So, I'm wondering, now that I'm out of hay (yay! kinda.) Can I re-use the finished compost as some of my brown? I've been adding a fork-full whenever I start a new pile to get it going, but I'm thinking of using more than just a fork full. Figure if I'm careful not to use too much so that it doesn't get packed down and not allow for air circulation, it should be okay, ya think?

YESSSSSSSSSSS!!

Actually using just finished compost into
your next compost pile is a "GOOD STARTER"
for the new pile..
It has all the good microbe's and stuff that
are present in that, that aren't in the new pile yet!!!

But you really still need the dry/browns too..
I do brown, green, old compost *or sometimes regular soil*, then brown, green, compost...etc...

Well, as much as I hate to use so much grass (brown and green) I'll dry out some and use it for brown while I'm scouting for something else Oh, and my paper and stuff too!

That's good to know...that was what I was hoping I could do - thanks

I sift my compost, so I have a fine mixture
of it..
Then use it in my seed starting mixes..

But the stuff I sift out, the larger sized
pieces, still not done in the composting process,
go right back in....

Do you have a sifter????

sounds like a gret plan weezie....

Nope, I dont have a sifter - but i do have a wheel barrow and an old window screen I dunno - would a window screen be too tightly meshed for the fine compost to sift through ya think?

No, don't think a window screen would
work, it's too small of an opening....

Let's see...... go to your local farm store..
or feed mill or maybe a place that provides
stuff for people to build things???

They should have the right type of screening...
and you can get some wood, make a frame out of it,
and staple the screening to it...

Make sure it's a heavy gage screen, you have to press down on it, to get the stuff thru it and you want it to be sturdy!!!!

Thanks weezie, I'll give it a shot - I should be able to find something that's big enough but not too big for sifting

I do have a picture of mine,
somewhere'ssssssssssss, I should dig it out
for you...... but not sure which way it is...
*Got laundry to tackle :rolleyes: :p *
But mine is really old..

I also have a book with pictures,
if I can find the book, I"ll post the name
of the book and maybe you can find it somewhere's.
*It has how to build like 4 of them*

Thanks Weezie, that'd be great

Mary,

I've made several sifters in my time mostly because the first ones didn't work too well. I'll try to take a picture of mine, but it's a custom build, and again there are things that aren't that great about it.

I keeps seeing a screen sifter that they use in CSI. I've got to find plans on how to make one of those.

I did see something in a catalog that is essentially what you're looking for:

Lee Valley Tools: Stainless-Steel Riddle w/ 3 screens

Thanks PAR...I should be able to come up with something now, having an idea what the width of the mesh should be - probably the 1/4" size - I don't see any need to have to sift finer than that. I'm thinking it might be bigger overall, too - with the size of my compost heaps, it'd take hours to sift it all with that little thing!

They have a big home made one
that stands up, at an angle and
you can throw the dirt at it/thru it...

I'm not too thrilled with this method
as you loose alot of "GOLD" but it is
used for larger units..

I'd probably want something that will go over the top of my wheel barrow...and I sure wouldn't want to lose any of my black gold!