Root cellars and other means of passive food storage are simple and effective ways to reduce carbon footprints, monthly bills, grid dependency, and increase your food security. In this workshop, participants will learn elements of designing for passive cooling and humidity control, including site selection, design strategies and options, materials pros and cons, thermal mass, ice batteries, raw food considerations,  planning crops for food storage, design considerations for different applications, and retrofit opportunities and methodologies.

  • Competency Level: All Levels

Root Cellar Design

Course Schedule

 

Saturday

9-10:15am

Greetings/Intro

Crop storage history and future considerations

 

10:15-noon

Crop storage basics: temperature/humidity/crops

 

Noon

Lunch

 

12:45-5:30pm

Tour of local root cellars

 

6pm

Dinner

 

7-9pm

Cooling technologies discussion:

Renewable energy, cogeneration, and passive methods

 

 

Sunday

8-10:30am

Building thermal mass; strategies for building portection and stability.

 

10:45-noon

Materials choices:  Pros and cons of masonry, wood, and steel

 

Noon

Lunch

 

1-2pm

Consturction styles, options, and considerations

 

2-3:15pm

Design exploration:  putting your own projects onto paper

 

3:30-5pm

Design review and feedback; planning.

 

 

Start Date: May 1, 2010
Closed