Did Our Food Supply Last Through Winter? | Earthbag Root Cellar 

Well, for the last couple of weeks, I went through all of your videos and I must say I love you guys. Watching Arielle gardening is what made me decide to start again my garden this year and we already started building the raised beds, went and got the soil for them and now we are waiting for the weather to warm up in order to start planting. So thanks a lot for everything that you post, for me you are an inspiration! Best wishes from Romania!

Building a wood burning block or brick “rocket stove” outside, as an alternative to a propane stove, for canning purposes would help reduce the overall cost. Thanks for the good videos.

It must be frustrating to look down in your comment section and find out all the ways you're doing things wrong. There's more than one way to skin a cat. You do you. You guys are doing great. Keep it up!

Get the book "Putting Food By" by Ruth Hertzberg. Tells how to cold store fresh veggies and fruits in a root cellar. Love your videos.

There is probably not 1 in 1000 couples that could do what you guys have done. Your videos are very informative and entertaining, thanks, and keep it up!!!

I dehydrate Onions, Celery, Tomatoes. They extend soups and casseroles tremendously without taking up so much space. Your root cellar is amazing. Great Job!

When canning lids became scarce a few years ago, I decided to carefully lift off them off the glass and save them. If you use a spoon or nickle, you can ease the lids off without warping them. Then reuse them in the waterbath process. I wouldn't reuse them in the pressure canner. They can be reused time after time. 🤗

I have wrapped green tomatoes in newspaper and they lasted until after Jan.

I was waiting for a root cellar update. Amazing how much food can be stored. Don’t reduce your canning too much though. You will want ready to eat food available for convenience but also for emergencies when you might not be able to cook. If you get feeder pigs you can feed the leftovers to them before canning your new batch. Nothing goes to waste. Try to record numbers from planting, harvest, canning, fresh storage and inventory throughout the winter - I’m very curious about those :) Keep it up and stay healthy !

Something to know about freezing celery is that when it freezes, it bursts all of the cells of the celery because it is so full of water. Much more so than leeks. Once it thaws, it is literally just completely limp mush. So you may want to consider dehydrating it instead. It reconstitutes well in hot liquid.

World is changing. Maybe it’s not the time to scale down.

If you get a Sun Oven, you can dehydrate throughout the summer and fall without using any fuel. Lunch looks delicious! I'll be over soon ;)

Outstanding work. From germination, seedlings, harvest, canning, preserving, cooking and eating. Bravo from a huge fan.

As always your videos are sooooooo helpful. Your canning, storing, growing, shelter structure, planning , and cooking are alllllll so helpful. I am grateful for your videos.

Obviously impressive and a clear demonstration of what 21st century marriage partnership and foundational education for young people should entail.

Hope you 2 are well , thanks for sharing , and peace be with you

I like that this is focused on how well your Pantry stood up to your family's ACTUAL needs! This way you can narrow down your planting (or purchasing) to ensure the stuff you really do eat a lot of gets laid in or grown in abundance in it's season. Plus, it's honest & straightforward & says 'Really guys, we do eat what we store!' lol!!!!

Yay, time for a sitback and a coffee!

You guys never cease to amaze me! So impressed with your hard work and ingenuity and self sufficiency

Thank you we all love your family ❤️

I came across a video the other day of a man who dries his kale and then adds it to his soups and stews and they rehydrate that way. May be a way to save by not having to can the greens!

If you haven't already done so, I'd love to have you do an overview of the big projects/timelines for this year. Love your channel!!

Thank you. I started following your journey when you built this

Wow u guys are the true definition of a power couple... Be BLESSED!!!

If those jars of greens were mine, I would use them up quickly in curried chicken and vegetable dishes, and my favorite, zuppa toscana. The soup is mostly green and white vegetables. I make it using my own beef broth with some pieces of beef in it, onions, garlic, small cubed white potatoes, cabbage, cannellini beans (added at the end), lots of greens (any of beet, kale, cavolo nero etc.) salt, pepper and Italian spices. I have also made it with Herb de Provence instead of Italian herbs. A bit of a left turn on the Italian dish, but it works. I also use olive oil and some butter for flavor. My particular thing for my health that I do with this soup is this. After I have my serving in my bowl, I add 2 tablespoons of malt vinegar. Any vinegar would do. Then I stir that in. Buon appetito!

I wanted to write a long and impressive review but I can’t even find the words to sum up the way I felt about watching your videos you guys have done such an impressive job you took us on such a journey I felt like I was there with you I did everything apart from literally tasting the carrot 💓💓💓🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🤗

Well done. So exciting to see how it went after watching the construction of your root sellar. Thank you for sharing

Hope everyone on this platform can appreciate the amazing inspiration and wonderful knowledge and real life tests you guys are doing, major respect and thanks a ton. Keep up the good work

I save the boxes that the jars come in and then when I store them I store them in their own boxes which allows me to stack them.

Arielle, how did you get so smart, young lady? I’m just so amazed with your knowledge. And, I learned so much from you and still learning. Keep going, girlfriend👍

Wow. All I can say is wow. You guys are amazing.

You two are an inspiration! Such great information!

Great canned cellar. With Markalot marker put the date on each jar so you know over the seasons as to when you made it. To Practice “first in first out!” You will find it a good idea. Took me a couple of years to figure this out! I am in my early 80’s and spent years raising a large family. Everything you have you ca save a couple of years but don’s go 3-4 years. Good luck!!

I migth be throwing a wild guess here, but I think, Arielle loves potatoes 😆

I just found this channel last night and man these are some real people living a dream! Nice work guys cheers 🍻 ❤️

Your can do attitude and willingness to try things is inspiring. Thank you.

I live in Sask. Canada, we can't plant outside 'til June 1st. I love that you all had so much food to keep you through the winter! How satisfying is that? I'm just starting, yet my goals are similar. 👍❤

University of Alaska has an extension program for master gardeners, they would have a lot of answers to your questions abt your crops, storage etc. Just a thought

I remember how much building work that root cellar entailed. It was non-stop. Thanks for bringing us with you on the voyage, and congratulations on using your resources so well.

Seriously just well done you two

have you thought about a small hut over the top of the root cellar, with some insulation you could store more things for drying out like the herbs or maybe items that need a cold but dryer air

I recommend celeriac root! It makes plenty of (strongly flavored!) celery leaves that you can store as a dried herb, and the celery flavored root should store just as well as any other root. It's stalks are thinner and more stringy than "normal" celery, but the flavor is much stronger and more herbal, so little sliced fresh on a salad would go a long way!

Great video and update! Glad it has worked out so well! Look forward to your Spring projects! Be safe!😀✌🏻✨

so impressive to watch this Off the Grid Self Sufficiency so damn Clever.. Amazing People

Have you looked at tattler canning lids and gaskets. They are reusable. They are more expensive to start but should be much cheaper over time.

The root cellar did very well. very impressive!! I am impressed with carrot and beet storage - will have to maybe try the shavings. Being a new build, things are obviously settling - hopefully it all rectifies itself. I do reuse some of the snap lids, but they have to be perfect before I will reuse. I reuse the snaps on jams and jellies but I have used on other stuff as well. I do old school and still use glass tops with rubber rings on certain things like tomatoes, fruit, etc. , which keeps costs down as well. But the big saving for me is I have everyone save their spaghetti sauce, pickle, or any type of jar that has a self sealing lid...as long as the enamel on the inside of the lid is not damaged and the rubber is in good shape, I use them for everything (I wouldn't pressure can with them but no problem hot water bathing) and they work absolutely great. Added bonus is that it keeps them out of the landfil. I have alot and I am always on lookout for more! LOL. Good job you two!

I get so much enjoyment from watching you both . You are both terribly clever . Thank you for keeping it real . X Jen Queensland Australia .

You really did good over the winter and now you know what and how much to plant this spring.

I am so happy I just found your channel!! I just moved to Alaska and have recently started my own channel about Alaska and our adventures here. I can't wait to check out all your videos!

look into fermenting things as the asians do for preservation.

You two are doing a great job on the doing and showing the how-to. Your videos are always very enjoyable to watch and they never feel negative. I really love the this is how it worked for us approach. Learning and doing should be an approach to life that everyone needs to adopt. Thanks for sharing.

I just wanted you two to know how much I enjoy your videos. Great Job , Glad to see your doing well , planning and organization pays big time. Kudos Well done. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and Stay well .. Take care.

We dehydrate 90% of the celery that we grow, it rehydrates really well and we use it in alot of our soups and stews and stir frys.

Fermenting vegetables in large crocks was once a popular way to have edibles through the winter. Its a better way to preserve the nutrients that canning destroys.

I am amazed at the skill and creativeness of you who have been prepping for awhile. I have been canning and buying extra for the three in my h/h for the last couple of months and am learning so much. I thank you for doing these videos.

Your videos are the highlight of my day!

Why don't you write a book that starts with a planting guide, canning guide and your recipes??

For the long term celery storage - you could look into celeriac. It makes a great celery-tasting root veg for long term storage, and you can eat/can the stalks and leaves just like celery. It's a good multipurpose veg an might solve the storage problem - i'm not sure how the fleshy stalks would last in sub-freezing temperatures.

I am still in awe at what all has been accomplished in such a short amount of time . Great video update on how well the cellar stood over the winter months. Stay safe up there in Alaska 😊👍

Good for you guys!

If you just want it for stock celery dries really well.

Now that you have the mason jars, I would think the bulk of the spending is done? I am impressed with your food storage collection

Great vids, guys. Thank you very much. Have been researching root cellars. ( and everything else you're doing....) You rock. Best Luck!

Your storage is so cool. Lol hope you harvest well this year. All your ideas seem doable. Stay well and stay home. Tyfs

Now that you have a feel of what you'll use over winter, couldn't you trade off the extra produce for things like apples or something else. Grandpa used to trade a bushel of peas for a bushel of corn or whatever depending on who's garden grew what well that year. Of course they knew everyone in them parts back then too. Yeah, grow, trade. It's a commodity. Seems like people would be super interested in spices.

I do lots of canning on a rocket stove, highly recommend, even pressure canning. Of course I have much easier access to firewood than propane, hopefully you do too! I’m always surprised that your canning is so much liquid. I have jars of “broth concentrate” but never can any liquid I am able to evaporate/cook down using wood. Why waste jars/space for water I’m able to add later?

Excellent video. Still viewing all your videos from 2 - 3 years ago. Best wishes to you both. Very inspiring videos.

You are by far my favorite channel right now, your happiness and attitude is contagious! 🇺🇸

Have you tried to can using wood fire instead of propane?

My suggestion: expand your solar power system and use electric heat. No more need to burn money on propane. I would still keep it as just a backup in case the electric system is having issues.

I love watching your videos. I lived in Oregon (Eugene, Go Ducks) for 20 years and now live in Colorado. Learning lots that I may never apply, but love to know!

Beautiful. Bless you . You sound like wonderful people . Very inspiring.

As you " dial in " your storage wants and needs you'll find that happy medium between just enough and way too much. Canning like storage will answer itself on what is too much and just right for your later meal needs. Good rule of thumb has always been can what you enjoy eating regularly. You can never have too much sauerkraut on hand nor meat as you are discovering. While a conventional freezer is nice approach it with the thought that you don't actually need one given the root cellars performance to date. Explore the thought of making block ice in the winter to keep the cellar a good even temperature throughout the warm months.

Have you tried Tattler lids? I have been using them for almost 8 years now. Every jar in my house has a Tattler lid and ring. They pay me back within the first two years of use. Currently our only expense was that we expanded our garden this year, so we had to get more started soil. We have heirloom seeds, jars, lids, compost bins, and pretty much now not spending more money than it would be to gas up the car and buy from a store. Just saying, sometimes the cost later is lower.

Observe, think, adapt, observe, think, adapt... survive. You guys are on to something. Stay strong.

Great video Arielle and Eric you both are so comfortable in front of the camera that someone you think we TV pros!

How about curing meats like hams, wild animals, etc... salting, smoking, etc...???

I wonder if you built a small building over the opening of your root cellar if it would help keep more of the frost out. Just a thought.

So informative! and your food/recipes/cooking always looks so yummy! Thank you for sharing!

Well done to the two of you,I don’t normally comment but just a heads up,what a fantastic job you are doing,thank you for sharing your life with everyone.thank you for your precious time.kindest regards tam ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Have you ever tried the Tattler reusable lids?

Why don't you store your jars open side down to keep out dust and drips as the ice melts?

I just love what you're doing...I admire your accomplishments thus far.

Love the cellar... love watching those who still do the canning thing... On our homestead we started incorporating freeze drying (Harvest Right) for long term storage (35 years)and it has been a GAME CHANGER~ especially when I couldn’t find canning lids... I recommend totally

Sorry, never too many carrots. I see carrot slaw, carrot cake, honeyed carrots, etc...in your future. :) Leeks freeze great so you are good with those too. Did you try growing any rutabaga? Definitely grow more cabbage. It dehydrates well as does celery. Fried cabbage is a favorite here. Your temps are similar to the Midwest where we cannot grow anything in the winter unless we have lots of $ to heat a greenhouse but even that is not very plausible in Dec/Jan/Feb. If you aren't learning something new each day, then you are dead. ;) That cellar would be a great place to hang meat for a short period of time. Time will tell on the cellar for sure. Spring thaw could bring an excess of water, I guess you will find out soon enough. If you turn your jars upside down, the melting frost will run off and not settle in. I am looking forward to more vids as usual. :)

When it starts to thaw, how will you keep from having a problem with water in the storage area?

You two have made a nice life for yourselves!

Thank you for so many ideas and ways to garden. I live in zone 5b and look forward to watching more of your videos.

How do you store the red onions for 8 months - I can't get mine from the grocery store to last more than three weeks in the fridge

Put insulation on the roof of your Root Cellar

Been binging these videos all quarantine! Keep up the great content, super informative and inspiring.

This was so helpful, thank you! The part about putting as much as you can in wood shavings and storing it that way was super helpful.

Have you maintained weight over the winter? You guys look beautiful but I am just curious if you have lost much weight over the winter..

Kid: "mom, please please can we have some mcdonalds today" Mom: "no, stfu and get me a jar of celery from the cellar"

Hola desde Argentina!! He quedado maravillada,con su huerto,sus conservas su sotano,su estilo de vida!!! Me encanta muchoo!!

For your first year I'd say this was very successful. Dehydrated foods with herbs are awesome in your storage/ root cellar. Great video. Do's and don'ts. Be well be safe!

Don't you think you should be stocking up more being that our economy is collapsing.

Great to see you're both well, kept warm during the winder and eating well (can't believe time's flown past). Everything you've posted has been great, missed checking in and seeing Alaska for the last few months, hope all goes well and stay safe, best regards, Andy (UK)

We have certainly enjoyed feeling like we got to know you both and we certainly enjoy your posts. I must say I love your new table and two benches. My husband lived for a year in Fairbanks in the 60's. We wish we were younger to enjoy the times you are enjoying. You both compliment each other so well. Love you both. Louie and Sandy Zacharias living in Colorado Springs. ❤

Ok this is seriously AWESOME! Really cool root cellar you built! And you are a great canner! I’m impressed by your canning stock! Very very good sustainable practices you should be very proud of yourself.