Celebrate Independence Day (and a successful hog hunt) with a backyard feast.

If there’s ever a time to go whole hog—in every sense—it’s Uncle Sam’s birthday. Cooking a whole pig (in this case, a 75- to 125-pounder, butterflied and with hair removed) in a backyard pit puts the neighborhood on notice: You’re taking the party to a new level. Come hungry, y’all, and bring your friends. This D.I.Y. cooker goes up, and breaks down, in an hour tops. Check local laws about open fires in town limits, but many larger cities allow open flames as long as you’re cooking. And, brother, you will be cooking!

What You’ll Need
– 40 cinder blocks
– Approx. 5×6-foot grill platform made from non-galvanized* expanded metal
– Extra-heavy-duty aluminum foil
– Shovel or two
– Half cord of firewood
*Galvanized metal will emit toxic fumes

1. Clear an area of level ground of any combustible leaves or sticks. Lay out a two-layer base of blocks as shown. Build a fire inside the pit. After the coals have burned down, divide them into thirds: You’ll want 4 inches of coals on each end, and an inch or two in the middle.

2. Rest the grate on the pit. If the metal can’t support the pig, add three pieces of rebar across the width.

3. Place the pig skin-side up on the grate, then add the third layer of blocks. Cover the entire grill with foil.

4. Halfway through cooking time, flip the pig. Two guys lift the pig with shovels, while two others pull on gloves and grab hooves to help guide the porker onto his back.

Team Effort

Baste the pig liberally with BBQ sauce through the day. Shovel in coals as need by removing the block (A) on either of the ends. You can regulate heat by regulating airflow; cover the holes on the sideways-turned cinder blocks (B) as needed. All helpers get to eat the ribs, which are ready first. The hog is done when the internal temp of the hams hits 180 degrees.