Our root cellar project has gone through many changes in concept over the couple of years that we've been researching and trying to make it happen. We've decided to go with a poured cement foundation rather than some of the methods that are cheaper materially, but require lots of labor (stone, earth bag, rammed earth) because we don't
think it is realistic that we would finish such a project while working off farm and running a farm. However, we are planning to do something with our root cellar that might make it more interesting to permies. We want to add tanks of
water inside the cellar that will freeze from the inside out when outside air temperatures are 31ºF or below, utilizing a passive heat exchange system of copper pipes filled with butane. The frozen tanks will slowly melt during the warmer months,
cooling an enclosed space within the cellar that can be used as a walk in cooler. Once built, the passive cooler
should continue to operate without the need for a power source, saving emissions and dollars.
I've just started a new thread about our project, check it out:
Root Cellar/Passive Cooler Thread
or check out our Root Cellar/Passive Cooler Indeigogo campaign here