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Outpost:  making a backyard firepit  |
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elah
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Emily
SW
Michigan
USA
349 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 05:22:53 AM
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Our new house has the best backyard for camping and since we will be spending most of the next two years fixing the house going on weekend long camping trips is out of the question for now. We are going to make a "camping area" including a fire pit. Since you will be able to see it from the living room windows we would like for it to be some what nice to look at.
If any of you have make a fire pit for your yard I would love to hear the details and even see a photo if you have one.
Thanks for any guidance! |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 06:26:54 AM
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I was planning on making a neat little camping area where two creeks come together in our back pasture, and although there are sooo many nice rocks to line it with, I had a little bot more attractive idea. Last weekend I was trying to move an OLD heavy concrete birdbath, and upon dropping the top piece, it broke right in two. So I think I'm gonna haul it back to the spot, and dig out a shallow area just the right shape for the curly que things to hang out of the hold. A concrete bottom will make it easy to clean out, and the fire will be fairly contained.
Usually you can find either the top or the bottom of those old concrete ones because they are so brittle. I'll have to post a pic when I get it done... |
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Sarah Blue
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
Sierra Mountains
California
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 12:37:41 PM
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Here's a photo of ours, don't mind the layer of snow (this was taken back in March). It was very easy to make, but required the purchase/barter of sand and rocks. There are small egg sized rocks in the inner circle under the actual fire pit and the outer circle is filled with a layer of sand. We don't build fires often, but we sit in it all the time. In the summer we bring out the comfy lawn furniture. Weeds do grow through the sand though, maybe we should've layered the bottom with a weed blocker. We mow the grass down around the circle and have picnic tables scattered around. Looks like a park when it's green. Sometimes we set up a tent for hanging out and avoiding the mosquitos.
"i believe in god, only i spell it nature." - frank lloyd wright
http://www.myspace.com/svgrrrl |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 2:01:25 PM
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Sarah, that's very cool. I'm going to try to emulate that in my yard. I just got a portable firepit that might be the exact one in your picture, and all I had on hand to put under it on the lawn were a few flat stones(the directions specify that it must be on a stone or asphalt surface because of fire risk). I need to get some gravel anyway for another area, so I'll order some extra for the firepit. I don't know about using weedblocker under it. You mean the fabric or plastic sheets, right? If your firepit is as much like mine as it looks, I'd be afraid that the heat would be dangerous over the weedblock.
My fil built a very simple firepit on his land. It is just a slight depression in the dirt with a hearth surround of flat rocks (from the nearby creek) set into the ground. If you have access to flat stones it would be very cheap and easy, and it looks great. If you want to make a raised surface for cooking, you could do that simply by stacking bricks or stones at the four corners of the fire area and laying a grate over them.
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Sarah Blue
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
Sierra Mountains
California
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 6:31:45 PM
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Yep, by a weed blocker I mean felt or plastic under the sand. We didn't do that but luckily the sand makes the weeds easier to pull, especially if you use a small garden knife or digging tool to pry them up as you pull. We also have a small circular patio made with flagstones. Weeds grow through that. And a stone walkway. Weeds grow through that. Combined with the flower beds, the garden and everything else, it just gets to be a lot of weeding!
"i believe in god, only i spell it nature." - frank lloyd wright
http://www.myspace.com/svgrrrl |
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mima
True Blue Farmgirl
1573 Posts
1573 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 6:55:44 PM
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| You know what alot of my friends do around here? They go to junk yards and get the inside of a washing me machine! They work really cool and are usually free! In our typicl familie's fashion, we didn't learn about this little trick until we bought ours for 100 bucks at Costco!!! |
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mima
True Blue Farmgirl
1573 Posts
1573 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 6:58:33 PM
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| Oh I just read my post....sorry about the typos! duh!!!!! |
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elah
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Emily
SW
Michigan
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 5:31:38 PM
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Thanks for the ideas! I had my husband read the responses. He has his wheels turning now! We have to finish building our fence this weekend but it sounds like he is jazzed about getting started on the project soon.
Once we have ours done I'll post a photo.
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elah
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Emily
SW
Michigan
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2007 : 05:11:49 AM
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| We went to an auction this past weekend and they had a nice stainless steal washer tub on the sale. I bought it for $7 and we are going to use it for our ring. Hopefully this weekend we will have time to dig out the hole and get started on the project. I'm longing for campfire food! |
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mima
True Blue Farmgirl
1573 Posts
1573 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2007 : 06:52:13 AM
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| That's so awesome! Fun! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 4:30:33 PM
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My parents have one of those fancy portable backyard firepits. I really want to have one or even just dig a fire pit in our backyard. Does anyone know what the ordinances in most towns are for these things?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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mainemama
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Delphine
Brunswick
Maine
USA
13 Posts |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 11:32:42 PM
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| You can just use a wide ring cut from a barrel too, and put sand around it. |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 7:39:11 PM
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I miss a campfire pit. Not allowed here in spokane county. You can buy the kind from the store, just not in our budget yet.
Carol Sue
Life is short, enjoy every moment. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 8:27:21 PM
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This is ours..husband made it last year..just a hole in the ground lined with river rock..we have sure enjoyed it!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2007 : 08:47:02 AM
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I love your fire pit Aunt Jenny! I bet the kiddos love it too! S'mores! Yum!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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cabinmoose
True Blue Farmgirl
218 Posts
Lorna
Forest Hill
MD
USA
218 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 3:28:18 PM
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In our area you can have a fire pit if you have a minimum of one acre land. For what it's worth. I am sure every county / state / city / town is different though.
Thanks for these ideas!
Lorna
Forest Hill, MD
“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry.
And I know you do the same things too, So we're really
not that different, me and you.” ~Colin Raye |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 7:29:05 PM
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There isn't a restriction here...which is good cuz people in THIS town would be stubborn enough to just have one anyhow..haha.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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jenbove
Moderator
320 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
320 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 12:36:30 PM
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I was so excited to find this topic & see some of your wonderful fire pits because I'm in the middle of creating one too! We scrapped an above-ground swimming pool that came with our house & now have a great stone-ring starting point for a fire pit. If you get a chance, pop over to the Outpost website & check it out: http://www.maryjanesoutpost.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8546
Thanks for inspiring me!
Jen
Expedition Leader, MaryJane's Outpost |
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elah
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Emily
SW
Michigan
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2007 : 2:00:11 PM
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I hope this works! I've never tried to include a photo or photo link on here so I might have to take a couple stabs at this.
Here is the fire pit we made. Since we took this photo we did add a ring of field stone around the outside of the washtub to make it look a little nicer. It's also hand for laying hot roasting sticks or pie makers on the rocks to cool.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1116/844533419_2169603727.jpg?v=0 |
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Outpost: making a backyard firepit |
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making a backyard firepit
