I’ve spent the last several months visiting family and enjoying the Ozarks. The things I enjoy most about this part of the country is that there is a sense of being close to the land and nature. Hay bales, livestock and barbed wire fence means someone works with their hands, uses what they have to get the job done, and knows something about nurturing. It seems down to earth ethics also brings processes that are closer to common sense and practices mostly forgotten and abandoned.

I came across a peculiarity-a common sense solution that I’m sure saves tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for Kraft Foods and other local manufacturers. The company, Springfield Underground owns the 3.2 million square foot underground warehouse, originally opened in 1946 as a limestone quarry, now sees more than 500 trucks daily and employs 600 workers. It remains a consistent 60 degrees Fahrenheit, protects products from natural disaster and provides a environment favorable for aging cheese and storing dry goods and raw materials. Tunnels run beneath 2 highways, several city streets and encompasses 3.5 miles of roadways suitable for 18-wheeler maneuverability.

Warehouse tours are off-limits to the public but Springfield Underground group tours are available by calling:  You can take a virtual tour with “Crazy  trucker posted a video as he made a delivery. See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtQRi8QSQ3I An interesting video about how railway collaborates with underground storage can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhFzzrbp-4E If you are really curious and want to dig deeper, here’s a video about how and why it all came about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRCNpcmxi6Q&t=114s