Heard a couple people say they were sifting their compost...

What do you use?
I do not have the disposable dough to buy one.

I love reading all the creative ideas you fellow gardeners come up with.

Mine is 1/2" galvanized hardware cloth staple gunned to 2x4's (1 1/2" x 3 1/2" actually) squared to the size to fit across the top of my wheelbarrow.
I sift my compost into the wheelbarrow.

Have had this sifter forever...Dad made it...I remember it being around from childhood.

I've never bothered or needed to "sift". When mine is ready it doesn't need any "sifting". The few pieces that need to be recomposted or tossed (sticks, etc.) are large enough where I can just pick them out by hand. Everything else is dark, crumbly, & fine as any purchased potting mix.

We just took a piece of 1/4 inch hardware cloth and bent the sides to fit over a small cart that was left here on the property. We have a much bigger cart that we haul with, and don't always sift, but it's nice to do so when making a seedbed or covering newly planted seeds to have finely sifted compost. It works well and was very cheap.

Peace

Gail

I improvised with this bird netting I have been using for stuff. I folded it in half or thirds and put it over my bucket and then pinned it down with some heavy rocks. I dumped a forkfull of compost on top (finished but yes there are chunks and twiggy stuff) and shook back and forth or mushed around with my hand. It didn't take long at all to fill a bucket. Then I just pulled off the netting and put over a new bucket. I filled 6 buckets and ran out of buckets. I am thinking it would be cheaper to buy more buckets and save more compost than buying any seed starting mix.

Sifting comppost gives you a finer, neater looking end product but is not necessary to do. The best sifter to use is hardware cloth, which is fairly expensive to buy, stapled to the top side of a frame (the weight of the product and working the product over the screen could loosen the staples and allow it to fall off the frame) which can be placed over a cart or which can be set at an angle on the ground.

Finished compost won't need to be sifted, but some of us don't have the leisure or the patience to wait and use it before it has totally broken down. For most uses, sifting isn't required, but when sowing small seeds like lettuce, or if you're using it for starting seeds, a sifter of some kind is useful. For small amounts an old kitchen collandar makes a pretty good sifter and usually can be picked up for a couple of bucks at a junque store or flea market. I use a frame with 1/2 inch hardware cloth, just because I have it, and if finer particles are needed you can lay a 1/4" hardware cloth inside. It can be put across a wheelbarrow or garden cart, or leaned up against a post for use, and can be used in sifting other items, and even wind winnowing crops by turning it upside down.

oh my gosh this is perfect! I have shade cloth, buckets, wood, (oh wait, she said bird netting)... anyway, I get the idea ☺ Yes, I think the 6 year old pile in back will be pretty much 'done' on the bottom! I wont uncover until spring, or when i plant starts.
And then there's my juicer pulp :~D