Mom's Subterranean Root Cellar, Bungalow

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A FAULTLESS VAULT

A prospective cave dweller needs to be absolutely sure that the soil he or she has chosen to dig into is of a composition that will permit safe tunneling. The ceiling of the burrow will likely have to be at least four feet below the surface to guarantee that the work will take place in the dense subsoil that makes excavating such a passage feasible. Our subterranean shelter was dug out of heavily weathered and decomposed (yet very sound) rock that was 30 to 35% clay.

The most important consideration in the excavation of such a nook is to maintain a perfectly arched ceiling during all phases of the construction process. This can be accomplished by using a pattern, made from either lumber or rebar, shaped to match the proposed arch of the chamber. To form the initial curve, we simply placed our pattern against the side of a cutaway hill . . . etched its outline into the soil . . . removed the guide . . . and then dug out the doorway with shovels. After every half-foot or so of forward progress, the pattern was moved back into position to help us maintain the shape of the ceiling vault. Painstaking accuracy is required because the structural integrity of the entire cave is based on attaining an arch that is not at all tilted or lopsided. Obviously, it's crucial to get it right the first time!

(Of course, since the retreat isn't intended for actual residence, it may not tall under the jurisdiction of local building codes. But to be on the safe side, you should investigate any such ordinances in your area.)

In order to help maintain the correct curve and provide a dust-free interior, it's best to protect the sculpted walls and ceiling with metal lath and a plaster composed of one part portland cement and four parts excavated dirt. This produces a smooth surface that won't flake or chip off, and that allows the digger to follow his or her own decorating fancy . . . adding murals, stucco, or even wallpaper!

SHELTER FROM A STORM

The total cost of MOTHER's project was approximately $60. This included $30 for the solar chimney's ten feet of well casing and $25 for the plastic intake pipe. We've found that our cave stays quite dry and comfortable, even after several days of prolonged heavy rains ("toad drowners", as they're called here in western North Carolina). In fact, upon opening the door after a period of many months, we were delighted to find not only that all the interior surfaces were solid and dry, but that the air within was cool, fresh, and thoroughly pleasant.

Whether the burrow is used as a demonstration during the seminars, as an Eco Village workers' hideaway for a reprieve from the summer heat, or simply as a private resting spot from which to watch the sun set over the lake . . . this snug, appealing cave is a welcome addition to MOM's property, and should be useful for many years to come.

EDITOR'S NOTE:Dave Carter, who conducted the Earth-Sheltered Homes Seminar for the last two seasons, will be back again this year. Dave has written three books about underground construction. Digging In and The Grown Man's Tunneling Guide are available, for $7.50 and $4.95 respectively-plus 95d shipping and handling-from Mother's Bookshelf °, P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791. His newest book, Building Underground, will be available soon.

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