Why we are digging a root cellar

Because we don't have faith in our life savings or any investments we own - vegetables will be worth more than money once hyperinflation begins. Some say it can't happen here, but there is a long list of countries that have found out otherwise and they weren't nearly as in debt as we are.
Even if we are wrong (we aren't), then we can eat very tasty meals all winter long while everyone else is eating packaged, tasteless grocery store food. And besides, root cellars look really, really cool buried in the side of a hill...