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.
Photo Gallery
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