Anyone got a Bokashi bin?

[sweetcorn]

I got two from Recycle Now (bargainous price), and one has been fermenting for 2 weeks now, the time when it should be able to be added to your compost bin. However, when I peeked inside, it still looks like stuff with bran on! Surely I can't put that on my compost? It's been producing viscous golden liquid aplenty for the last couple of weeks, and there's a bloom of white mould on it, but the food is pretty much recognizable. Is that right?

[Alison]

I've just bought a pair too (good value, I hope!) so have no experience as yet. However, there's another thread somewhere where the bin owner (can't remember who) piled it all into the compost bin and it worked a treat - search for it and you'll find out for sure!

[JennieAtkinson]

Might have been me! I not only piled it into the compost bin, but the filter as well.

I have put it straight into the ground, but last year just got loads of leaves on everything. I think it is better to rot it down a bit in the compost bin, although our bin at work is not very representative, full of fruit mainly.

The "juice" is very good for clearing blocked sinks and giving a boost to septic tanks. Just given ours a dose.

[Protea]

I've been using our bins for about 8 months now - we put the contents into the compost bin after fermentation.

I have to say they are very god, but they REALLY stink - my hubby almosts vomits when he has to empty it! We're not as good at daining off the juice as we should be (because of the smell) so i know thats not helping

The food is always still recognisable after fermentation - particularly at the top of the bin, you'll find that at the bottom of the bin its a light brown mush.

[eskymo]

I've overcome the smell problem by mixing the bokashi in with the food...in the instructions you're told to put the food in the bin and then sprinkle bokashi on top...well I do that and then mix it in - not had the putrid smell since...I'd recomend it.