Here’s handy recycled garden tool: a plastic bakery tray, also called a bread tray, with a grid bottom. 

You can use it as a sifter to:

• Remove undecomposed items from finished compost;
• Remove stones from garden soil;
• Sift out invasive rhizomes and roots;
• Harvest new potatoes;
• And dozens of other things, I’m sure.

Just shovel in the soil or compost and shake: smaller particles go right through; larger bits stay put. Couldn’t be easier!

Carry Plants Too

I keep mine in my car trunk when I go plant shopping. I call it my “plant lugger” and I fill it with pots of plants I can then easily carry all at once rather than just two or three at a time.

I’m sure you could find one of these cheaply at a flea market.

Can’t find one? Try a milk crate. It also makes a great sifter and plant lugger!