Re: How big a screen for sifting compost?

floyd1440 7/21/2012, 8:32 pm

@Pepper

I like you set up and must consider revisiting my sifting box. It too is suited for a wheel barrow but I like your handles How big a screen for sifting compost? - Page 2 3170584802

How big a screen for sifting compost? - Page 2 3170584802

CapeCoddess 7/21/2012, 9:11 pm

@SCNana - I'm in Harwich, next town over from Dennis. I'll say hi to your friend for you next time I'm in that library. She's the photographer, right?

I have about 5 milk crate sifters. I also use them to collect harvested veggies in and then spray the whole batch with the hose to rinse them off outside. And I use them around the gardens with me to fill with garden wastes as I clip and deadhead, then dump onto the compost pile. They're also great for hauling anything to anywhere, like taking recycles to the transfer station, etc. KMart use to have them a while back, don't know if they still do.

CC

SwampCatNana 7/21/2012, 9:34 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:I've used the milk crate method myself and if you want to break it down a little farther, you can cut some hardware cloth and push it down in the crate for even finer sifting.
I must confess however, I've pretty much stopped sifting my compost altogether. A couple of times in my laziness I just added unsifted compost to my beds. After a good watering or two, I noticed I couldn't tell a difference from the sifted stuff I haven't sifted at all since.

How odd you should mention the hardware cloth in the bottom of the crate. When I first read this thread I thought of doing the very same thing! WOrks for me!

SwampCatNana 7/21/2012, 9:36 pm

Kelejan wrote:[quote="SwampCatNana"

BTW, CC - where on The Cape do you live? I may have asked this before but I have a sieve for a brain lately.
.

1/4" or 1/2"?[/quote]

Not sure what this post is all about! Why am I quoted?

CapeCoddess 7/21/2012, 9:39 pm

@SCNana - I think they're asking if your brain seive is 1/2" or 1/4". Laughing

It's rather funny!

CC

SwampCatNana 7/21/2012, 9:41 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:@SCNana - I think they're asking if your brain seive is 1/2" or 1/4".
It's rather funny!

CC

Guess it's more like 1" cuz I just didn't get it! rofl

SwampCatNana 7/21/2012, 9:51 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:@SCNana - I'm in Harwich, next town over from Dennis. I'll say hi to your friend for you next time I'm in that library. She's the photographer, right?

I have about 5 milk crate sifters. I also use them to collect harvested veggies in and then spray the whole batch with the hose to rinse them off outside. And I use them around the gardens with me to fill with garden wastes as I clip and deadhead, then dump onto the compost pile. They're also great for hauling anything to anywhere, like taking recycles to the transfer station, etc. KMart use to have them a while back, don't know if they still do.

CC

I cannot believe it but I posted a reply to this re the librarian and it has just disappeared!
Well, I'll try again!
Yes, she is the photographer! I had her as a student in grade school. I taught a group of intellectually gifted students. She was super! Just don't tell her I said so!
I thought she would be a reporter as this is what she said she wanted. Either way, she gets to share knowledge which is ALWAYS good!

toledobend 2/16/2013, 9:52 pm

I first used 1/2" plastic hardware cloth (I already had some) when I first made my sifter. I used it to screen about 18 cubic feet last September from my first big batch of compost. Things grew really well over the winter in 2 new 4x4 boxes . Today I tried using 1/4" hardware cloth. It's a lot more work (it takes longer for the stuff to drop through), and you have to dump a little more of the stuff that didn't fall through the screen back into the new pile, but I really like the results.

It feels weird getting excited over home made dirt.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 2/17/2013, 4:33 pm

Yeah, Toledo! Be careful who you share this obsession with... this information in the wrong hands.... well... it could get ugly, LOL!!!!

Sponsored content


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.