outdoor fire pits
I have been building outdoor fire pits since I was very young. You see, like all kids I grew up loving fire. Unlike most parents, however, my parents gave me a safe place to indulge in this love of flame. They knew that it was pointless to discourage me, so instead they allowed me to play with fire under their close supervision. We would have a bonfire in the fire pit almost every weekend in the summer! Our outdoor bonfires were legendary.
I actually built the fire pit with my father when I was only six years old. It was pretty easy to do, but for a six-year-old it was a great adventure and a wonderful project. I got to dig the pit myself, then we carried in the rocks and built protective ring around it. We lived in a pretty rural area, and no one bothered about outdoor fireplaces. Everyone liked to have fires outside – it was one of the chief forms of entertainment on the weekends. You would have all your friends over, the adults would drink, the kids would play games and get to stay up late, and everyone would have a great time.
I would love to be able to share this experience of my own child, but unfortunately we live in a new neighborhood that is a little bit more uptight and straight laced. People can’t stand the idea of anyone having a pit fire outside. It is as if they believe that, as soon as the fire pit gets going, all the neighborhood kids will instantly jump in and be incinerated within moments. They seem to think that, by not letting their kids have any fun, they can keep them out of trouble. Bonfire pits are even outlawed by the city code!
For a long time, we would go down to the ocean to have a fire pit. Unfortunately, it was inconvenient and it didn’t capture the whole experience. Part of the fun of having an outdoor fire pit is being able to throw a bonfire at a moments notice, inviting friends from around the neighborhood to join in the festivities. It took a while, but finally we came up with a way that we could do it without violating the city laws. We built an outdoor fire place and a fire chimney. Although I don’t like it as much as having the flames right out in the open, it is a lot better than having to drive down to the ocean anytime you want to have a fire!
