Root cellars are relatively low maintenance.  But there are a few things that should be done to prepare your root cellar for the season. Here are some tips based on our experience with the root cellar at the Ecology Action Centre office, now heading into its second season, and my home root cellar, which is likely original to the house. General clean up Not exciting, but it needs to be done.  If you didn't do a clean up back in the spring, now is the time to compost any sawdust in which you stored vegetables.  It's best to start with fresh sawdust, so as to avoid any mold that may have formed last season.  We wiped down the baskets, bins and shelves with diluted vinegar and left them in the sun to dry. General repairs Make sure everything is in good working order.  Check to make sure the rodent-proof mesh on the vents is still intact and that there are working batteries in your thermometer/hygrometer.  Last winter, in my home root cellar, we found that there was insufficient insulation in the ceiling above the cellar, which made our kitchen floor quite cold, so we added insulation.  Now is the time to make any small repairs. Produce availability Talk to some local farmers to see who can supply what vegetables.  When our community root cellar group met for the first time, we made a short list of farmers and everyone agreed to contact a farmer regarding vegetables availability, prices, and delivery