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was(Compost screens compared: Cantopper vs A-frame) now - grass clippings

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Teri,
I thought someone on this list had mentioned that you shouldn't compost
grass clippings if they have been treated with chemicals. You might want to
ask the landscape people if they know if any chemicals have been used on the
grass. Those chemicals might start to show up in your compost! I'm not
completely sure about this so don't stop collecting them until someone else
can confirm or dispute what I've just posted. Anyone know??
 
Richard(zone 6)
Brooklyn, NY

-----Original Message-----
From: Teri Epp [k*@cwnet.com]
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 4:15 PM
To: Square Foot Gardening List
Subject: Re: Compost screens compared: Cantopper vs A-frame


Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html 



Thanks Frank! Boy are you right about using safety glass and handkerchief
while weedeating the Oak leaves- Thanks to the person who posted the info on
those too- Now again- Since the leaves are so acidic- WHAT should I use to
counter act that if anything(lime?) I picked up loads of dried chicken poop
mixed with straw and the corncobs-type bedding from the guinea pig /chicken
farm around the corner. Also some fresh horse poop. Know I have to compost
the horse poop- but would the dried chicken poop mix be ok to work into the
beds now and how long til I can plant? Afraid I am  out of control here
chasing landscape people around the neighborhood begging for their lawn
clipping and leaves! Would straw be good to add to the lasagna beds or is it
too hard to break down and should  I just use it for paths and in the
compost bins?  Thanks!_teri

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Frank  <f*@total.net> Teuton 
To: sqft@listbot.com <s*@listbot.com>  
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2000 4:46 PM
Subject: Fw: Compost screens compared: Cantopper vs A-frame

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
<http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html>  



 
By popular demand, here are the Cantopper instructions


 
Dear humus aficionados:
 
I  did a little trial a while back on some two year old vermicompost I had
in the yard, screening it through two screens both made with 1/2 inch
hardware cloth.
 
One screen was an A-frame 5 feet long and 3 feet across, set up on a 45
degree angle on a large tarp. I tossed 47 liters of compost on the screen;
then I sifted the rejects through the Cantopper, which is a large riddle 18"
across that sits securely on a Rubbermaid trash can 32" high, which can be
rocked back and forth or from side to side, or in a rolling motion around
the rim of the can.
 
18 liters of compost made it through the A-frame on the first toss. Of the
A-frame rejects another 25 liters sifted through the Cantopper; 4 liters of
rejects remained.
 
This compost was moist; dry compost might fare better on the A-frame, but I
prefer not to dry compost if at all possible, because this destroys some of
the microbial value.
 
These results indicate to me that the Cantopper is tops as a backyard
screening tool; it is light in weight, easy to use, operates cleanly and
efficiently, and takes up little space in the garage or tool shed. 
 
Here's how to make one:
 
Materials: one piece of plywood 2 feet by 2 feet ( I use 3/4 inch exterior
grade)
                    one piece of 1/2 inch hardware cloth (1/4 inch can also
be used), 20 " x 20"
                    one 60" length of 6" plastic garden edging
                    three 1" x 2" x 1/2 inch blocks of wood
                    heavy duty 9/16" staples
                    6 1" wood screws
 
Tools: saber saw (aka hand jig saw), heavy duty staple gun, screw driver
 
First, choose a trash can that is sturdy and suits your height. I prefer the
tall 32" can, since I am a tall guy who prefers to work standing.
 
Now take the can and set it, open side down, centered, over your plywood
square. Use a pencil to trace the outline of the can; this will serve as
your reference for cutting out the inner circle of the plywood (go 1/2 inch
inside the line) and for placing your three stops, which go on a tangent
right at the line, after the screen is placed.
 
Cut out the inner circle 1/2 inch inside the line. The resulting disk makes
an excellent single line swing; I drilled out a 3/4 inch hole in the center
of three of these and hung them on the maple tree in front by 3/4 inch rope,
which is so sturdy even I can swing on them...:-) (Wastenot, wantnot, as
they say..)
 
Place the screen on the hole, center it and staple it into place. Use plenty
of staples.  I have found it useful to take a tack hammer and nail the
staples flush to the plywood.
 
(My latest idea to improve it is to sandwich the screen between a thin piece
of plywood and the main piece, instead of stapling it, to reduce exposed
screen edges, which can be annoying...or wrap in duct tape, the universal
fix all....:-)"Wood always moves, Rust never sleeps, ducttape fixes
everything!") 
 
 
Place the three stops equidistant on the drawn circle and screw them into
place. These will hold the sifter to the rim of the trash can during
sifting, and further secure the screen.
 
Now turn the plywood over so that the screen is on the bottom. Put the
edging material into place and secure it with staples, tacked in as with the
screen. Where the edging comes together it is useful to secure the top part
of it; I make a couple of holes with a drill bit and tie it  together with
cable ties. (I now find about 8 small screws to be a little better than
staples, if harder to place)
 
For fellow residents of Canada, the edging I use is from Canadian Tire and
costs about 2.50$ for 20 feet, enough for four sifters. The other materials
cost about eight or nine dollars, so the whole thing can be made for ten
bucks or so in less than an hour. Not bad, eh?
 
I hope to see my photos of the Cantopper up at the Master Composter website,
www.mastercomposter.com <http://www.mastercomposter.com>  , in the next few
months or so.
 
I should note that the way to use the tool most ergonomically is to empty
the trash can every three or four hoppersful of material, sometimes even
more often, as it is easier to rock the can when it is mostly empty. It is
also easier to empty when lighter rather than heavier!
 
As far as screen sizes are concerned, I now have five sizes on the property:
1 7/8, good for the original break up and fluffing of material in a tight
bed; 3/4, which I may use to presift some chipped branches in the future,
but haven't used yet; 1/2 inch, which has always been my general purpose
compost size before the worms really started getting into my head....:-)
 
1/4 inch is the size that separates most of the larger worms from the
smaller materials; it is the size Larry Martin suggests is the best general
purpose size in a harvester.  See his website, in the catalog, under Worm
Harvester for more info....www.vermitechnology.com
 
1/8 inch screen is what will give you almost pure castings and few if any
worms or cocoons.
 
It should be clear that 1/2 inch is easier than 1/4 inch to sift, and 1/8
most difficult of all, given that the holes get four times smaller with each
step down, so that 1/8 inch is 16 times smaller than 1/2 inch materials.
 
Nowadays 1/4 and 1/8 inch are what I am doing most of my worm compost work
with, since the quality of the 1/8 inch is truly excellent, and saves the
worms for new career opportunitiies in other piles....
 
You can dry the material some for easier sifting, or use a masonry (harper)
brush to clean the 1/8 screen between sifting....
 
I just want to point out that this is an artisan-type method, inexpensive
but somewhat labor intensive; the bigger trommel type screens are probably
the way to go for large scale harvesting....
 
So there you have it, the latest in Cantopper thinking, from a man who sees
a trash can as a many splendored thing--now wheelbarrow, now composter, now
sifting receptacle---and you can fill it a third full with multiple potting
soil ingredients, and roll it around on its side too---cheaper than one of
them OdJob thangs....enjoy!
 
Oh yes, you can also use a Cantopper as a garden harvest basket.....you can
put wet stuff in it to drain off....you can wash root crops off in it....you
can take a weed wacker and shred leaves into the trashcan, using the screen
to ensure fine size reduction....a real multi-purpose tool! (Use eye
protection and a dust mask for that leaf shredding thing, eh?)

 
Email me if you have other questions, please.
 
Good composting,
 
Frank Teuton 
 
January 12, 2000
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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