I grew up in western Washington on glacial til. We used a screened sifter to sort out what was often 50% gravel and rocks leaving sand and dusty old fir needle "compost ". I wore out several frames and screens over the years. Here's what I've learned... First, make sure whatever screen you use is oriented with the wires on top going with the long axis of the sifter. Otherwise, the rake or shovel will break the screen by strumming the wires instead of sliding on top. My sifter is made with half inch hardware cloth with one inch screen below. If you are removing rocks 🪨 in any quantity, the screen will sag and fail. I attach it to the bottom of the frame with lathe and roofing nails. The frame is of 2x6 cedar. It is light and very durable. At the far end I cut the board 3 feet long and make dados for the sides to measure two feet outside dimension to fit the hardware cloth (s). The over-long end stays on the wheelbarrow when I lift and shake the sifter. I make the sides about 8 inches longer and again , dado the sides about half an inch to accept the near end and maintain 2 feet of width. The extra length allows me to fashion handles much like a wheelbarrow on each side. This gives better leverage when lifting, and is much easier on my wrists and arms. If I wish to screen more finely, I drop in a lightly-framed screen like the one in the video. Built in this fashion, it will provide years of service; and in gardens plagued with rocks, it has proved invaluable for creating seedable soil. Thanks
I built a sifter like that for my compost and for breaking up my heavy clay soil. Mine was a little smaller. I took my rotary hand sander, turned it on and tossed it in the sifter, sat back and waited until it called for another shovel full of soil. It works well enough to buy another $20 sander just for the compost. 😉
My sifter is an old come shaped tomato cage that I wrapped with wire mesh including the bottom of the first wire ring using twist ties to secure it to the cage. The legs I bend out to give it stability over a bucket or wheelbarrow. I just fill and shake the cone.
A few years ago we discovered a ton of leaf mold at the back of our property. We added to the garden and I put just that in a raised box. No joke, every kind of seed I put in it sprouted within 4days. But at the time I didn't know to sift so we had baby trees and all kinds of stuff coming up also!
I built the same exact sifter to put over a plastic bin. Sadly someone in my complex objected to composting and my composter got trashed...will try again thanks to your video!
The type of sifter you have is much better and easier than the one with legs. The husband built one with legs and that shaking motion is murder on the back, shoulder and arms. So we just put the whole rig on top of the wheelbarrow and sift it with our hands, then drop the refuse in a bucket to go back into the compost pile. So IMHO, don't add legs to your sifter. You'll thank me for it! Blessings from NE Missouri!
Paula Jo Davis Check out this a new, simple, efficient, and effort saving soil dirt sifting tool called, SWIFT SIFTER. If you like my product please like and leave a comment on my video. Thank you. ua-cam.com/video/Zd8N4_mG8Tk/v-deo.html
Howdy! Question: ok so you've been checking temp, turning, checking and turning, on and on. At what point do you say I have a finished product? And once you have a finished product, how long can you leave it sitting around? Thank you!
Hey guys thanks for the videos! I really gain a lot of knowledge from watching. My wife and I are in our late 20’s and have just started our journey with gardening a couple years ago. Do you have any videos or could you share any knowledge on how to create good compost? Thank you
Hey enjoyed this video! Its full of great information. I have a quick question. How long does a composed pile last? This is the beginning of August here in ga, could I start making compost now and it still be good for my garden come labor day next yr?
QUESTION: I've been looking through your videos on compost and others' but I can't seem to find information on the end of composting cycle: does it need to "cure"? Does that just mean not adding anything new so the composting organisms move elsewhere? Does it need to be sterilized?
The organisms will break done and eat the stuff you put in there, then die off some. A lot of what the plants eat is the nutrients from the decomposed bacteria organisms. But also having some bacteria life in the soil around the plants really help them. So to answer your questions in order: 1 build your pile to right size and mix, then don’t add anything new. Once it’s broken down properly, just sift it, then spread on your garden. 2. You don’t want to sterilize it, as that will destroy all the soil life that really helps your plant.
Just want to say an indoor sterile mix of potting soil is better for people that cannot grow outdoors. Sterility will reduce fungal and bacterial growth and buying the mix will reduce bugs and gnats. As for buying "compost" it simply isn't always a good idea because you don't know how much wood, sticks, large debris, plastic or garbage is in it unless you know the source.
I just looked it up. It is smaller and kinda cute, definitely another option. The type of sifter in THIS video (Homesteading Family), would be much faster and a bit less work actually sifting. Especially if you want more than a few pounds of fine soil.
TheMachiningman Check out this a new, simple, efficient, and effort saving soil dirt sifting tool called, SWIFT SIFTER. If you like my product please like and leave a comment on my video. Thank you. ua-cam.com/video/Zd8N4_mG8Tk/v-deo.html
I grew up in western Washington on glacial til. We used a screened sifter to sort out what was often 50% gravel and rocks leaving sand and dusty old fir needle "compost ". I wore out several frames and screens over the years. Here's what I've learned... First, make sure whatever screen you use is oriented with the wires on top going with the long axis of the sifter. Otherwise, the rake or shovel will break the screen by strumming the wires instead of sliding on top. My sifter is made with half inch hardware cloth with one inch screen below. If you are removing rocks 🪨 in any quantity, the screen will sag and fail.
I attach it to the bottom of the frame with lathe and roofing nails. The frame is of 2x6 cedar. It is light and very durable. At the far end I cut the board 3 feet long and make dados for the sides to measure two feet outside dimension to fit the hardware cloth (s). The over-long end stays on the wheelbarrow when I lift and shake the sifter. I make the sides about 8 inches longer and again , dado the sides about half an inch to accept the near end and maintain 2 feet of width. The extra length allows me to fashion handles much like a wheelbarrow on each side. This gives better leverage when lifting, and is much easier on my wrists and arms. If I wish to screen more finely, I drop in a lightly-framed screen like the one in the video. Built in this fashion, it will provide years of service; and in gardens plagued with rocks, it has proved invaluable for creating seedable soil. Thanks
I built a sifter like that for my compost and for breaking up my heavy clay soil. Mine was a little smaller. I took my rotary hand sander, turned it on and tossed it in the sifter, sat back and waited until it called for another shovel full of soil. It works well enough to buy another $20 sander just for the compost. 😉
Something I need to add to my garden. I wouldnt have thought to use 1/4" hardware cloth necessarily. Thanks for breaking it all down so simply.
My sifter is an old come shaped tomato cage that I wrapped with wire mesh including the bottom of the first wire ring using twist ties to secure it to the cage. The legs I bend out to give it stability over a bucket or wheelbarrow. I just fill and shake the cone.
A few years ago we discovered a ton of leaf mold at the back of our property. We added to the garden and I put just that in a raised box. No joke, every kind of seed I put in it sprouted within 4days. But at the time I didn't know to sift so we had baby trees and all kinds of stuff coming up also!
Awesome! Thanks for the tips, I never sifted mine I just always picked out the bigger pieces and prayed. Ha ha
Making the sifter the size of the wheel barrow is brilliant. I can do that.
I built the same exact sifter to put over a plastic bin. Sadly someone in my complex objected to composting and my composter got trashed...will try again thanks to your video!
Great tip thanks! Reminds me of my childhood, when my dad made the exact same sieve for the garden soil and compost
Learning!
Thank you so much.
God bless you and family.
Thank you. You answered a question I was asking myself.
What a great homemade tool! Thanks for the video. I was wondering about your composting set up as well.
Thank you from Ontario Canada
Always learn something:-) Thank you so much for sharing
Excellent video
Sweet viedo looks like a great diy
Do you have a video on making your own potting soil? I couldnt find one through a search.
The type of sifter you have is much better and easier than the one with legs. The husband built one with legs and that shaking motion is murder on the back, shoulder and arms. So we just put the whole rig on top of the wheelbarrow and sift it with our hands, then drop the refuse in a bucket to go back into the compost pile. So IMHO, don't add legs to your sifter. You'll thank me for it! Blessings from NE Missouri!
Paula Jo Davis Check out this a new, simple, efficient,
and effort saving soil dirt sifting tool called, SWIFT SIFTER. If you like my product please like and leave a comment on my video. Thank you. ua-cam.com/video/Zd8N4_mG8Tk/v-deo.html
Howdy! Question: ok so you've been checking temp, turning, checking and turning, on and on. At what point do you say I have a finished product? And once you have a finished product, how long can you leave it sitting around? Thank you!
Hey guys thanks for the videos! I really gain a lot of knowledge from watching. My wife and I are in our late 20’s and have just started our journey with gardening a couple years ago. Do you have any videos or could you share any knowledge on how to create good compost? Thank you
save kitchen scraps... egg shells onion peel, google it thetes a chart, also lots of good videos here, google and yt are ur friends
Hey enjoyed this video! Its full of great information. I have a quick question. How long does a composed pile last? This is the beginning of August here in ga, could I start making compost now and it still be good for my garden come labor day next yr?
I absolutely thought this said "aka Soil Steve", and now my sifter has a new name. 😂
Were here in North Idaho do you get good compost?
QUESTION: I've been looking through your videos on compost and others' but I can't seem to find information on the end of composting cycle: does it need to "cure"? Does that just mean not adding anything new so the composting organisms move elsewhere?
Does it need to be sterilized?
The organisms will break done and eat the stuff you put in there, then die off some. A lot of what the plants eat is the nutrients from the decomposed bacteria organisms. But also having some bacteria life in the soil around the plants really help them. So to answer your questions in order: 1 build your pile to right size and mix, then don’t add anything new. Once it’s broken down properly, just sift it, then spread on your garden. 2. You don’t want to sterilize it, as that will destroy all the soil life that really helps your plant.
I’m in your neck of the woods . Where is a good place to get wood chips? Have you ever rented a wood chipper?
What do you mean “turn it” ?? Your other video is on sifting, please clarify
The organic seed starting mix or potting soil I have bought here in the past still needs sifting, lots of big wood particles are in it.
What, other than compost, do you put in your potting mix?
A Tumblr works great
dang it i got half inch .
Great videos.......but in this one..."How to build....."....you actually don't build anything, you just talk about it....smiles....Thomas, Denmark
Just want to say an indoor sterile mix of potting soil is better for people that cannot grow outdoors. Sterility will reduce fungal and bacterial growth and buying the mix will reduce bugs and gnats. As for buying "compost" it simply isn't always a good idea because you don't know how much wood, sticks, large debris, plastic or garbage is in it unless you know the source.
Look up Martha Stewart compost sifter, I have her design and it is a lot less work, just saying
I just looked it up. It is smaller and kinda cute, definitely another option. The type of sifter in THIS video (Homesteading Family), would be much faster and a bit less work actually sifting. Especially if you want more than a few pounds of fine soil.
TheMachiningman Check out this a new, simple, efficient,
and effort saving soil dirt sifting tool called, SWIFT SIFTER. If you like my product please like and leave a comment on my video. Thank you. ua-cam.com/video/Zd8N4_mG8Tk/v-deo.html
Com-Post...is this an American way of saying it? I don't even know how to write it in English...it's one word!