Weltevree, a Dutch design company created by Floris Schoonderbeek, specializes in products made to encourage people to take advantage of natural and outdoor living.  Their Groundfridge is a modern take on the familiar root cellar concept, allowing you to keep your produce fresh without traditional refrigeration.

The Groundfridge is similar to a traditional root cellar, and it is part of a concept meant to encourage the modern homeowner to grow and store their own produce for a modern self-sufficient existence. The Groundfridge uses the insulating effect of soil and the cooling effect of groundwater. The temperature in the fridge remains stable year-round between 10 and 12° C (50 to 54° F), which is the ideal temperature for storing fruits, vegetables, wine and cheese.

The Groundfridge is placed in the ground and covered with the excavated earth. This layer of soil, about 1 meter thick, works as insulation so the temperature inside the fridge hardly varies. There is no building permit required to place the Groundfridge, and the displaced soil doesn’t need to be removed, which makes it an appealing addition to any home.

Mai Linh