Our Crafty Gatherer Compost Sieve is super useful for sifting out large lumps from compost, soil, leaf mould etc. It leaves you with a fine till ideal for seed raising mix or potting mixes. These mixes are so easy to make, you can reduce your plastic waste as well as getting quality, high microbial mixes instead of some of the types you buy. You can even sieve soil through this sieve if you are wanting finer soil to plant grass seed into etc.

We know that the more organic matter in the garden the better for the soil; it adds bulk, air and texture, and the bigger bits keep breaking down and adding nutrition to the soil helping to change and improve the composition. But if you are wanting to grow seedlings or pot up plants, then straight compost is a bit rough and bulky, so this sieve will filter and get rid of any larger bits and pieces and leave you with the finer stuff for the mixes. You can then re-purpose the bulkier stuff back into the compost or the garden.

The sieves are nice and big to be more efficient; they are strong, made from stainless steel , so they won't rust and locally sourced Macrocarpa timber (the steel is where a lot of the cost for these sieves is!)

The sieve measurements:

• Overall length - 1000mm x 500mm

• Screen size - 600mm x 500mm

The sieve can either sit on top of a wheelbarrow, you could hold it by yourself (if strong enough) or with two people and shake or you may set up permanent ropes for the sieve to sit in. To set up a permanent station you could hang ropes from a pergola, from rafters in a shed or greenhouse, or use four bits of bamboo (like our photos) or kanuka or whatever you have and hang rope from these; the sieve can then sit easily in here and you can shake it front to back. It is a good idea not to leave your sieve outside.