bit OT: winter veg storage

 until we build a proper pantry or even (gasp!) cellar, i am perplexed as to
waht to use to store pumpkin etc away from the rodents & the potential to be
damaged by people blundering around in the dark, etc.
also, one day, we might have enough taties that we don't just eat ourselves
stupid on them fresh & might have some to store! ditto apples, etc.

in the meantime, i was wondering if a person could use those lidded, plastic
storage bins that stack together. clearly, one would need to drill holes for
air, & line them with hessian or something.

is this a reasonable idea, or would they just rot from lack of air?

i could make some from wood, but i tend to be overwhelmed with things to do
as it is. and also, the expense, as really (i hope!) we are talking about
something fairly temporary, & i already have some plastic crates i could
use.

what about wood frames with fly mesh sides & a lid - any thoughts? (rats can
eat though modern mesh afaik, as it's made of plastic now)

got dh to look into old coolgardie safes, but being antique now, they are
hundreds of dollars each!!!

thanks in advance to anyone who has some ideas (please! fank you!)
kylie

 On Tue, 06 May 2008 00:17:50 +0000, 0tterbot wrote:


I've seen some one buy cane baskets and weld up a stand as vege bins.
Solved the need to be ventilated.
 

Try a different hardware shop. There should be some around still that sell
real wire mesh.

 
sounds lovely! but not rat-proof. (or was the stand itself rat-proof?) must
put "learn to weld" on my to-do list <g>


really? wow.
kylie

 On Thu, 08 May 2008 23:54:37 +0000, 0tterbot wrote:



The ones I saw were thickly woven and the way it was constructed, even a
mouse would have had trouble squeezing in the top.

TAFE colleges are a good place to ask, but you need to talk to the guy
incharge of welding to get useful information.  Aka, do not look for a
course but ask for a 98?? Certificate of Attainment in Manufacturing and
???. Basically, the first six months is the intro subject, which includes
oxy, are and mig, then you can go and or all of oxy 1, mig 1, arc 1 and
tig 1, then 2 & 3 and associated subjects.

 
I suspect you've never had a real rat or mouse problem.  The bastards can
squeeze through a minute hole but more to the point, the bastards will chew
thier way through wood or hard plastic given enough time. It took one 2
nights to get through a plastic garbage bin here at some stage.  the trick
is to put whatever they can try to get inot, in a commonly used area where
there is much toing and froing and preferably where dogs and cats are at
night.  That seems to stop the bastards.