Perhaps it’s not quite like a fridge, but it was a cool place to store the potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets, and squash.
*Disclaimer – This is not my root cellar but it was on land where I was visiting. The poem is purely fictional (although probably possible).

“Go
Bring back
Potatoes,
Carrots, and squash.
The wicker basket
Is handy to carry
Everything.” — “But, Mom,” I whined,
“It’s so dark in there, and there’s bugs!”
“Nonsense! The bugs are more scared of you.”
Off I went … and of course, I proved her wrong.

Writing, travel, photography, nature, more writing....
January 18, 2026 at 12:37 am
My grandparents had a root cellar that looked a lot like the one pictured. I hated going in there, too. I can tolerate spiders up to a point but they really aren’t my thing! Ugh.
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January 18, 2026 at 8:44 am
You and I are on the same page.
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January 18, 2026 at 2:45 am
That could be possible everywhere. Here that kind of cellars were shoveled in a slope, and the front was made of tiles with a wooden door, called earth cellars.
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January 18, 2026 at 8:41 am
Very similar ideas. Thanks for sharing, Kristiina.
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January 18, 2026 at 4:32 am
My grandparents had a well-constructed one with a timbered ‘roof’ that doubled as a storm cellar when tornadoes were roaming around. I loved it. I called it my mountain, and there’s a great photo of me atop the thing. It wasn’t scary at all, as there was a single light bulb that could be turned on; it made all the canned cherries and such glitter like jewels in their jars. I always loved being asked to go fetch some sort of fruit or veggie from the place.
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January 18, 2026 at 8:43 am
What a difference a lightbulb makes!
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January 18, 2026 at 5:37 am
I always hated going into the root cellar. Dark dank and dangerous, if only in my mind. Happy Sunday Anneli. Allan
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January 18, 2026 at 7:55 am
We kept potatoes in the cellar and I hated going down there!
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January 18, 2026 at 7:12 am
Yeah, the bugs… Dang!
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January 18, 2026 at 9:04 am
I could do without them, whereas your Early Man characters would feast on them.
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January 18, 2026 at 7:34 am
I’ve seen them but have never been in one. I imagine that there’s a lot more down there besides potatoes 😟
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January 18, 2026 at 9:01 am
For sure, there is. A light would make a big difference.
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January 18, 2026 at 7:58 am
Love the photo of the spider. They are constantly working hard to get rid of the nasty insects, but I definitely would rather see them outside than inside. Anneli, remember when we were young we had something like a “root cellar” in our basement? –Sonja
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January 18, 2026 at 8:32 am
YES! I often had to go get potatoes for supper, and that meant going into the dark part of the basement, under the stairs, and getting the potatoes by groping around. All I could think about was spiders.
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January 18, 2026 at 11:58 am
My grandparents had a root cellar. Back when I remember times when some people kept potatoes under their house. I am okay with all the bugs if they tend to their own business and leave me to mine. :). By the way that is a great photo of the spider.
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January 18, 2026 at 12:21 pm
I’m afraid I can’t claim credit for the spider picture, but I may search out one of my own. We’ll see.
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January 18, 2026 at 12:53 pm
🙂
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January 18, 2026 at 3:37 pm
That spider is enough to keep me away from root cellars forever! Thank God for refrigerators – Indoors!
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January 18, 2026 at 5:52 pm
I’m happy with using a fridge too!
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January 18, 2026 at 3:45 pm
That anonymous was me! 😊
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January 18, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Thanks for letting me know, Carol. Don’t know why WP does that once in a while.
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January 19, 2026 at 1:51 am
Not just once in a while, Anneli. It makes me sign in every time I comment or get posted as anonymous. Even if I’ve not signed out!
I contacted them about it and they said they know, but they haven’t done anything. I think it’s something to do with posting on a mobile device.
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January 19, 2026 at 2:19 am
Frustrating, isn’t it?
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January 19, 2026 at 8:36 am
Yes, it is
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January 19, 2026 at 1:53 am
My son-in-law refuses to go into their garage because of spiders! Consequently, my daughter has put up shelves in there.
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January 19, 2026 at 2:22 am
Spiders can be the stuff of nightmares. They give me the creeps too.
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January 19, 2026 at 8:36 am
I don’t actually mind them. The only ones that really give me the creeps are the big ones in the bath.
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January 19, 2026 at 1:53 am
Anneli, poor you! I love your descriptive poem! My aunt’s family home had a potato cellar and although I never saw it used it had such a lovely sense of atmosphere!
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January 19, 2026 at 2:17 am
This root cellar was on a friend’s farm in Montana, but it brought back spidery memories of our own potatoes stored in our basement.
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January 19, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Yes, I don’t blame the child. I wouldn’t go in either. 😂
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January 23, 2026 at 5:45 pm
We lived in an old stone house in Pennsylvania with a root cellar in the front yard. It was stone and sturdy, but I never had the courage to enter.
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January 23, 2026 at 8:05 pm
The darkness and the creepy crawly aspect would make me feel the same.
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January 24, 2026 at 5:59 am
🙂
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January 25, 2026 at 1:31 am
UUUUUUhhh! How ugly can a spider be!
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January 25, 2026 at 3:48 am
It’s amazing how one little creature can bring out so much horror and fear.
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