Here's a simple and essential tool for home gardeners...
Turn rocky soil or raw compost into filtered topsoil
All you need is a shovel and a wheelbarrow...
Only $39.95, Plus ShippingUntil now, if you wanted topsoil suitable for a new flower bed or vegetable garden, you had to hire somebody to haul in bags or even a truckload of expensive soil, or if you're handy, you could build something yourself to filter or screen rocky soil or raw compost into top soil. But not any more! We've built a simple, lightweight device that fits on top of a standard wheelbarrow (or can be used without one if you prefer) and filters out stones, roots, and other debris from soil being prepared for planting, leaving nothing but smooth topsoil that your plants will love, especially if you mix it with compost, manure or peat moss as part of the process. We've even created five other versions to fit different needs.
How to Filter Garden Soil: Necessity Was the Mother of this Invention
When I needed to do something about the rocky soil around my house in Michigan when I was putting in new planting beds, I searched the stores and the Web for something I could purchase to help me screen the soil. I found nothing at all in the stores, and on the Web I found a description of how to build something that seemed needlessly complicated, plus lots of how-to instructions and conflicting ideas. The screeners I did find for sale were either too small or too expensive, or both. So I made something myself, and after consulting a professional carpenter, The Soil Sifter was born. It's nothing fancy (it's not finished or even painted unless you ask for it), but still, people would walk by and see me working with it and ask where I got it. Some wanted to buy one on the spot! Maybe it's because of the results I got with my gardens! Some people have asked us what's so "amazing" about a wood frame with a 1/4" screen. What's amazing is that something so simple gives such great results!
Great For Many Other Uses
I have also figured out that The Soil Sifter can be used to search for fossils, find artifacts, discover buried treasure, find lost jewelry, filter unwanted substances (cat poop, for example) from your kids' sandbox -- in other words, anything that requires careful sifting of sand or soil. Especially if you don't want to spend a lot of money doing it.
One of the Soil Sifters (including the smaller ones described below) can be used as a shelf or rack to store fruits and vegetables that need good air circulation, or even to sun-dry them, cooked or uncooked, in the proper weather conditions outdoors.
Here's jow easy it is to use The Soil Sifter to filter garden soil:
1. Lay the Soil Sifter on top of your standard sized wheelbarrow. It's held in place by several brackets arranged so that it will fit snugly on a wheelbarrow measuring approximately 37" x 28". You can adjust or remove the brackets if your wheelbarrow is a different size, of course. But our design should work as-is in most cases. (Brackets may not be exactly as shown.)
2. Shovel in the soil or compost you want to filter. The raised sides keep things from falling off on the ground, and the adhesive appliques in the corners are designed to fit a wheelbarrow's non-square shape, again to prevent leakage around the edges. (You may still want to spread a tarp under the wheelbarrow to minimize cleanup.)
3. Gently mix the soil around with your gloved hands, allowing only the rich soil itself to fall through the 1/4" screen. Pull out any large rocks, roots and twigs while you're mixing. You can even use the rocks or gravel in your landscape design. IMPORTANT: The Soil Sifters are pretty sturdy, but will not hold up if you use a shovel or other implement to mix the soil. Use your hands or a brush only.
4. Pick up the screen and dump the contents (small pebbles, glass or metal junk, twigs, etc.) into a box or other container for disposal or later sorting. If you think you might have trouble lifting the standard Soil Sifter, see below for five other lighter weight and less expensive alternatives, each designed for different applications. IMPORTANT: Do not overfill the Soil Sifter (higher than the top of the box) because the screen is not designed for that much weight, and you may have trouble emptying the debris.
5. When the wheelbarrow is full, dump it on a tarp near the bed you're preparing, or directly into the area where you want to use it, or fill bags or other containers for future use. You can also mix in any soil amendments you want at this time This kind of filtered soil is like gold dust to gardeners!
6. Repeat until the soil or compost has been completely filtered. Remember that, because it is aerated, filtered soil takes up more space than compacted soil, even with the debris removed, so you might end up with some extra!Order yours today!
The price is only $39.95 US, plus the cost of FedEx Ground shipping.
Before you order, you might want to visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or email us at postmaster@thesoilsifter.com if you have any questions. And take a look at some before and after photos of our own experience with this tool.
Several Other Soil Sifter Models Now Available!
The Soil Sifter II features a 1/4" screen like the regular Soil Sifter, with only a pair of 1x2's on each side and open ends (plus less weight) for easier emptying of debris. It's also less expensive, priced at $26.95, plus $10 shipping and handling, simply because it uses less lumber and takes less time to make. But it does a great job! In fact, this is the model I found myself using most often. (The unframed edges of the screen are covered with "gorilla" tape to guard against cuts.)Soil Sifter II
The Soil Sifter Mini, measuring 18-1/2" on a side and made from 1x2s, is easier to carry and great for sifting smaller amounts of dirt into receptacles smaller than a wheelbarrow. It's especially useful if you already have gardens with good soil and just have some small areas that need to be dealt with, or if you are doing a lot of potting. It's also a better tool for non-gardening purposes. The price is $23.95, plus $8 shipping and handling.
Soil Sifter Mini
The Soil Sifter II Mini version comes with a 1/4" screen like the full-size Soil Sifter II (although you can order a different sized screen), and it's also 28.5" wide to scretch across the width of a wheelbarrow, but it's only half as long, with a screen that is only 18", rather than 36" like its big brother. (In other words, it doesn't cover the entire length of a wheelbarrow.) But priced at $19.95, plus $8 shipping and handling, it's more economical and even easier to use. You can still use a wheelbarrow, or some other container, or use it on bare soil. (Like the Soil Sifter II, the unframed edges of the screen are covered with tape.) Like the regular Soil Sifter Mini, it is also excellent for non-gardening uses.Mini Soil Sifter II
We are now offering a different Soil Sifter Mini that uses 1x3s on the top and 1x2s on the bottom (similar to the regular Soil Sifter), and is almost 2" deeper on one side than the regular Mini, so that it will hold more soil or compost for sifting without spillage. Order the Soil Sifter Mini "B" below at only $27.95 ($4 more for the extra wood, but the same cost for shipping; may differ from the photo above).Soil Sifter Mini "B" Soil Sifter Combo
Order the Soil Sifter or the Soil Sifter II, plus the Mini or Mini B AND the Soil Sifter II Mini for only $74.95, a savings of up to $10. (depending on which ones you choose). Shipping and handling is $20 (another savings of up to $10), since two of them will be shipped in the same box. After you order, be sure to email us at postmaster@thesoilsifter.com and let us know which three Soil Sifters you would like. (You can order any combination as long as it doesn't include both the regular Soil Sifter AND the Soil Sifter II.) If you decide you want a screen size for any or all that is not 1/4", these variations will need to be ordered separately.
Soil Sifter Combo Extras:
You can also order one or all of the Soil Sifters with a coarser (1/2") or finer (1/8") screen, each for an additional $5 charge. Remember that you must order one of the models above before you can order an "extra," and if you order more than one and want both with extras, you must order more than one extra, as well. All orders are completed separately, which means that you will need to order the model of Soil Sifter you want, complete the order, then order the variations. (We apologize, but painting and varnishing are temporarily unavailable due to facilities issues.)
1/2" Screen 1/8" Screen If for some reason you prefer not to use Google Checkout to place an order, or are unable to do so, email us at postmaster@thesoilsifter.com and tell us which products you want and where you live so we can give you a price and alternative payment method. There is no obligation until you pay, of course!
Have any other questions? Email us at postmaster@thesoilsifter.com. We do not take orders over the phone or answer questions other than through email, but we'll answer very quickly.
Bookmark this page and come back again any time: http://www.thesoilsifter.com. We are also looking into offering some related products in the Spring for one-stop-shopping convenience for gardeners, so stay tuned! Meanwhile, check out our affiliated gardening sites by clicking on the links below.
Order The Soil Sifter today! Some Helpful Gardening Sites
National Gardening Association
A nonprofit leader in plant-based education, serving a national audience with timely materials designed to foster an appreciation for the benefits of gardening. Lot of great information here!My Ideal Garden: Landscape Design and Home Garden Ideas
Created by professional designers, My Ideal Garden is your online guide to pictures and advice that will help turn your landscape design idea or flower garden plan into reality.Dave's Garden
A favorite site for gardeners around the world, articles and videos show you how to start seeds and learn how to make a garden. Members can chat with other gardeners in forums, and learn how to identify plants, pests, birds and butterflies.Eco-Logic Lawn and Landscaping
An organic lawn and landscaping service in Southeastern Michigan that I can recommend from personal experience.
