Whether it ’s a big roaring bonfire to pose around and enjoy with friends – or a minuscule little campfire to cook a simple meal over – there seems to be something special about an outdoor fire .
The Fire Pit Area . This picture was need right after we laid down the gravel limestone pathway base .
Our outdoor fire pit project has been on our goal list for the last two years – and it has been on Mary ’s blood brother Rob ’s list for us to complete for three ! 🙂
The Fire Pit Area. This picture was taken right after we laid down the gravel limestone pathway base.
So we decided with the garden in farm mode , and still a few workweek before we can set forth the cabin project – it was meter to make it a reality and finally be able to give Rob his indirect request of sit by a roar fire on his next visit to Ohio .
Digging out the oceanic abyss area for the pedestrian
Our goals for the undertaking were simple : make it from stone to match the existing landscape rock-and-roll , make it heavy enough to have 10 to 15 people sitting around it comfortably , and build in removable pipe arm to admit a soup kettle or cooking grate when we desire to cook on it . Oh yes , and one final thing – do it as stingily as we can ! 🙂
Digging out the trench area for the footer
We have actually had the distance picked out for the pit since we first created the farm – a humble seance area off the master walkway to the b and upper pergola , and with a really unspoiled view of the garden , coop , barn and vinery area .
Getting start …
So , a few weeks back , with little more than a few shovels and a lawn cart , we begin . plainly using a string connect to a round stake in the center of the pit , we used an old can of sprayer paint to cross out off the pit and the rotary sitting area .
The trench ready for the pour with gravel base and old fencing used for reinforcement of the concrete base
The oceanic abyss ready for the pour with crushed rock base and old fencing material used for reinforcement of the concrete base
We cut into down 18 inches to constitute the main pit – and then dug an 18″ wide trench around the outer border of the circle to produce a unassailable footer base .
To form the base for the sitting area outside of the fossa – we used inexpensive limestone mob junk and created a 10′ wide orbit .
Pouring the concrete into the trench.
Once everything is completed , we will come back and add a few inches of pea crushed rock on the Earth’s surface to polish off the sitting surface area off .
Pouring the concrete into the trench .
We have used this limestone dust / pea plant crushed rock combination for all of the course and paseo on the farm . Not only is it extremely inexpensive , it looks peachy as well and is easy to maintain .
The footer all poured before the final smooth out.
With everything dig out for the quarry , we poured the concrete walker this weekend . It took 13 bags of 80 lb . mix , about 26 gallons of H2O , and nearly every muscular tissue that we had in our body – but we amalgamate and poured it all in a little under two hours . To add together a little military strength to the base , we make out up some old fencing wire and placed in the oceanic abyss before decant the concrete .
Final Steps …
With the concrete walker poured and in place – we will now give it about a week to cure and begin the process of building the stone paries of the Hell . We are rosy to have a quarry just a few mile from the mansion – so we took the ol’ Ford down and pick up 1.5 stacks of 6 to 10″ boulder stone to build the walls at a grand total of $ 19.30 .
A load of rock waiting in the truck bed to be turned into our firepit!
The walker all pullulate before the final smooth out .
Now make out the fun . Over the next few calendar week , as clock time allows , we will start the process of stacking the stone rampart and mortaring it into place one stone at a time . It ’s really as simple as crop a teaser , working with the piece until you detect what agree , and then “ glueing ” them in place with the mortar .
Once the paries are complete – we will bury 24″ long hollow pipe on the interior and outside of the pit to obligate the grating and tympani stand when we use the fire pit to cook .
A load of rock waiting in the truck bottom to be rick into our firepit !
Hopefully within a few weeks we will be able to sit down around the new flak nether region and enjoy a repast from the garden . I think more than anything I am most lofty of the fact that when it is all sound out and done – the whole labor should come in at right around $ 125 – not bad when you consider all of the proficient time we should be able-bodied to have there !
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Happy horticulture ,
Jim and Mary Old World Garden farm
