A scenic coastal landscape with a stone and grass-covered building on a grassy hillside. A wooden door is set into the stone structure. The ocean is visible to the right under a clear blue sky, with a wooden fence extending into the distance.

Elliston, The Root Cellar Capital of the World

By Newfoundland & Labrador

Perched at the top of the Bonavista Peninsula is the tiny community of Elliston, the Root Cellar Capital of the World.

A person with brown hair stands on a grassy cliff edge, overlooking a rocky coastline and the ocean. The sky is partly cloudy, and the sea waves crash against the rocks below.

The striking coastline around Elliston

These traditional food storage systems – used mainly for root vegetables like potatoes and carrots – are built right into the ground, mainly into small hills and banks. The natural humidity and moisture keeps things cool in the summer and prevents freezing in the winter.
Elliston has more than 130 documented root cellars in the small town and surrounding area. Of those, half are still in working condition and used today.

A weathered stone structure with a wooden door partially covered by grass stands in a grassy field. The landscape extends to rocky outcrops and a cloudy sky, suggesting a coastal environment.

Root Cellars

Now, you really don’t have to be a vegetable preservation enthusiast or a fan of hobbit-like structures to visit the area (though it helps!). It’s a place with a breathtaking coastline with fascinating rock formations, and an extremely accessible, land-based puffin colony.

Two small white houses with red roofs sit on a grassy hill under a blue sky. Stone structures are partially visible in the foreground. Sparse vegetation covers the landscape.

Before refrigerators, there were root cellars

Walking around the area, cozy homes are scattered delicately over rolling hills, and a root cellar is never far away. It’s as if they’re part of the actual landscape itself – little caverns tucked away in the rolls and hills of the earth. Otherworldly in appearance, they are a natural part of the locals’ lives, just as much as the craggy shore, chatty puffins and pounding surf.
A strong sense of community is key to making root cellars viable. Many families share cellars, and as they can take 3-4 weeks to construct, it makes for a community-wide project. From digging the land, to scouring the cliffs for flat rocks – neighbours, friends and family come together to help.

An older man with glasses and a plaid shirt is smiling while carrying a large blue sack over his shoulder in a rustic setting.

Collecting Potatoes from a Root Cellar

In the days before electricity, root cellars were integral to surviving the harsh winters on the northeast coast of Newfoundland. With the current issues surrounding energy costs, food safety and accessibility, looking towards agricultural solutions like the ones used in Elliston could provide some real solutions for the future. They also serve as a reminder that in many places around Newfoundland and Labrador, local food has really never gone out of fashion.

A small wooden door set into a stone wall built into a hillside, surrounded by grass and wild vegetation, under a clear sky.

Root Cellar Door

Elsewhere in Elliston, the puffin viewing site, accessible by a 5 minute walk, offers the closest view of puffins from land in North America. During the spring, you can also watch as icebergs float by the coastline and catch a glimpse of a whale not far from shore. The town also has several hiking trails to stretch your legs.
Every September, Elliston hosts the hiking-inspired food festival known as Roots, Rants and Roars. A highlight of the festival is the food hike – a 5 km loop with multiple stops to taste the culinary delights prepared by award-winning chefs. There’s also musical performances, tasting events, and the annual battle to crown the “King of Cod”.