If haphazard is the key, then both of us will succeed. I think that the original terra preters just threw everything into the pit, wood, twigs, manure, and the bones of whatever. Sounds a bit like what I throw into the compost pit. I was wondering what it would be like to make such a pit, but I think that would not go over too well on my lot in Boston. Neighbors, ordinances, etc. I would love to find a way to make small batches of charred "pit material" in the city. Any ideas?