Sometimes I get in a hurry to have finished compost.  I like to use it whenever I set out new transplants.  At the time I set out the transplants, I use about 2 inches of compost around each new plant.  If I am setting out only a few transplants, I do not need very much compost so I try to have several 5 gallon buckets full just to use at this time. Compost piles heat up to about 185 degrees, then cool down  At that time, I can screen the compost pile and get from 20 to 25 gallons of finished compost.

I made a compost screen that I use just for this purpose.  It is cheap and easy to construct.  Here are the instructions along with pictures of the screen and the finished compost.

First I determined the size of screen I needed.  I measured the top of several wheelbarrows, and found that a screen that is 2 feet wide and 3 feet long would fit on most wheelbarrows.  I used 1x4 lumber, and screwed it together with galvanized wood screws.  

First I cut two pieces of 1x4 2 foot long each.  Then I cut two pieces 3 foot long each.  With these 4 pieces of lumber I made a simple box.  I then attached a piece of hardware cloth that was 2 foot by 3 foot to what was to be the bottom of the box.  I used the 1/4 inch mesh on my compost screen because I wanted fine compost.  You can use the 1/2 inch mesh and you will get more compost out of each screening only it will have larger pieces of unfinished material in it.  You do not have to worry about this though because it will decompose in the garden. 

I attached the mesh to the bottom of the box I had made with small staples.  You can also use small nails if you need to.  Simply nail them in so the heads will catch the screen mesh to hold it in place or bend them over to catch the mesh.

Place the finished compost screen on top of your wheelbarrow (as in the picture below) and shovel one shovel full of compost into the screen.  Work the compost back and forth with your shovel or your hands.  The finished compost will drop through the screen into the wheelbarrow and the unfinished compost will stay on the screen.  I place this unfinished compost on another compost pile, or either start a new compost pile with it.  In a few months, this will be ready to be screened again.  It usually takes me about an hour of screening to completely screen one compost pile.  As I stated above, I usually get from 20 to 25 gallons of finished compost each time. 

The compost screen in the picture is over four years old, and is almost as good as the day I made it.  It is inexpensive and easy to construct, and lets you take

Byron