Podcast #87 – Building Our Storm Shelter/Root Cellar


We had been tinkering for months with the idea of making a root cellar part of the lodge construction. When the deadly storms moved through Alabama on April 27, our thinking took on new urgency.

What we’re building now is a secure, underground root cellar that will function well as a storm shelter when necessary. It is 12′ x 16′ – large by storm shelter standards. It will double as our root cellar, though, and we are optimistic that we will have food to store in it. Also: continuing drought and heat, tomatoes, our first peach, and the daily struggle with squash bugs and squash vine borers.

Listen – 19:30

looking-south-for-siteLooking from north to south across the top of the root cellar storm shelter. The doorway will be about where the man is standing with a wheelbarrow. The barn is off to the right just out of the frame. What you see here are forms prepared to accept poured concrete.

odde-and-luis-for-siteForeman Luis is building one of the shoring walls with an able assist from Oddie. Notice how Luis keeps all his skin covered. He says he stays cooler that way. Whatever they’re doing seems to be working. These guys are working from 7:00 am until 6:30 pm in the direct sun, and we don’t see them take breaks.

doorway-siteWe’re looking in here from the doorway into the room. The forms on either side coming toward us are for the retaining wall that will adapt the entrance to the shelter to the topography of the hillside on either side.

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