8 Reasons People Love To Grill Out Since we all have indoor kitchens, it can strike one as a little funny, when you think about it, how many humans love to venture outside their perfectly conditioned interiors to BBQ their food in the thick of the summer heat. But there are lots of good reasons to grill out—some of them practical, some social, some of them even biological.Here are eight of Bart Fireside’s best reasons to fire up your barbecue tonight: It turns food preparation and cooking into a social event. What if the heart of the home isn’t in the kitchen but rather in the outdoor kitchen? This appears to be the case, as dinner guests love spending time outdoors near the grill, where all the action and the delicious smells happen. Food prepared on the grill is naturally fresher. You’re not going to have to worry much about being served processed foods—or even rich, creamy, calorie-laden stuff—hot off a barbecue. Instead grills seem to naturally encourage the cooking of fresh meats, fish, and vegetables. Looking for outdoor fire pit ideas? We know what you’re thinking: Aren’t fire pits for fancy people with finished patios and intentional landscaping? Aren’t they insanely expensive? Yes, and no. The materials involved aren’t exactly cheap (think cast iron, stone, concrete, et cetera), but with a little persistence, you can find affordable outdoor fire pits. Here, we’ve rounded up 35 of the best fire pits starting at just $50! You’ll find a wide range of styles: Some are proper steel basins, others are fire baskets, and others are more like fire pits for cooking. Some are modern fire pits, while others are rustic and charming. There’s a fire pit for every taste on this list. Scroll through to find the one that’s right for you—and whatever you choose, do your research to make sure you set up a safe situation: You’ll want to set the fire pit on a nonflammable, non-grass surface, such as a wide stoop or brick patio, and potentially add a heat-resistant mat under it. It makes use of all your of senses. The bases of smell, sight, sound, and of course taste are all covered when grilling. It’s instinctive. It could be said that cooking over a live fire is in our DNA. The cavemen did it; we want to, too It’s exciting. Speaking of live fire, isn’t it more thrilling to cook over it than to peer into the door of an oven every so often? Barbecuing makes cooking feel like more of an event. It’s versatile. You can cook almost anything on a barbecue, especially one like the Primo ceramic grill, which many of our customers use to cook things like pizzas and even fruit pies It gets you outdoors. OK, so barbecuing doesn’t exactly equate with taking a hike in the woods, but it’s still a way to get people outside, which is naturally grounding and calming. It saves you the hassle of kitchen cleanup. Consolidated to just one cooker, dinners prepared on a barbecue like the Big Green Egg require less cleanup afterwards. This makes dinner taste that much better Choosing the best fire pit Whether you want to keep warm in your garden, spruce up your patio or you’re looking for a more authentic way to cook your dinner, an outdoor fire pit could fit the bill. Gaining popularity as we all spend more time at home, fire pits are super versatile and can add some glamour to your garden. But choosing the right type, size and material before investing is essential. Use our expert advice to help you choose the best type and brand, discover interesting fire pit ideas and even learn how to make your own. Types of fire pits There’s no one size fits all when it comes to fire pits so picking the right type can take time. We run through the pros and cons of some of the most popular fire pit types: Fire pit table This is exactly what it says on the tin – a fire pit that sits in the middle of a table. Designed with a fire pit in the centre, surrounded by a table around the periphery of the pit where you can place drinks and food, these are great for people that like to keep warm while socialising. The extra space between the pit and the ledge also provides a little more safety – children can’t get too close – but you still need to be careful to never leave it unattended. If you’re keeping under an umbrella or covering, you’ll need to check there’s enough ventilation and that it’s high enough so the flame won’t catch. Ways Tree Grates Can Make A Difference In Your Landscape While trees in forests and woodlands grow in near-perfect natural conditions, trees grown in an urban setting have to endure unique circumstances. This includes everything from obstructive pavements to vandalism to high temperatures due to urban microclimates and even exposure to artificial elements like exhaust fumes and de-icing salt. When tree grates are incorporated, they allow the trees growing in these urban spaces to integrate a lot more seamlessly with the rest of the landscape. They protect the trees from the severity of the urban environment, tremendously increasing the tree's lifespan. The types of tree grates to be used in an urban setting should take into account several factors, such as tree root management, irrigation and aeration options, and guying systems. This goes a long way in ensuring that they integrate a lot better with their environment. Tree grates today come in a variety of materials, including metal, stone, and plastic. This article highlights some of the ways that tree grates can make a difference in your landscape. Tree grates keep trees alive As has already been mentioned, tree grates play a vital role in ensuring that trees planted in urban spaces stay alive for longer. In urban settings, where there is a high density of human traffic, it is easy for the soil around the growing trees to get compacted. Compacted soil is one of the reasons why trees grown in urban areas suffer. When the tree grates are in place, the soil around the trees become inaccessible to human and vehicular traffic. This means that it will not suffer the same level of compaction that exposed soil does, allowing the tree to thrive as a result. Tree grates help create urban forests in city environments Whenever tree grates get used, the process of integrating urban forests into the city begins. Tree grates play an essential role in this process in various ways. For example, they help allocate space for trees while also allowing continuous pedestrian traffic flow over the area where the trees are. They also prevent litter buildup and boost the growth of the trees by suppressing weed growth. 5 Reasons to Add a Landscape Water Feature Landscaping professionals are often hired to install water features. Portland homes are especially well suited for water features, as the mild climate of the Rose City allows water fountains to flow nearly year-round. Below, you’ll find a list of benefits accrued from adding landscaping water features to your property. 1. Flowing water soothes the soul. Throughout history, philosophers, religious clerics and physicians have recognized water’s incredible healing power. Experts in Buddhist meditation cherish flowing water as a source of white noise that the mind can enjoy without becoming too attached to any single tone. Practitioners of natural medicine recommend hydrotherapy in the form of steam baths, saunas and hot and cold compresses. Adding a landscape water feature fosters relaxation and peace. Flowing water calms the mind and revives the spirit. While selecting from water features, Portland gardeners, be sure to listen carefully to the sound each one makes; each of us naturally prefers certain “water songs” over others. 2. Running water attracts wildlife. Picture this: you’re lounging beside your landscape water feature, unwinding, when a cheery yellow-breasted finch settles on a rock nearby. Fascinated, you watch with wonder while the tiny creature hops ever closer to the flowing water and eventually takes a few sips. This sort of event can occur in your yard on a daily basis if you add a fountain or bubbling birdbath. Landscaping water features naturally attract birds, squirrels, rabbits and other fauna. Like us, all animals require fresh, clean water to thrive. Birds, for instance, need water for both drinking and preening. Water baths help birds remove loose feathers, dust and parasites from their feathers. If you’re a nature lover, adding a water feature will bring you hours of joy, as you observe a menagerie of animal visitors. 3. A landscape water feature boosts curb appeal and property values. Landscaping water features add visual interest and charm for potential homebuyers. If you’re hoping to get a good resale value for your home, adding a fountain, miniature brook or even just a burbling ceramic pot is a good investment. 4. Improved air quality and reduced noise pollution. A flowing water feature will mask nearby noise pollution while releasing a continuous flow of negative ions. Numerous researchers have found a connection between negative ions and stress reduction. Russian scientists, for instance, found that exposure to negative ions reduced pathological signs of stress in rats. Studies also suggest that negative ions can offset the health impacts of air pollution – yet another salutary benefit of water features. Portland health enthusiasts swear by the health benefits of flowing water. 5. According to Feng Shui, running water brings wealth. The ancient Chinese study of Feng Shui teaches that flowing water attracts wealth. To maximize potency, Feng Shui teaches that landscaping water features should be kept clean. Just as a dripping faucet represents wasted money slowly dripping out of your pockets, an efficiently flowing water feature symbolizes new opportunities flowing into your life. As a professional manufacturer, we can provide many good products.