Digging your own pit, expert advice?

[Boggy Man]

Perhaps as an alternative to digging and maintaining an artificial pit, you could make use of Google Maps, and search for natural areas. It could be more extensive and/or deeper than anything you could ever create yourself. And, you could perhaps even "enhance" it without making it look out of the ordinary.

[solexian]

already done the google maps thing, but most of the good areas are a day trip and a half sadly. my only hope i have is a massive lake 20 mins away. such is life lol.

[Jon Smith]

already done the google maps thing, but most of the good areas are a day trip and a half sadly. my only hope i have is a massive lake 20 mins away. such is life lol.

I hear ya. I haven't had the best luck finding spots, but where I used to live in Oregon, near a town called Marcola... I hear people talk about coming across thick mud that was 4+ ft deep “accidentally” while they were off-roading. They don't seem to care much about it, but I sure would. One of my friends claimed he was up to his neck in mud, he told me where, but when I found it, it was deep, and way too thin.

[Mynock]

If only my private property was a little more private I'd just rent a backhoe and order a dump truck full of Kaolin......maybe I could convince the neighbors it's a spa lol.......

[Boggy Man]

If only my private property was a little more private I'd just rent a backhoe and order a dump truck full of Kaolin......maybe I could convince the neighbors it's a spa lol.......

What you need is to put in a large hedge, something that grows fast.

[mrcactus747]

Perhaps what you need is to dig a deep wide pit, put in some sort of liner, add water, and then mix in peat. It is easier to remix than clay/sand/silt, and is easier to submerge in due to its lower density. The liner will hold the water, so it won't dry out quickly. When it gets too thick, you can stick a hose down to the bottom to add more water, and then mix it in with your body. The peat will be a bit coarse at first, but over time it will turn finer (and slimier) as it breaks down. Because it is organic, decomposition could result in it developing bubbles of swamp gas, which will be an added bonus.

This sounds perfect! I want to make my own sinking pit at my future residence. I was thinking about the liner... So thats the one I planned to install after digging... Where can I get the peat??? Which type of peat???? Thank you!

[mrcactus747]

If only my private property was a little more private I'd just rent a backhoe and order a dump truck full of Kaolin......maybe I could convince the neighbors it's a spa lol.......

Before I purchase the property, I would make sure its very remote. Otherwise if I have to live around neighbors, I would have to build a fence around my to buy property after purchasing the property and it would be strictly private, I wish I could build a prison style fence with wood but mostly it wouldn't be allowed (about 10 to 15 feet fence for more privacy - keep people on the second floor of the house from looking at what I was doing down below...

[Boggy Man]

This sounds perfect! I want to make my own sinking pit at my future residence. I was thinking about the liner... So thats the one I planned to install after digging... Where can I get the peat??? Which type of peat???? Thank you!

You can buy bales of peat at places that sell garden supplies, such as nurseries/farm/garden supply stores, Wal-Mart, certain hardware stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc). But, you have to make sure that you choose pure sphagnum peat, and not special grow mixes containing additives such as perlite. Here are some examples of products to look for:

[mrcactus747]

Thank you, Boggy, now, It dont look like 50 lbs bag, so If I want to do 4' x 4' with 3 to 3 half feet deep (so I can sink up to my neck) how much bags would I need and other receipe to make it perfect