Gardeners, what is this thing?
August 29, 2013 2:07 AM Subscribe
If you're translating into English (which you must be? or why would you be asking?) I think more people will be able to identify it if you call it a screen sieve or sifter, possibly specifying that it's an inclined one (as opposed to a box or shaker or drum sieve or sifter.)
This is one of those cases where the most specific word isn't used broadly even among gardeners (at least, not among North American gardeners) and so readers might not recognize it even though it's precise.
posted by gingerest at 2:59 AM on August 29, 2013
This is one of those cases where the most specific word isn't used broadly even among gardeners (at least, not among North American gardeners) and so readers might not recognize it even though it's precise.
posted by gingerest at 2:59 AM on August 29, 2013
I would call it a stone throw sieve or backyard stone screener
posted by blueprinter at 2:59 AM on August 29, 2013
posted by blueprinter at 2:59 AM on August 29, 2013
Soil sifter? Sifting screen? (Or sifter screen?)
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:59 AM on August 29, 2013
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:59 AM on August 29, 2013
I would use either "screen" or "sifter".
posted by jquinby at 5:28 AM on August 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jquinby at 5:28 AM on August 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to go with "soil screen", though to be honest the German (Durchwurfgitter) seems to specifically refer to an inclined upright one like in the picture.
posted by tsh at 5:35 AM on August 29, 2013
posted by tsh at 5:35 AM on August 29, 2013
If you need to know what it's made of, the screen portion of that is made from expanded steel.
posted by sanka at 5:53 AM on August 29, 2013
posted by sanka at 5:53 AM on August 29, 2013
Best answer: Gardeners in NA seem to call it a "soil screen". A "sifter" implies more of a horizontal screen, possibly with shaking to move the dirt through more quickly.
"Riddle" is a term I've heard used mostly in (NA) soil science contexts, though this may be a US/UK variation too. "Soil classifier" also gets used sometimes in academic writing.
posted by bonehead at 7:25 AM on August 29, 2013
"Riddle" is a term I've heard used mostly in (NA) soil science contexts, though this may be a US/UK variation too. "Soil classifier" also gets used sometimes in academic writing.
posted by bonehead at 7:25 AM on August 29, 2013
Compost sieve is what gardeners commonly use in 'real' gardens, but I use one each spring and call it a stone screen. (Gardening in a gravel pit is a PITA.) Mr. BlueHorse's grandpa called it a riddler.
It looks like the picture is showing removing the rock from the soil, although that's a mighty big screen. The holes in mine are smaller. The Mr. has made several sizes, one of which we use to sift gravel from sand for making concrete.
I don't sieve my compost, as I figure anything organic mixed in the soil will rot eventually anyway. Call me lazy.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:43 PM on August 29, 2013
It looks like the picture is showing removing the rock from the soil, although that's a mighty big screen. The holes in mine are smaller. The Mr. has made several sizes, one of which we use to sift gravel from sand for making concrete.
I don't sieve my compost, as I figure anything organic mixed in the soil will rot eventually anyway. Call me lazy.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:43 PM on August 29, 2013
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posted by Solomon at 2:15 AM on August 29, 2013 [1 favorite]