Instructions for Building A Compost Sifter

Instructions for Building
A Compost Sifter
Before beginning, measure the size of the top of your wheelbarrow—you may need to adjust the overall
measurements given in these instructions.
Step 1: Platform Underside
Cut a piece of ¾” plywood to fit over your wheelbarrow
with some extra space around the edges. Mark the
outline of the bin of your wheelbarrow, and cut a hole
in the plywood an inch or so inside this line (making
the hole smaller than the bin). Next, screw four strips
of 2x2 on the underside of the plywood that will hold
the plywood snug to the wheelbarrow bin.
Step 2: The Sifter Box
Next, build a sifter box with 1x6 lumber as wide as
your wheelbarrow opening and about ¾ the length.
Staple ½” hardware fabric tightly across the bottom
of the box. Firmly screw or nail ¾ x ¾” strips to
the bottom of the box along the entire perimeter,
sandwiching the edge of the hardware fabric between
the box frame and the ¾” strips.
Step 3: Platform Top
Place the sifter box on top of the plywood, centered over the opening. Firmly attach a 2x2 to the top of
the plywood on either side of the sifter box allowing a little extra room (¼” or so). This is the “slide” that
the sifter box will ride in.
To use the sifter, shovel compost into the box and briskly slide the sifter box back and forth on the
platform within the “slide” until all the compost has passed through to the wheelbarrow. Dump debris
aside and repeat the process.
Platform Underside
Sifter Box
Platform Top