Logging requirements. In order to log this as a find you will need to make some observations of the local root cellars and message us the answers to the following questions (do not post the answers in your log):
1. Between the parking coordinates and GZ, how many roots cellars can you count?
2. What type of roots cellars are found here?
3. Go into one of the cellars. Describe the feel, humidity, smell.
4. Optional-Take a picture of yourself (or part of yourself), your GPS or travel bug in front of a root cellar.
Elliston Root Cellars
Elliston Point and its surroundings exemplify how the region's geological history significantly shapes the landscapes, lifestyles, and ecological utilization of the land. Notably, this area is renowned for its numerous root cellars. Recognized as the "Root Cellar Capital of the World," Elliston boasts 133 documented root cellars, pivotal for preserving vegetables and perishables.
The prevalent marine sandstones in the vicinity possess well-defined cleavage, naturally breaking into flat or suitable flagstone shapes. Marine sandstone is recognizable by its whitish or yellowish hue and its often high, textural maturity, composed mostly of rounded quartz grains. These flagstones are ideal for crafting root cellar walls through stacking or cementing.
In Elliston, the soils tend to be acidic and less fertile. Local families cultivate crops in their gardens, amending the soil with nearby resources. Kelp is incorporated in the fall and mixed during spring, along with fish bones, offal, and capelin (an abundant small local fish often found in numbers washed up dead on the shores), providing crucial phosphorous and nitrogen—essential nutrients for growing root vegetables. These harvests of vegetables are then stored in the flagstone-built root cellars to sustain them throughout lengthy winters.
For proper function, a root cellar must maintain temperatures of 0° to 5°C (32º to 40ºF) and humidity levels of 85 to 95 percent. This makes root cellars ideal for this climate. The cool temperatures slow ethylene gas release and inhibit microorganism growth, delaying ripening and decay. High humidity prevents moisture loss through evaporation, preserving freshness.
Root Cellar Construction
There were three primary methods of building cellars: digging downwards, starting from the ground, excavating into a hillside, or against a cliff.
Type I: Hatch Cellar
This approach involved digging underground and constructing a shed over it. Access was granted through a trap door in the shed.
Type II: Ground Up Cellar
This method was preferred when there was no suitable hill, using a wooden framework with rock and sod coverings, being easier and cheaper to build.
Type III: Hill Side Cellar
This technique involved hollowing a hillside or cliff, creating a cave-like space with rock walls and a sod-covered wooden roof. Its advantage was efficient water runoff.
Image credit—townofelliston.ca
More Information
To learn more about the Elliston roots cellars and other geo-sites within Discovery Global Geopark visit discoverygeopark.com