ROOT CELLAR PROJECT - Completed October 2025
The Co-op’s original root cellar was built by CEEDS in 2000 while it was leasing the farm that years later would become the Co-op farm. The root cellar became an important part of local food storage and sharing, holding roughly five tons of potatoes each year. After 25 years of use, the original log structure had reached the end of its service life and needed to be replaced..
In spring 2025, Co-op members and friends came together to begin planning a new root cellar. Local builder Ludwig Lueke led both the design work and the construction, and by April a new site had been selected at the top of the hill above the old root cellar, improving winter access.
Construction began in May and progressed steadily through the summer months. The new structure features a concrete footing and a four-foot foundation—an upgrade from the original build. Large beams, milled on-site by members Brian and Marilyn, were used for the walls and roof and were installed Ludwig and a team of volunteers. By late September, the roof was complete, and work shifted indoors to finishing storage bins, shelving, and solar-powered lighting.
On October 25, the Co-op marked the completion with a small gathering of members and friends to acknowledge the project. The 100 Mile Free Press attended and reported on the event.
The new root cellar now provides a dependable, naturally cool space for year-round food storage. It was very much a collaborative effort, with volunteers, farmers, and skilled builders contributing time and expertise throughout the process. The project also offered valuable hands-on learning and strengthened working relationships within the Co-op community.
The Co-op is grateful to the United Way BC's Climate Resilient Communities – Food Infrastructure Grant for a $20,000 contribution that helped make the project possible.
Today, the root cellar supports longer storage life for harvested crops, helps reduce food waste, and provides members with a practical local storage option. It also serves as a place for exchanging ideas around low-impact, small-scale food preservation.
More than anything, it stands as a durable, functional addition that will serve the Co-op and the wider community well for years to come.
