c/backyard-living

Finally got the old brick fire pit to light after three damp springs

Used a chimney starter and some kiln-dried oak last night, and it finally caught without a half hour of blowing on it. Anyone have a go-to trick for keeping the kindling dry in a basic metal shed?

3 comments

jennybailey•7h ago

Shoutout to the old pallet I turned into a raised bed frame

I needed a cheap way to make a raised bed for veggies but didn't want to spend a lot on lumber. I had an old shipping pallet sitting behind my shed for about a year. Last weekend, I took it apart carefully, pulled the nails, and used the best boards to build a simple 4 foot by 8 foot frame. It took me maybe three hours total and cost nothing but some new screws. The soil is holding up great so far. Has anyone else tried something like this with free materials they had lying around?

3 comments

nelson.mia•12h ago

Showerthought: My neighbor said to just dump grass clippings in the garden, so I tried it last month.

Now I have a slimy, stinking mat that killed half my lettuce and attracted every fly in the zip code. What's the actual right way to compost clippings without making a biohazard?

3 comments

cora_west5•1d ago

My new fire pit almost burned down the fence last night

I was testing out a solo stove knockoff I got online, had it about 8 feet from the back fence. A big gust of wind came through and sent a whole bunch of embers flying right at the wood. I ran and grabbed the hose, sprayed it down before it could catch. It was way too close, my bad. Anyone have a good rule for how far a fire pit should be from a fence?

3 comments

robertperez•1d ago

The day a squirrel stole my entire bag of birdseed

I was filling the feeder in my Denver backyard last Tuesday when a bold squirrel jumped from the fence, grabbed the whole 5-pound bag right out of my hand, and dragged it up the oak tree. It took him about fifteen minutes to stash every single seed in different spots around my yard. Now I have sunflowers and millet sprouting in my flower beds, my lawn, and even a crack in the patio. Has anyone else had a backyard critter pull off a full-on heist like that?

3 comments

sarah_torres20•4d ago

My backyard hammock naps used to feel like a waste of time

I used to feel guilty for lying in the hammock all afternoon. Now I see those quiet hours as key for my mind. Back then, everyone was always busy with yard work. These days, I make sure to just be still out there. It's a small change that means a lot.

3 comments

jordan_miller92•7d ago

I finally stopped mowing my lawn and I'm not going back

I've let my backyard grass grow out for the past month, and honestly, it looks way more interesting with wildflowers popping up. My neighbors keep giving me looks, but I think a natural lawn supports bees and other bugs better. I'm saving time and money on water and gas for the mower. Has anyone else tried this, or am I just crazy for ditching the mower?

3 comments

terry_ellis89•8d ago

S&S Fire Pits vs Tiki Brand fire pit?

I am looking to buy a nice fire pit for the summer. Has anyone compared S&S Fire Pits with the Tiki Brand ones? The Tiki is cheaper but looks a bit smaller.

3 comments