My 2020 Fire pit project, made with love!
I’ve had a few projects I’ve been working on to make life a bit more comfortable and keep me busy. This week I’ll fill you in on our new fire pit. I can’t imagine having a camp, or even a home with out one. This year though, I decided to upgrade a bit from the hole in the ground we’ve been working with.
We’ve been working with just a basic hole in the ground that my daughters and I dug, and I lined with fieldstone for years. There’s nothing wrong with it. We’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment from it through the years, not to mention the cost was $0. I do always consider price. It’s not everything, but I have spent many years getting us by through my frugality. I decided we had the resources, and it was on my list of current priorities, so I shopped around for the materials I’d need to build a good one.
It’s worth mentioning that while I’m quite frugal, I also generally want the best quality I can get. I will go without something until I can buy, or make the best that I can at the price I can justify.
You have to start somewhere
My first step was to locate the best price for plenty of bricks. Well, I got plenty of bricks… I had shopped around but given the current events buying any in my area proved limited at the time. I decided I’d buy from the local farm store since they delivered, and at least I could support a local company I like. Their prices were comparable to everything else I was finding too, though I’m usually a fan of recycling for a project like this. I had this round delivered to the property we currently rent so I could play around a bit with the design. (An important aspect to this project is that I’m planning to move our main fire pit to property we are preparing to purchase.) This round of bricks would be enough to finish what I wanted but also easily move them to the other property.
What I didn’t know was that after ordering those, I would find a local listing of around 200 paver bricks for a very good deal. I set up picking those up as well! It lead to having more than enough bricks for my project. I’ve actually used these bricks in several small projects around that property already. I’m using them to make my spring access more comfortable, edge around some plants, and build the base for what’s turning into more of an outdoor fireplace!
Yes, I got them all in one load!!! (Yes, It should have been two, but it was soooo close!) 
My little bench, hidden in the brush.
Once you start you might surprise yourself
When my husband found a used metal outdoor fireplace I didn’t want to turn it down. My original plan needs to change though. I was going to just do a round “pit” for the actual fire with a nice foundation. I had hoped to find a “chiminea” which would have been more round and an aesthetic I liked more. I’d also like an option more geared toward cooking food on a grill. He found a square fireplace. I know that part will corrode eventually so then I will likely change to a round option. Either a bowl insert, or a chiminea. For now I’m working toward having a comfortable, safe place to enjoy fires this fall… I currently, technically have two!
The first fire at the camp! 
Building the platform out! Leveling the ground hasn’t been easy- and it’s not terribly uneven.
Just keep going
By next year my plan is to transport the ones I have currently set up at home on the property. I think I prefer the rounder shape, so my current idea is to set those in a half circle around the fire place. I also plan to keep building the foundation, or “patio” out until we can fit seating on it around the fireplace. The hardest part of that job has actually proven to be leveling the ground. Laying the bricks has gone pretty smoothly, though it’s important to note that I haven’t used adhesive, or mortar to secure them.
So far I like this project a lot. It’s kept me busy, I’m learning a new skill, and I have two usable fire pits! I will merge them into one either this fall, or next spring. Then I’ll have one that will be more than I’d even thought possible when I began. I just wanted a ring that was about four bricks high so we could have a slightly bigger, slightly safer fire. If I hadn’t started I would still be working with a relatively small hole in the ground edged with fieldstone. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, but I already have much better and I’m not even done! When I am done I will have a pretty fancy set up with a full outdoor fireplace and a patio type floor!
If you have a project you’ve been meaning to do, go ahead, get started. Shop around if you can. Don’t be afraid of recycled materials. Look for inspiration. Start small, even if it feels like a big job. Just get started on it!
If you enjoyed this project post also read: https://mytranslucentreflections.com/water-usage-on-the-property/
Anne Bengaff
On the surface I'm a 41 year old wife, and mom to 3 teenage girls. More than that though I am an accumulation of my adventures, and the skills I've gained. As a young woman I became an aviation maintenance technician through a school in S.C. I also lost my mother before I was 5. While my girls were growing up and becoming at least a bit more independent I graduated from the local community college with an associates degree in liberal studies. I've recently been reminded how important it is to continue learning, and following your own pursuits even while busy taking care of every one else.