One question I’ve been meaning to ask you, is what you think might be the best substitution for a root cellar for those of us who live in apartments in the city? Thankfully my building is only a one story fourplex, I have a small garden space, and space to compost…but storage is still at a premium…and given that my potatoes, sweet potatoes, garlic etc. still sprout the way I’ve been keeping…I think I need a better option.

I live in Alaska, and lately I’ve been kind of thinking that my best option, especially in the winter, would be to use the back a of a cupboard I rarely open that is on an outside wall… Clearly the space will be limited, but that comes with apartment living anyway. Do you have any other brilliant ideas? (you seem to have so many!)

Thanks!

Years ago, when the stores allowed it, I used to pick up 2-6 boxes of culled produce twice a week. I’d spend most of the day going through it all. 10-25% of it was still edible. About half could go to the chickens (yes, I used to have chickens and ate the eggs, too), and the rest in the compost pile.

I think that experience really helped get me past the ick factor. One bruise or puncture on a piece of fruit didn’t mean it was ruined. I made so much compote back then, with oranges, pears, apples, and bananas. Didn’t have a canner then, though, so we ate it or froze it. I zested and dried mountains of orange and lemon peel. Dehydrated celery leaves, parsley, and cilantro for seasoning. And learned to eat radishes in abundance. It was astonishing how many radishes, in perfect condition except for yellowed leaves, were tossed out. We had salads daily and the chickens did, too.

If I had been doing canning back then, I don’t think I ever would have had to buy food!