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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> My ground is pretty flat, Gene. But I suppose that if one dug into the
> ground a ways, the dirt from the hole could be used to cover the top
> of a shelter and create a little hill of sorts. I guess that would cut
> down, a little, on the depth of the needed excavation?

Sounds like you might best make a small attached room out of  
something substantial, like concrete blocks, reinforced and filled,  
perhaps with a concrete barrel vault roof, either formed and poured  
or made of ferrocement. For less weight and therefore less footing  
requirement, frame the walls with two-by-sixes or two-by-eights to  
allow for lots of insulation, heavy nail plywood to the outside for  
strength and rigidity, staple on roofing paper, then a couple layers  
of chicken wire, then apply three or four heavy coats of stucco,  
which is really just mortar mix. Add colorant to the final coat and  
never have maintenance. If drainage conditions allow, make the dirt  
floor a step or three down into the earth, which will help retain  
coolth for food storage as well as provide a lower profile to high  
winds. The simplest entry is to remove an existing window and frame  
in a door at that point. Done well, you have excellent root cellar,  
food pantry and wine cellar, as well as a fraidy hole for twister  
protection. The homestead ideal: one item doing several jobs.