1. Finished compost can be improved by sifting through a screen to remove oversized pieces.

2. An inclined screen uses gravity for some of the sifting effort.

3. The screen is loaded with compost.

4. A square shovel is used to scrape the compost against the ½ inch mesh screen.

5. The screen is removed to reveal the sifted compost. The rejects will be added to a fresh pile.

6. A new compost pile will be built in the center unit of a three-pallet bin system.

7. The first step is to add a bed of twigs and small branches to promote air circulation.

8. A layer of browns is added. Watering between layers ensures that moisture is evenly distributed.

9. Next, a layer of fresh greens is added.

10. Add and water another layer of browns.

11. Fresh greens come from flower pruning.

12. The browns spent the fall and winter in the adjacent bin.

13. The next layer of greens is also from prunings.

14. A fourth layer of browns is added. The layering process will resume when more greens are available.