Our house is super (super) tiny, but we have an outbuilding that has two sections: one is more like a shed, the other is a finished room (but still doesn't have heat/air). We run a space heater in there when it's cold because that's where the dogs sleep at night. That being said, would it be OK to store home-canned jars in the room out there? Freezing wouldn't be an issue, but heat can be. It stays cooler than outside, but can still get into the 80s in there. I'm just trying to come up with solutions for our space issues. I have an over abundance of space in that outbuilding (it roughly the size of the house), but not the right kind of space. lol
I found this on an extension service. "Storage cabinets should be cool and dry. The best temperature for storing canned foods is between 50 °F and 70 °F. Avoid storing canned foods in a warm place near hot pipes, a range or furnace, or in direct sunlight. Storage time decreases significantly when temperatures are above 75 °F. Keep canned goods dry to prevent cans or metal lids from rusting, which may cause cans to leak and food to spoil." Of course, most extension services will err on the cautious side of everything for good reason and of course it just decreases storage time so it depends on how you use your food supply and whether you have enough extra that it takes you a few years to cycle through for emergencies or whether you eat most of it throughout the year. I have no idea if this would at all be practical, depends on roofing style etc but you could research putting an old sheet or blanket or something across the roof just during the hottest months and spraying them with a hose at the beginning of the hottest part of the day and letting evaporation cool it. I don't know if it would even work but if I had some old blankets around I might try it just because it would be a cheap cooling method.
Right now I have zero food stored because we have nowhere to put it. I have no idea how to can, so I'm relying on the Farmer's Market. My goal, for now, is to buy up enough over the summer to last when the market is closed from October - May. Eh, it's a starting point, anyhow. I'd be inclined to try the blanket-cooling method, but I know myself well enough to know it would only last a week or two until I forgot completely. lol. Especially since we'd have to wet them once an hour, as my line-drying only takes about 45 minutes from dripping to dry. Anyone know if it's possible to install a window unit to a non-window hole? What I mean is, if our landlord approved it (and I think he would), could we put cut a hole in the wall for a window unit? Or, is it hard to install a window to an existing structure? I know there will be expenses, and I'm OK with that.
Do you have any room under beds? Or, maybe get a little untraditional and move extra linens and such outside in storage totes and then use inside cabinets as food storage. Right now, half of the closet in our "office" has food storage. Maybe instead of canning, you could invest in a chest freezer and freeze produce rather than can it? That is if there is power out to the outbuilding.
There is power. It's just cheaper to buy items canned than fresh-to-freeze. Um... there really aren't closets. lol. There are two thin shelves in the hallway above the air intake. The boys barely fit their clothes in their closets and we use the shelves above for folded clothes since there is no room for dressers. When I say "tiny house," I'm not exaggerating. Under the beds is where the toy boxes live. And under our bed is where the toddler's clothes live. I've tried thinking outside the box and just can't wrap my mind around another solution. DH isn't a fan of the freezer idea, since it would take up a chunk of that room. I guess we could put it in the 'shed' part. It wouldn't really need to be in an insulated room... except he thinks our electric bill would go through the room since it would constantly be fighting the heat in the Summer (whereas in the insulated room, it at least stays cooler than outside). More to ponder, I guess.
A portable air conditioner only needs a dryer vent type of exhaust hole. they are a bit more expensive to purchase, but we found one at Target on sale for under $250. You don't have any kind of basement, do you?
Interesting. I will have to look into that. I'll eat the cost. And really, our landlord might work it out in rent since it would make that room even more finished. No. Thankfully. I can't imagine that nightmare. We (literally) live in marshland. Like, not near marshland... in marshland. In the late 80s the city wanted to expand, but all that was around was marsh (rice is our main crop around town). So they threw down a layer of fill dirt and called it "land." :roll: Hence all our sewage issues.
Amie ~ There are ac units that can be installed without an actual window....you just have to research them to find which ones. I think it has to do with the depth and placement of the vents. Most are designed to only be obstructed by the depth of a window (few inches) and held in place by the window. I have to ask; if your husband is concerned with the electric cost of a freezer, doesnt the cost of running the AC concern him? I installed a window AC in our bedroom for hubbie's surgery recovery and I definately saw a difference in our electric bill, even tho it hasn't been used consistantly. My first thought is to create an insulated storage cabinette. It could keep the internal temp of the cabinette lower than the storage room temp. If the floor is cement, the cabinette being open on the floor would help keep the temp down. I guess I'm thinking like a mini wine cabinette type?
He probably didn't think of that. lol. And I clearly didn't either. Now there's a great idea! The floor is cement, so that would help.
