I've noticed frogs hanging around mine too, especially after rain...guess they're just looking for a cozy spot. Good point about gravel size—smaller gravel definitely compacts and holds moisture longer. Another thing I'd suggest is making sure your fire pit has decent airflow underneath. Raising it slightly or using a metal grate can help keep things drier and safer overall. Had to adjust mine after realizing water was pooling beneath the bowl and rusting it out faster than expected.
Great suggestions, especially about raising it up a bit. I had the same rust issue with mine—didn't realize until I saw flakes dropping off one day (yikes). A metal grate underneath made a huge difference. Also, if frogs are hanging around, that's usually a good sign your yard is healthy and chemical-free...so congrats on that too. Just keep an eye out before lighting it up, wouldn't want any surprise amphibian BBQs.
I get the frog thing, but honestly, having them around doesn't always mean your yard's totally chemical-free. When we first moved in, frogs were everywhere, and I thought the same thing...until I found out the previous owner sprayed regularly. Took a while for things to balance out naturally.
Yeah, good point about the frogs. I've seen similar situations—frogs can be pretty resilient and stick around even if there's residual chemicals. If you're worried about your fire pit area specifically, I'd recommend doing a simple soil test kit (they're cheap at garden stores). It'll give you a clearer picture of what's actually in the ground. Better safe than sorry, especially if you're planning to grow anything edible nearby...
A soil test is a good shout, but honestly, I wouldn't stress too much unless you've got reason to suspect serious contamination. Built a patio area with reclaimed bricks once, thought I'd done my homework until my tomatoes started looking funky. Turned out there was residual stuff in the bricks themselves—lesson learned! If your frogs are hanging around happily though, that's usually a decent sign. Nature can be surprisingly good at letting you know if something's off...
