes, although I don't expect they'd be the best choice for all produce varieties.
My initial estimate of root cellar inhabitants (see below) was about 40 boxes. Banana boxes are 16”wx10”hx20”d. Using the same math as for the canning jars, I got 40 x 16” / 12” per foot = 53.3 linear feet. If I figure 8 foot shelves, that'd be 6.7, or 7, shelves. Wanting a bit of wiggle space between boxes, I'll only plan 5, not 6, boxes per 8' shelf. That also leaves wall and insulation space if I'm making an 8' outbuilding.
So. Figure an 8'x8'x8' square box of a building/structure/cave/what-have-you, put 20” deep shelves down both size, and you'll have a spacious 56” aisle (or less, depending on walls and insulation.) If the shelves are spaced 16” apart (although I'm more likely to make variable height shelves) you can fit 6 shelves on each side. 6 shelves x 2 sides x 5 boxes per shelf = 60 boxes. Awesome!
Good, because I was a little worried about reading that Sharon Astyk's family store 15 bushels of just apples every year! But they also have a lot more people eating them than I do. Plus I also had items on my root cellar list that can be stored inside a cool (50-60F) house too, like pumpkins and squashes. Hmm, maybe I can “rent” out extra space to neighbors! Now I just have to figure out where and how to build the darn thing.
Apples: lots, variety
Potatoes: some, few
Onions: lots, few
Garlic: lots, few
Squashes: lots, variety
Cabbage: many, few
Carrots: many, few
Rutabagas/Turnips: few, few
Beets: few, one
Whoops, forgot parsnips: few, one
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