For those who do not live where they cannot have a cellar.

My family loves pickles, and I put away a lot of jars each year. Before the year is out, they turn soft and limp. I have tried "Pickle Crisp." Family does not like the after taste. I cut the blossom end, and put a grape leaf in the jar.

My aunt was here and said I needed to put them in the root cellar to stay cool. I explained that if you dig a root cellar here, you call it a swimming pool.

I was at the appliance store, and they had wine coolers on sale. I bought a small one and keep it on the "red" setting. So far, so good. Every jar we have opened this year has been crisp.

The tag says that it is supposed to cost $25.00 a year to operate, and we disconnected the light.

I'll report back at the end of the year.

We have a large crawl space that has about 6 feet of gravel in it. I am setting up a pully system so I can move stuff all the way to the back where it is cooler and set the stuff that needs to be warmer closer to the basement opening. Dunno if it will work. Be sure to let us know, this would be a good alternative although I am guessing large veggies, not canned would not work, lol.

pickles.

Potatoes keep well until October when I begin picking the eyes. In January, the remain go in the frig. I also can the smaller ones for late spring. By May, we have new potatoes.

A friend of ours does a spring crop of potatoes and a fall crop. I might move to that next year.

How much did the small wine fridge cost?

this year. We did not have the expenses we have had in previous years.

a placed to age pancetta. Mine has a digital temp guage and I set it to 50 degrees and the pancetta ages quite nicely.

I just looked on Craigslist and there were three wine coolers for $55 each for the 8 bottle ones and $65 for a 16 bottle one - all three listed as "new in box."

Now I just need to figure out where to put one!

The last time I made pickles I put them in the basement of our 1770-something house and there was so much dampness the lid rings got rusty and they were impossible to open. Haven't made them since.

When it gets too cold I bring it inside and park it furthest away from the woodstove.