That seems like an efficient solution. Thanks cmagnus.

A word from the lazy gardener— I never get quite as much compost as I need and sometimes (ahem, often) (okay okay: usually) put it not-quite-done on the beds. Except for the occasional uncomposted and therefore ready-to-germinate seeds (see my garbanzo entry), it just merrily composts away on the beds. So don’t worry about it too much.

I have a compost pile, because it was here when we moved in. So I am always adding. I can sort of dig out of the bottom for finished compost, but it isn’t terribly efficient, and I hate sifting it. So I just take the mix that I get of finished, half way there and brand new stuff. I put it down for mulch and or mix it into the soil. I pick big chunks back out with my hands and toss back into the pile. Occasionally I miss a seed or two but it isn’t too bad, because they are usually veggie seeds not weed seeds. But, if you’re not a hand in the dirt sort of person, my method probably wouldn’t work. :P I tend to put my hands in the dirt and the mulch constantly, so I sift out a lot of stuff manually and it doesn’t seem to take any extra time. If I am out of throwing distance of my compost pile, I have some sort of trug (tarp, curtain, etc.) or box with me to toss stuff onto.

My Mom has a compost bin that rotates and she does the same thing (she is where I got it from). Just pulling back out any big chunks and sort of sifting by hand on site.

Use two of the square plastic trays that the nurseries use for 6 pack annuals. Most nurseries will let you have a couple of these trays for free if you ask. Off-set one to the other and set on top of a bucket. The square holes in the trays will allow small and medium sized goodness to come through and will catch the big stuff.

From experience, I found sifting compost to be pointless. Just dump it in a wheel barrow and sort out anything that is clearly too large. Everything else goes in the garden and will break down in due course.

If you are using a tumbler just remove the finished compost you can see before adding new material and tumbling. Keep it in a bag or covered bucket to the side if you dont have immediate need for it.