bokashi

[mico]

ive heard a lot about bokashi but does it make good compost i would be intrested if any body has experance with it

[allotmentlady]

Bokashi is a Japanese term that means “fermented organic matter. EM Bokashi is a pleasant smelling product made using a combination of sawdust and bran that has been infused with Effective Micro-organisms (EM). EM Bokashi has traditionally been used to increase the microbial diversity and activity in soils and to supply nutrients to plants.

Burying Bokashi Compost in the garden will supply the plants with a nourishing food source and condition your soil with enriching microbes.

* Dig a hole, add your fermented Bokashi Compost, mix with some soil and cover.
* If you are low on garden space you can create a Bokashi Compost Heap, by burying a large bottomless bucket with lid.
* You can use your Bokashi Compost in planter boxes, tubs or pots by placing it directly into the container for further fermentation.



And this what you can expect 6-8 weeks later



Bokashi Juice

As the kitchen waste starts to ferment, Bokashi Juice will form in the bottom of the bucket. This should be drained off as it builds up.

* Bokashi Juice can be diluted with water and makes a terrific fertiliser for garden or pot plants.
* It can be poured down drains and it is safe to use in septic tanks.

When used in drains it will help to clean up our water ways by competing with harmful bacteria.

Please! Please! make sure you don't unscrew the tap more than 3/4 of a turn. More than this, will loosen central mechanism of the tap itself and cause issues.

Click here for full instructions
on using Bokashi.



Bokashi juice poured down drains is safe for use in septic tanks


Not had it myself hope the above helps

[BarleySugar]

I use bokashi bins in the kitchen, and as I add all my peelings as well as cooked food, I find I fill one in a fortnight. The filled one then ferments while I fill the next. Then I empty the fermented stuff into my compost bin and cover with old potting compost. It's been working really well, the fermented stuff looks just like it did when it went in, although you should see a white mold on the top. Green means air has got in and it will smell disgusting. Some people say the fermented waste smells like cider vinegar, I'm afraid I think it smells like vomit, but there you go.
I think the bokashi speeds up the composting in the compost bin, and you can also bury it in the garden, but because it is so acidic you shouldn't put it too near established plant roots, or plant on into it for a month or so. The liquid should be diluted 1 to 100 as a plant food. It doesn't keep, so as allotmentlady said put the extra down the drain.
If you want to go for ready made bins try Recyclenow, as some councils are doing deals on compost bins again. £35 for 2 at the moment for me, whereas some place charge in the region of £60-70.

Just as an interesting aside, in Japan they use the bokashi bins, and this is then collected in the same way as our rubbish is.

Hope this helps,
Ann