Food storage locations....how many, types, considerations, ETC.

**Sourdough** · 01-09-2010, 01:21 PM

Our dear Nell lost much of her food stock when her home burned. At that time she talked about storing food under the floor of the trailer. People are always giving me refrigerators and large freezers, I use them for food storage, they keep the critters (not the bears) out, and also offer protection of food from the heat of fire. They are not plugged-in, and they offer shelving, and are semi-portable.

Root cellars, file cabinets, connex/shipping containers, 55 gal. steel drums w/snap ring tops........how many ways could food be stored......what tips do you have. Temprature control, rodent control, etc.

This Forum FOOD Week:.......... thanks to Winnie & Wareagle.

**Winnie** · 01-09-2010, 01:36 PM

As yu know Sourdough, this is one of the things I'm looking into. The only thing I've done thus far is to put some of my canned food in the shed. So I'll be very interested in folks ideas.

**Ole WV Coot** · 01-09-2010, 02:52 PM

Guess it depends on the climate. Regular home canned food and most anything will keep in a decent cellar around here, back storage room in my basement(no windows and underground on all outer walls) works well for us. When I was younger we salt cured pork, beef and hung it in the smokehouse during the winter. We don't have critters like you so it is reasonably easy here.

**SARKY** · 01-09-2010, 09:23 PM

I use an old chest freezer that doesn't work anymore. The nice thing is it also locks. If I had lots of land i'd get one of those trailer connex boxes, maybe 2, and earth berm them.

**Mertell** · 01-10-2010, 04:11 AM

As usual, the Old School (low tech) version is still the best:

A Root Cellar.

Root Cellars have a lot going for them. If built correctly for the latitude they serve, they offer moderated temperatures, fire protection, and the added benefit of storm shelter.

I want one.

-Mert

**canid** · 01-10-2010, 04:23 AM

a refrigerator offers more than shelving, it offers great insulation against rapid changes and fluctuation of temeprature.

this can help mitigate the effects of thermal expansion and contraction which might compromize preserved food, and even food storage containers.

i can see some benefits.

**wareagle69** · 01-10-2010, 09:15 AM

i have at this time 6 buildings on my property, not only do i have food stored in them i also have clothing and other items, usually the obligatory socks and underooos that i get at christmas go into one of these buildings with toothpaste deoderant toothbrush and such
i heat my home with wood and it is a paranoia of mine, which is why i also clean my chiminey 4 times a year
also for stealth storage in two of my bulings i have hay, top of the barn then a large shed in pasture no 1 tucked in the middle of these hays storeage are small old freexers that have a small amount of food in it but enough to help
also at my new job i gey two lockers in the dry one for work clothes and one for street clothes that also will be stocked with a weeks worth of food and clothing

**Camp10** · 01-10-2010, 09:24 AM

I have a dead fridge in the garage that I keep dried food in. I had to cut a few vents in it though because it was growing mildew. It seems to have fixed that problem. There is no heat in the garage so I cant leave canned food out there this time of the year. Some day I will dig a root cellar but I havnt got to it yet.

**dscrick** · 01-25-2010, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by SARKY

I use an old chest freezer that doesn't work anymore. The nice thing is it also locks. If I had lots of land i'd get one of those trailer connex boxes, maybe 2, and earth berm them.

That is the plan Sarky! I've been thinking about some heavy duty waterproofing, probably an asphalt based spray on, for the exterior, then basically burying one except for the access side. What do you think?

**crashdive123** · 01-25-2010, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by dscrick

That is the plan Sarky! I've been thinking about some heavy duty waterproofing, probably an asphalt based spray on, for the exterior, then basically burying one except for the access side. What do you think?

If you bury a conex keep in mind that only the corners are load bearing. You will probably have to reinforce the top.