Traverse Modern Root Cellar Interview, June 22, 2011. Julie Pomeroy Interviews Ross Traverse about Root Cellars, Torbay

• Main Author: Pomeroy, Julie
• Other Authors: Traverse, Ross
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Migration/settlement; Objects; Architecture; building and construction; Buildings; Outbuildings; Root cellars; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ich_nature/id/650

Ross Traverse talks about the use of root cellars in Newfoundland for keeping items like berries etc. Along with root vegetables; discusses how root cellars were cold storage that did not freeze that was ideal for storing potatoes which was the survival food; talks about potatoes being introduced to Newfoundland in the 1700’s which meant that there was a need for storage which did not freeze the potatoes; says that all people along the coast and even in the town had to have a root cellar; discusses the history of root cellars and connects that to the history of potatoes and the introduction of potatoes into the European diet and the need for proper storage in a cool place with high humidity; discusses that in some places there was two types of root cellars, one for cabbage and the other for turnip and potatoes; talks about root cellar in Cape Freels where they could no dig into the ground; Traverse discusses the cellar his family had when he was a child including what was grown and stored in it as well as some people purchasing produce like apples to keep in the cellar as once the ice came in to shore there was no way of getting anything; talks about families generally using cellars for their own families, and merchants usually having a cellar so they could sell vegetables to people; discusses orientation and drainage; discusses his modern indoor cold storage room in his basement; discusses when it was built and renovations; talks about what is important to know if you have a root cellar including ventilation and adequate insulation; discusses problematic issues including rodents etc; talks about how he keeps vegetables in the cellar and how his friend keeps come carrots in his cellar for him because he can’t keep them as well as a traditional root cellar and how his cellar is just personal use; discusses memories of his childhood cellar including the smell and the special storage of cabbage; traditions of root cellars vary across the province due to the types of landscape and figuring out what works; talks ...