10.23.2009

my heart's delight.......

this gives me so much pleasure! showing you these photos of my root cellar..........




the first time we found this room (yes - found it), was from an old hatch in the entryway floor upstairs.......like a secret!............
with bravery and a vacuum, it was transformed into a once-covered in cobwebs room to a cleaned/patched storage room 


Since there was no opening to that room except through the upstairs floor, we hired someone to use a diamond saw to cut an opening....





I once held a wine tasting party in there with an old bistro table, candles, and my record player (it was such a memorable evening)

however...

it is much more useful now, than a just a wine cellar - now a root and wine cellar

these are the potatoes and cabbage from the Potager that were waiting in their French Champagne crates........so elegantly........




~farm fresh potatoes are creamy white inside with a wonderful fresh taste~



let's step into the cellar no?


quite a step down -
it was a cistern before (they would collect the water from the well, hold it in the cistern and then pump it up to our farmhome's kitchen)


my husband made the crates, and now hold everything I need to store.....


*funny fact: the word "store" - I like to call it my na-da farm little "store"*


~fresh sage drying~

once gracing the top of our windows on the outside, now re-purposed as a coat and basket hook in the basement, just outside the cellar door......
my basket is empty!.........let's fill it up for supper shall we??.............


one of my favorite photos of my home now (hilariously in my basement of all places).....
there we are: all ready for a cabbage/potato and beef (which is roasting up in the kitchen) ........

If you have a basement, you can have a storage area for food: there are many market's still open - and you can store those you know!! stock up - and help support those farmers (please)......

18 comments:

  1. we must get up at the same time ... haha

    we had a root cellar when I was a kid ... it didn't look anything like this good!

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  2. I am so happy for you! It is just lovely. I too have a root cellar and it is so handy to have. My husband did a lot of work on it last year but I don't have those nice veggie boxes. He'll have to get to work on me some!!

    Our cellar along with our freezer is chock full of goodies for the winter. We have never had our 'stores' padded so well. It was a good year!

    I was just heading out to our local farmers market this morning. I'll buy up some great veggies to store in my cellar for the meal that I'll prepare when you come to visit me!!!!

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  3. Wonderful pictures - everything looks so delicious!!! Have a loveley weekend, Hugs Jade

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  4. I love your basement cellar and all those goodies you are storing....the basket of sage looks so good. Have a wonderful weekend, xv.

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  5. My fondest wish is to have a root cellar...after I get a greenhouse.

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  6. Oh Anne Marie, only you could make a root cellar seem so...well... glamorous :) I'm quite envious as it sounds like a little slice of heaven down there! I absolutely love the idea of a wine party down there too!!!

    Have a great weekend...

    :) T

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  7. Adelaide walked down to her cellar.....her basket in the crook of her arm.........She tied her long blond hair into a knot.........Her steps echoed as her rubber boots clumped against the concrete stairs......She lit the candle that was placed in the center of the cellar.......The gentle glow illuminated the center of the room, but left the corners dark, and somewhat mysterious.........But she knew what was there.......her vegetables, that she had just harvested that afternoon.........and that her family would feast on tonight......she couldn't wait......

    I love your pictures, Aunt! Such stories that could be made from them!

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  8. What a wonderful root cellar! Must be a great feeling of security to have a "store" in your own basement!

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  9. Your root cellar is beautiful and all your produce looks very apetizing in the basket. I have always wanted a root cellar and to be an organic farmer, but we live in a city apt. so no root cellar for me.
    I am glad this has made you so happy and I think lifted your spirits. I have been praying for you.
    This is a beautiful post. I have been visiting for a while now and not commenting, you have a lovely blog and I find it very peaceful and soothing.
    Jacquelene L
    Toronto, Canada

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  10. The root cellar in my old place was never this nice but it served a wonderful purpose and fed our family of eight all winter long. It was a little creepy and the children didn't care for getting the bottled fruit for breakfast or the beans for supper, but I did little bribes to get them to do it. I have fond memories of the little cellar.
    Hugs,
    June

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  11. yahoo for your root cellar...I wish I had one. I love your home more and more with each post you do...and you too! My kinda gal!

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  12. What a fabulous olace to keep your root vegetables, Anne Marie....you're very lucky to have it. We live in a Victorian house and most of them have cellars but, unfortunately ours doesn't !!!!...never mind, you can't have everything, can you ?
    I wish that we could all come over for your wonderful stew. Enjoy it . XXXX

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  13. It's something I've always wanted but unfortunately the furnace puts out too much heat. Yours looks so wonderful with the crates your husband made and the old champagne boxes. Sorry I haven't been visiting as much...will go back and catch up!!!
    xxx.....C

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  14. love the root cellar! husband's mom had one and stored all of her canning in it. what temp is it?

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  15. FAB cellar photos! On the practical side: How do you keep mildew from collecting there? Having your own "store" is a great feeling, isn't it?

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  16. Hi,
    My goodness I am in Aw of you! I love your life style so much and your home, I don't think I have enough words to express how much I enjoy seeing your home and your farm.I know its a lot of work, but I have always wanted to have a farm life style like yours. Lovely, lovely photos.
    Elizabeth

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  17. Your cellar is truly a place I would feel at home in and love to visit!

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