I don't know where you live, but when I used to have access to LARGE numbers of figs, I used old window screens, covered with one or two layers of cheesecloth, to dry the figs in the sun. I don't know why you couldn't dry other things--tomatoes?--on these screens, so long as the veggies/fruit were protected from acid + metal reactions.

in el cerrito

if they are sturdy enough you could make a whole compost bin.

I had a several screns to dispose of last year and a lady came and took them. She was going to make food dehydrators out of them.

i have used old screens for drying all sorts of things,especially herbs. also use them over the soil of newly planted beds. works really well with carrots. also use them to shade lettuce and spinach when the weather starts warming up. i prop them on stacks of bricks. happy gardening

I have old screens I saved from a remodel and they are great! I cut the screens out of the frame and wrapped my seed starting trays in the greenhouse in early spring to make sure the mice are really evicted from there winter stay. And when I sow some seed in the garden I cover the sown area to protect from birds. Be sure to remove the screens after the seedlings get going because you do not want to smoother them. :)

Apparently carrot rust flies can only fly about 3 feet up. I've heard the suggestion that screening can be used as a fence around where carrots are planted (assuming the soil isn't already infested with the pest) to keep out that pest.

Does anyone know if Fiber glass screens or any screens are food safe to be used as screens for drying?
I'm wanting to make a dehydrator next year but don't know what to use as a screen that's plyable and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

thanks.

If I were to try and make my own trays for drying, where would someone find polycarbonate mesh? I think this is the only thing I can find that's food safe because this is the material companies use for there drying trays.
any suggestions?

I just lay screens (as they come, with frames) on my raised garden bed - to cover seeds that I just sowed. It keeps away birds and any other creature who could come and try eating seeds. Once they germinate - I take them off. The seeds still get water and sun through the screen.

Not sure if the screen fabric is strong enough to be used for compost.

Before I bought a dozen more colanders, I folded screen material into little baskets to dry beans in. If you do this be careful not to puncture your fingers on the wires.

I use screening to cover the holes in plant pots.