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Compost sifter

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

Hello all Og Matter Enthusiasts:

I just did a little trial on some two year old vermicompost I have 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.

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 rig
ht 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.

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.

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 have photos of the Cantopper up on a website in the not too
distant future.

Good composting,

Frank Teuton


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