wordsfromanneli

Thoughts, ideas, photos, and stories.

The Root Cellar

35 Comments

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.

Unknown's avatar

Author: wordsfromanneli

Writing, travel, photography, nature, more writing....

35 thoughts on “The Root Cellar

  1. Lynette d'Arty-Cross's avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. photofinlandrantasalot.wordpress.com's avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. shoreacres's avatar

    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.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. kagould17's avatar

    I always hated going into the root cellar. Dark dank and dangerous, if only in my mind. Happy Sunday Anneli. Allan

    Liked by 1 person

  5. belindagroverphotography's avatar

    I’ve seen them but have never been in one. I imagine that there’s a lot more down there besides potatoes 😟

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Unknown's avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    • wordsfromanneli's avatar

      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.

      Like

  7. Mags Win's avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Unknown's avatar

    That spider is enough to keep me away from root cellars forever! Thank God for refrigerators – Indoors!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Carol Balawyder's avatar

    That anonymous was me! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  10. wordsfromanneli's avatar

    Thanks for letting me know, Carol. Don’t know why WP does that once in a while.

    Like

  11. V.M.Sang's avatar

    My son-in-law refuses to go into their garage because of spiders! Consequently, my daughter has put up shelves in there.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Annika Perry's avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. dgkaye's avatar

    Yes, I don’t blame the child. I wouldn’t go in either. 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Jennie's avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Ursula's avatar

    UUUUUUhhh! How ugly can a spider be!

    Liked by 1 person

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