DIY Soil Sifter Using Recycled Materials

Hi guys,

Today I have made something that I have wanted to do for a while, I made a soil sifter.

I decided that the soil I had turned over needed going through to get out all the roots and large stones that I don't want there.

I had a plan, and some energy as I have been to the car boot sales today so did a lot of walking looking for bargains.

I got some pallet wood that I had leftover from building the shed.

And while I was tidying up the first day I got my allotment I found some quarter-inch wire mesh, it's a bit rusted but will do the job that I want it for.

I started off by making a square out of the pallet wood and counter-drilling the wood so the screw didn't split the wood.

And what was amazing lady luck was on my side as it fits over my wheelbarrow.

I then took it for a test run and put some dirt on it.

Now, this is a manual sifter so you have to hold the tray with your hands and move it back and forth until the soil goes through the mesh.

I found it to be quite easy to do and I didn't overfill it so it wasn't that heavy either.

Once the soil had gone through the gaps I have lovely fine soil and I can add horse manure into it to make my soil more nutrient-rich.

One thing I found was it got out like 90% of all the roots, there were still some fine ones in it, all the big stones and large muck was left over and I placed this to one side.

The roots will go in the compost bin when that is up and running, the larger muck that's there I am going to place this down where my paths are going to be, this will work well as I am going to turf the path.

Hope you like my sifter and until next time, stay safe.