Herb and seed cleaning

I like to grow and dry my own herbs. No, not that kind of herb. Yes, I live in Oakland, but no, really, not that kind of herb. I'm also a seed saver. No, not those seeds. I am a proud member of the Seed Savers Exchange. I really like letting some of my vegetables go to seed and saving them to replant the next year. The thing that has held me back in doing that more often is the effort involved in cleaning the herbs and seeds.

I recalled seeing something in Mother Earth News a while back for threshing seeds. But when I looked for it, I couldn't find it anywhere. Also, I couldn't remember if it was an article or an advertisement for a product. I searched online for seed cleaning products and herb cleaning tools, but I couldn't find anything appropriate for the small home gardener. So I decided to make my own.

Here then for your enjoyment and ridicule is the step-by-step photo instructions for Andrew's handy-dandy herb and seed cleaner (tm).

Materials:

• 4 1x4 lumber
• Hardware cloth in three grades (your choice - I used 1/4" for the top layer, 1/8" for the middle, and window screen (1/8"x1/16") for the lowest layer.)
• Screws (I used 1.25" coarse thread drywall screws, because that was the most convenient thing that I had laying around. Virtually any kind of screw will do.)
• Saw, drill with bits and countersink, metal snips, screw driver (or bit for drill), staple gun

Method:

I measured and sawed my 1x4's into 2 17" lengths and 2 13" lengths for each level in the box. These sizes were convenient for me in relation to the pieces of hardware cloth and the size of the box I wanted. You can make them larger or smaller as you choose.

Here the pieces are laid out prior to assembly of one level of the box.

The pine 1x4's were very soft, so I was concerned about the wood splitting.

I pre-drilled my holes and counter-sank them to decrease the chances of the screws splitting the wood, especially since they were going into the edges of the pieces.

How did I ever live without an electric screwdriver? I used 4 1.25" coarse thread drywall screws on each side. Probably overkill.

One assembled level of the cleaner box.

I measured and cut my 3 different grades of hardware cloth

Then stapled them to wooden box (one per level.)

The three levels of cleaner frames with screens in the bottom of each level.

Looking down into the finished 3-levels of the cleaner from above.

For large seeds/herbs, I will want to catch any duff that falls out the bottom (for discard.) For small seeds and herbs, that which falls through is the end-product. I made another frame (this time with a 1x2 because I ran out of 1x4's - doh!) I took an Amazon.com box, covered the bottom with aluminum foil, and placed the frame in the bottom. This becomes the lowest level catch basin. Any kind of plastic bin would have worked fine. I am planning on upgrading this (see below.)

The cleaner frames set in the box

Carrot seeds dropped into the top

Bits of carrot flower stem caught by the grossest screen

More trapped in the next level

Seeds end up in the finest screen, with duff left in the bottom box.

I'm really happy with how this turned out. The whole thing cost less than $15, and I can customize it as I need, adding or removing levels, or even swapping out grades of hardware cloth if I find that the grades I used aren't ideal. I am planning on getting rid of the cardboard box on the bottom by slapping a sheet of Masonite on the bottom of my lowest frame. Also, I want to put a piece or two of metal strapping on each edge of each layer (except the top) that will hold the frames together in a stack (currently they sit on top of each other through friction.) I'll keep you posted.

Suggestions for improvements are always welcome! Comment below!

Postscript:
I have made some of the improvements I mentioned above. See my blog entry for the Improved Seed Cleaner for more.