Another Bokashi query, sorry!

[Suky]

After reading about this system and debating for a while I have decided to go the DIY route using a large lidded airtight tub that my DS's marine salt comes in. Have the tap and the risers for the grid inside but can anyone tell me (or show me) how big the holes are or the spacing of the holes in the drainage grid so I can find what I need for this?

[JimmerG]

They're really very small - probably only 1mm and spaced out in an approx 30mm grid.

They need to let the fluid through, but not the bran. The fluid tends to be slightly thicker than water.

I found that I needed to stick an extra support under the middle of the grid - all the squashing down to get rid of air gaps resulted in the grid bending significantly.

J

[Suky]

Thanks for that, J. I have ordered my bran, scrubbed the tub (it's been outside for 3 months) and begun collecting 'stuff' for composting. Just need to punch small holes in plastic lid which just fits in the tub and put in the tap - when DS finds it!

[JimmerG]

Suky,

Ideally - you'll need two buckets, one to fester for a few weeks and one to fill over a few weeks.

PS how is Godalming? - I lived in Haslemere from the age of 10 to 25, had many nights out there, and in Guildford. Great laugh

J

[Dynamo]

I've only just heard about these Bokashi buckets. How long does it take to turn the waste into stuff suitable to put onto the garden, and what stuff can you or can't you put into them? Is there a FAQ or a good detailed description site anywhere?

[JimmerG]

I've only just heard about these Bokashi buckets. How long does it take to turn the waste into stuff suitable to put onto the garden, and what stuff can you or can't you put into them? Is there a FAQ or a good detailed description site anywhere?

Dynamo,

Have a look at this website- Composting Kitchen Waste with EM Bokashi In The Bokashi Bucket
It should tell you what you need to know. You can compost pretty much any sort of food waste - just steer clear of bones, anything too soaking wet, and anything that's horribly gone off.

I spend 2 weeks filling one bucket, then I seal it off and leave it for 2 weeks whilst I fill the second bucket, then I sling the first one on the compost heap. It won't look composted in the slightest at this stage, but it will be 'pickled' and riddled with lovely bacteria, once on the compost heap it will will quickly degrade - maybe in a month or so.

Whilst It's pickling in its bucket - you can also draw off a few jam jars of juice which is excellent plant fertilizer when diluted.

I got my pair of buckets and 4 month's worth of bran for £35.
It really is a wonderful system and should be encouraged country wide. We used to throw away so much kitchen waste - now it all gets turned into lovely lovely compost! So the heaps of wasted food that the children leave behind just get turned back into the allotment to create the next round of food.

Its a marvelous cheap green cycle of life!!

(no, I don't work for Bokashi!)

J

[Dynamo]

(no, I don't work for Bokashi!)

J

Ask for a job and they'd offer it with open arms no doubt.

I just ordered my bokashi bins. The ones on the site that look like minature dustbins but are green. They say mine will be silver according to the spiel on the web site. Can't say I'm bothered what colour they'll be to be honest.

[Sonata]

Sounds like you're getting the same ones I have, Dynamo. Ours hasn't been going long - a week or two, but I got some tea today! I was so happy, I went around happily watering my strawberries, blackberries, spuds and anything within reach til it ran out (diluted).

[Dynamo]

YAYYYY!!!! I received my Bokashi Buckets about half an hour ago and I've been busy fitting the taps and chopping up putting a few scraps into one of them. I'm really looking foreward to having lots of good soil improving stuff to add to my allotment very soon, and also use the "tea" to feed my plants too.

I have a couple of small queries though. There's a list of do's and don'ts, most of which are self explanitory. There is one thats puzzled me and thats the fact that tea bags are a no no for putting into the bin. Whats the reason for that? Is it just because the tea is in a bag or is it because of something to do with the tea leaves themselves? I was intending to tip out any tea from bags into it rather than put the bags in as one, and then put the bags into the worm bin that I have. Would this be okay?

The other question I have regards gravy. Is that okay to put in the bucket even though its a very salty product?

I'm pleased to see that even bones can be put into the bin as well. I'll probably smash any bones with a hammer before I put them in there though.

[Dynamo]

Here they are in all their glory. The top one is nearly full already, though only because I'd been saving stuff to put in it.



I've decided on a plan for the contents of the bins once I have two full ones. Because I don't have a working compost heap yet and whatever ground I dig now is going to have something planted in it, once the second one is full, I'm going to put the contents of the first one into a plastic bin liner and suck all the air out with a vacuum cleaner and then tie a knot in it and save the stuff inside until autumn or winter when I'm starting to prepare the beds for next year. That way, the stuff in the bags should continue to compost up anyway and it will save me the expense of buying another couple of bins, at least for the time being.

BTW, the stuff in the plastic bottles is nettle tea that I've made to feed plants.

[Dynamo]

I finished filling one bucket today and started on the second one. I also got my first bit of "tea" from it and added it to two fills of the watering can and watered and fed the plants at home.

[Dynamo]

Today I gave all the plants in the allotment and also at home a generous feed with the Bokashi tea that Ive made. Out of two bokashi bins, I got over two litres of the tea, and thats just since last wednesday. I hope it really is good plant food. We'll soon see if the plants remain healthy.

I also emptied one of the bokashi bins into my compost pile. It wasn't really done enough to be honest, but I didn't find that out until I started to tip it out and I couldn't be bothered putting it back in again. In future though I'll leave the bins to fester a few weeks longer. They say two weeks is long enough in the instructions, but it clearly isn't. I'm also going to be more selective about what I put in the bokashi bins because at the moment they are filling up just a bit too quickly, hence the reason why I've emptied one today. I'll put stuff like greens and potato peelings straight onto the compost heap in future and save the bins for cooked stuff etc.

[vikkib]

I got really put off using my Bokashi bins as the first time I used it everything went green and mouldy.

I know it was my own fault for not doing it properly (still not completely sure where I went wrong though) but having to clean all that out put me off!

Having said that, it was a couple of years ago and I didn't have a garden at the time, let alone veg to feed and a compost bin so maybe I should have another go.

I'll have to dig out the bins and see if I've got any of the bran left.

Have to say, Dynamo, yours look a bit of a better design than the one's I got:



I like the look of the clips to help make sure it's air tight!

[Dynamo]

Have to say, Dynamo, yours look a bit of a better design than the one's I got:

[ATTACH]8799[/ATTACH]

I like the look of the clips to help make sure it's air tight!

Its funny cos the ones I have are nearly half the price of the ones you have, yet they hold an extra three litres. I take it that the ones you have don't have clips to hold the lid down with.

I'm just glad that I now have a proper compost corner in which to stick the stuff out of the buckets now.

[vikkib]

Its funny cos the ones I have are nearly half the price of the ones you have, yet they hold an extra three litres. I take it that the ones you have don't have clips to hold the lid down with.

I'm just glad that I now have a proper compost corner in which to stick the stuff out of the buckets now.

The lids on the one's I've got are very flimsy and don't have any clips, you have to press them all the way round and sometimes it feels like it's sealed when it's not.

AND I fill them up way too quick so an extra 3 litres would be rather handy!

I'll have to have a look around for that style!