Building a Fire Pit

Have you ever used a fire pit? It is a really nice addition to your garden, patio, or wherever you like to relax out in nature. We made ours by the pond, where we like to spend most of our outdoor relaxing time. Below you can see how we went about it. It is almost as simple as a hole in the ground. We didn't make it fancy but it has served its purpose time and again. Many hotdogs, sausages, hamburgers, and even a cake have been made on this little guy. We hope that once you see how simple it is to make, you will build one for you and your family to enjoy.

Before you begin digging, think safety. Choose a spot that is open and clear. Even though the fire is in the ground, sparks and ashes can start a fire above. So, choose a spot for your fire pit that would be safe for a campfire. In addition, keep little ones..and clutsy big ones...away from the fire pit. You don't want anyone getting a burn. Teach others to respect it like any other outdoor grill.

	How we decided what size to make ours was by looking at a grill that we already had on hand. It became our pattern.
Then came the hole. We dug it about 10 inches deep. It was deep enough to accomodate some fire brick lying flat and a row standing on end.
	For the bottom, we used some busted pieces of fire brick that we scavengened from the brick pile.
	Next we turned some whole fire bricks on end and lined the sides of the fire pit.
On top of the ground, we made another flat layer of firebrick.
	Here Joseph is using mud (lots of clay) as mortar to apply the last row of decorative brick to the top, for a more finished look.
	Most of the hard work is behind us. It is quite usable at this stage, but we really wanted to nice'en it up.
This is a plastic garbage can lid that we use to keep the rain out when the fire pit is not in use. We also recycled a metal cover from an old smoker that we use as a cover while we are cooking.
	I added on a little side table using some concrete pads and a few bricks. It makes a nice place to set utensils while cooking.
Here is the firepit all finished and just waiting for some coals or wood to get a fire started. You can see the pond in the background. This little spot makes for some nice relaxing and eating most anytime.