How to Turn an Old Freezer Into an Effective Root Cellar

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  • Опубліковано 15 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 76

  • @tincankiller6454
    @tincankiller6454 Рік тому +17

    Very nice, newer system much improved. I always find when doing a 2nd or 3rd of any project it always gets upgraded that how we learn. Those old freezers are handy we use for livestock feed storage, depending on size of freezer several bags will fit inside keeps mice other critters out.
    Stay Safe & Good Luck

  • @OBXDewey
    @OBXDewey 5 місяців тому +16

    I used to live in SE Idaho where it got down to -20. I used an old small fridge and it worked great. Used it for years. I dug a pit so the top/door when laid down sat 4 inches below ground. I drilled holes in the back for ventilation. I lined the pit with black plastic. I laid the fridge in the pit with the door up, black plastic would be able to fold over it to keep water and snow out. Lined the bottom with some straw. Filled it with potatoes. Eventually I took some old plywood and shingles and made a roof/covering and had it slope a bit and covered it. The cellar worked like a champ. I had potatoes into June the next year. No problem with freezing.

  • @mikemcgrath7280
    @mikemcgrath7280 Рік тому +17

    One other thought is in the bottom of the Freezer. Stand 2 X 4s is up on edge.. Secured.
    You only need maybe 3 of them and then fill up the space with pea gravel. The pea gravel will also get cold which will help the temperature inside. And to avoid any standing moisture or water.

  • @Ihavenoideawhyduh
    @Ihavenoideawhyduh Рік тому +6

    This is a great idea!!!!!

  • @MegaPetty13
    @MegaPetty13 Рік тому +8

    I remember my grandparents having a one of these near their barn. Looks like I need to start looking for a broken deep freeze!

  • @TexCen
    @TexCen Рік тому +8

    New to your channel but, I gotta 'say - you're a pretty cool grandpa. You remind me a bit of mine; he was a cowboy/cattle rancher, but VERY much a "DIY - and teach the youngsters how to do it while you're at it" kind of guy. Good on ya.

  • @CNyst1978
    @CNyst1978 Рік тому +2

    Adorable - your grandson did a great job! Thank you for the video!

  • @dr.froghopper6711
    @dr.froghopper6711 Рік тому +7

    I live in the desert. Even in winter, it’s dry here and solar is very regular. I dry most of my stuff.

  • @everythingmatters6308
    @everythingmatters6308 Рік тому +13

    I'm not understanding a lot of this. Could you do a second video with a diagram on paper explaining why you did everything the way you did? What is the purpose of the heavy lids? What planting zones will this work in? What if you have tree roots and can only get it half way buried? Wouldn't cold air from the vents freeze your food if it stays below 25 degrees for a few days?

    • @bastionwolf
      @bastionwolf Рік тому +1

      Seriously, I couldn't follow along at all. Plus he really should've included different options to the reasons he did things the way he did.

  • @mariadelatorre4420
    @mariadelatorre4420 Рік тому +5

    Great idea 💡 😊

  • @cathiwim
    @cathiwim 22 дні тому

    So great that you are teaching him how to do this!!great job!

  • @bluefoxblitz8416
    @bluefoxblitz8416 Рік тому +4

    ❤❤what a great little helper for your pop! Good on you kid! Love from Australia 🦘🦘🦘💜💜💜

  • @mslayne001
    @mslayne001 Рік тому +6

    I love this idea, but I have a question, would too much snow plug up the vents. would I need to make the higher. I checked my workshop and I already have everything for this project. I even have and old freezer in my garage. Great video

  • @deedieducati2272
    @deedieducati2272 Рік тому +2

    BRILLIANT!

  • @philw7174
    @philw7174 Рік тому +1

    Thank you Jonathan and Adin, great video. Happy trails!

  • @MichaelR58
    @MichaelR58 Рік тому +3

    Good video, thanks for sharing, God bless !

  • @starr9245
    @starr9245 Рік тому +3

    Thanks from Trenton ontario canada

  • @justmefolks1863
    @justmefolks1863 Рік тому +8

    How do you handle the freon? Love your design and have all the items needed.

  • @sarahtar
    @sarahtar Рік тому +3

    Do you need to bury it below the frost line?

  • @sarahgrooms5606
    @sarahgrooms5606 2 місяці тому +1

    You should use hinges on the back to open the cellar top up . This way one person can open it if two aren't available

  • @cabinfevernanna5897
    @cabinfevernanna5897 Рік тому +1

    You guys are so creative

  • @patricianichols9514
    @patricianichols9514 Рік тому +2

    Why not put a counter weight cabling/framing to help lift the lid?

  • @marygallagher3428
    @marygallagher3428 Рік тому +1

    Great design!

  • @DebbieAndrews3435
    @DebbieAndrews3435 Рік тому +1

    Looks awesome.

  • @stephensuter7242
    @stephensuter7242 Рік тому +5

    Great work - could you show how you laid out the inside - and how do you get the stuff at the bottom?

    • @fourdayhomestead2839
      @fourdayhomestead2839 11 місяців тому +2

      Organization would be based on what you store & access could be as simple as a rope tied to each crate or bin. Any root veggie storage video would explain that. Tip: keep apples & veggies in separate freezers.

  • @CatsAreNiceMeow
    @CatsAreNiceMeow Рік тому +1

    Great idea! Thank you!!

  • @margaret2222
    @margaret2222 Рік тому +9

    I wish you had showed how you get into that thing. How do you reach things in the bottom? Looks like a great project but I have so many more questions.

    • @cathiwim
      @cathiwim 22 дні тому +1

      Yes! I cannot bend down or crouch.

  • @RyanMercer
    @RyanMercer Рік тому +3

    Neat

  • @rebeccakanzler6871
    @rebeccakanzler6871 2 місяці тому +2

    Unfortunately we got two old freezer chests and did this. We lost all our potatoes. They froze. Don’t know what we did wrong. We dug deep enough that the freezer sat all the way down to just below the lip. We put in vent piping. We got 2” thick ridged insulation foam board and put it on top along with straw. 😩

  • @kathyhood5482
    @kathyhood5482 Рік тому +3

    In the deep south I wonder if the high water table would impact the freezer. Also, I am concerned about fire ants that could get through the screens. Any suggestions.

    • @leigh23
      @leigh23 5 місяців тому

      What about gluing a finer screen to the back of what he put on? I was thinking the screen from patio doors, but I just remembered I’ve seen the really fine mesh screen in metal.

  • @beebob1279
    @beebob1279 8 місяців тому +1

    Great demonstration. What about using an insulated freezer in the attached garage to the house for winter?

  • @kristentaylor7051
    @kristentaylor7051 3 місяці тому

    Great video

  • @frankenstein3163
    @frankenstein3163 11 місяців тому +1

    I'm thinking about making ice with freezer and doing this for an off grid refrigerator to save on electricity bill. I will be using an ice chest and I will be digging a bit deeper. My weather is a little warmer. What's your thought's on my idea ?

  • @robert4027
    @robert4027 3 місяці тому +1

    Great idea. . how cold does it get in winter there ??

    • @TheProvidentPrepper
      @TheProvidentPrepper  3 місяці тому +2

      Down to -10 ish

    • @robert4027
      @robert4027 3 місяці тому +1

      @@TheProvidentPrepper ok cool thanks. same here but only for a week or 2 at most I'm in Washington State

  • @ravenbloodommo
    @ravenbloodommo Місяць тому

    well, How do you make holes in the freezer? what drill bit size and type to make the holes?? Also, will the free on in the freezer be okay?? It won't leak ? Because free on is instant silent odorless tasteless death.

  • @Inthesouth2
    @Inthesouth2 Рік тому +1

    We can't do that because in Southeast Texas we are below Sea level. 😢

  • @rodeleon2875
    @rodeleon2875 8 місяців тому +1

    i'd build the roof lighter and bolt it to the lid and beef up the hinges on the lid. that way 1 person could get in/out easy

  • @ravenbloodommo
    @ravenbloodommo Місяць тому

    okay, now I know stuff as you see below, I'm excited now. so what if I just want to use a regular refrigerator for winter time only in the cold winter time? i don't need to put it in the ground because it's freezing cold outside. my question is will food get cold in a refrigerator just sitting outside in winter in MICHIGAN up north Michigan?

    • @TheProvidentPrepper
      @TheProvidentPrepper  Місяць тому

      The ground insulates the freezer so that the potatoes won't freeze. I don't think that you could get the same results with a refrigerator sitting outside. You also need airflow and humidity control. It gets to -10 here and it works. Not sure about where you are in Michigan.

  • @sieng8
    @sieng8 3 місяці тому

    Will it work in Phenix? Thank you

    • @TheProvidentPrepper
      @TheProvidentPrepper  3 місяці тому +1

      Does anything work well in Phoenix? I'm not sure it could keep it cool enough but I don't know.

  • @biblestudywithus6011
    @biblestudywithus6011 Рік тому +1

    Can you use an upright freezer?

    • @jonathondyson8813
      @jonathondyson8813 10 місяців тому +1

      Yes but you have to lay it on its back. It’s the exacts same concept. And if you add stackable shelves you can easily organize!

  • @ricosadventureswithbeckyan1373
    @ricosadventureswithbeckyan1373 3 місяці тому

    I can't believe I had this same idea, and I told my husband about it. It wasn't a silly idea after all. 😮

  • @rahkielsingh6028
    @rahkielsingh6028 11 місяців тому

    Would this be sufficient for long term seed storage? Idk about the vents for seeds? The idea would be to keep it as dry as possible so the humidity stays low.

  • @ΠαναγιώταΘεοχάρη-γ2ρ
    @ΠαναγιώταΘεοχάρη-γ2ρ 2 місяці тому

    Πόσους βαθμούς κελσίου έχει το κελάρι;

  • @tinayanotitinaro7569
    @tinayanotitinaro7569 3 місяці тому

    Any suggestions for people in Florida…..I don’t think this would work in our heat.

  • @jasonpeters3228
    @jasonpeters3228 9 місяців тому +1

    One tip is if you can find a broken Scientific Freezer they are insulated more that any other freezer to hold extremely low temperatures.

  • @shannons1301
    @shannons1301 9 місяців тому

    What all do you store in it? Can onions be stored in it?

  • @aspitofmud6257
    @aspitofmud6257 2 місяці тому

    A great idea but I don't have a old fridge or freezer. I'll keep my eyes open for one though.

  • @catherinemiller8033
    @catherinemiller8033 5 місяців тому

    Can you use this type of root seller for dog food, and if so how long would the food last?

    • @TheProvidentPrepper
      @TheProvidentPrepper  5 місяців тому

      Interesting idea. I see a little problem with humidity. That is great for veggies but not dry dog food. That problem would be solved with an airtight container - plastic bucket, Mylar, etc. It would keep it cooler which would slow down rancidity and extend the shelf life. It could double the shelf life of the dog food. I'll have to think on this one.

  • @passamaquoddy5590
    @passamaquoddy5590 Рік тому +1

    Its a great idea but, not hidden. I live in an apartment and don't have these types of options

  • @catherinemiller8033
    @catherinemiller8033 5 місяців тому

    For the new roof angled downward for water run off - instead of lifting it off why now incorporate hedges on the highest point of the top !

  • @tyebo2010
    @tyebo2010 6 місяців тому +2

    looks like it will be very awkward to get access to the food

  • @elainematiasiewich7292
    @elainematiasiewich7292 Рік тому

    At 40 below the top of that freezer better be 8 feet underground

  • @nomadsurvival4952
    @nomadsurvival4952 Рік тому

    Tried that its just a mold magnet....

  • @ravenbloodommo
    @ravenbloodommo Місяць тому

    okay, you need to call small appliance repair in your area i have a link for professionals who will remove the refrigerant from your old deep freezer usually about 80 bucks not bad.

  • @jobisrael8313
    @jobisrael8313 Рік тому

    Let's say you was not putting fresh food in there but canned goods or canning or dry food you won't have to take them steps right. 12-15-23

  • @studerje
    @studerje Рік тому

    Repost of older video.

  • @filfarmerpacnw4868
    @filfarmerpacnw4868 12 днів тому

    Million dollar house and a $5 dollar rusted freezer as a root cellar. ???

  • @brettbarce8563
    @brettbarce8563 4 місяці тому +1

    Really Really cold, pushing freezing 😂😂😂 Really cold is -20°f Really Really cold is - 45°f 🥶 🧊 ☃️