Trump, The Dallas Cowboys, Miracle Whip, composting. These topics tend to bring people into fits of polarized passion, but Bokashi fermentation may very well change the cynics’ views on composting. The process is faster, simpler and more predictable than traditional composting. Here are the reasons you should choose Bokashi fermentation for composting and how to get started.
Bokashi is a Japanese term that means “fermented organic matter.” Bokashi fermentation is the process of turning food scraps and kitchen waste into compost. The anaerobic process, in its most basic form, is all about fermenting organic matter in an acidic environment so it can be quickly assimilated into the soil again. Usually anaerobic composting has negative by-products, but Bokashi is a closed bucket system that allows composters to reap the benefits without the negative side effects.
For example, the process all occurs in a system so there are no insect or rodent issues, no putrid odors, and minimal (if any) greenhouse gasses produced. Bokashi is also beneficial because you can add all types of food waste including meat, cheese, dairy and bread. Unlike traditional composting, you don’t have to worry about mixing greens and browns in any specific ratio. Perhaps best of all, it’s affordable and the entire process takes weeks instead of months.
Getting Started with Bokashi - The Complete How To Guide
To get started, sprinkle a layer of the included Bio Blend™ Bokashi Mix on the bottom of the bucket. Then add chopped food scraps and kitchen waste on top, remembering to add a thin coat of Bio Blend™ Bokashi Mix on top of the waste before sealing the container. Because Bokashi is an anaerobic process, it’s best to keep the bucket free from oxygen. To minimize exposure to oxygen some people recommend packing the previous day’s waste down with a plate. Also, be sure not to mix up the previous day’s waste as this will create oxygen pockets.
When the bucket is full, seal it tightly and place it out of direct sunlight. During the fermentation process a liquid fertilizer concentrate will form. This liquid contains beneficial nutrients and microbes that can be used as a fertilizer. Draw the liquid off with the bucket spigot every three to four days to keep the environment in the Bokashi bucket optimized for fermentation. Then dilute the fertilizer concentrate (25:1 for soil applications and 50:1 for foliar applications) and use it within a couple days.
After two to four weeks the fermentation process in the Bokashi bucket will be complete. Take the remaining solids out of the bucket and bury them in the soil or place them in a traditional composting pile. After the decomposition process is complete you have a rich, dark compost that can be used as a soil amendment in your garden.
Wow, great article thank you. It seems easy to do and I am excited to see the product it produces. I also appreciate this happens in a reasonable period of time. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks for the great content!
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard! We'd love to hear about your experience on the Jain Blog.
DeleteI was thinking of using this as a 2 step process of fermenting and then adding that product to a worm bin for finishing as worms like things soft and decomposed more. Seem compatible?
ReplyDeleteWe weren't quite sure about this question so we checked with our supplier and got the following info:
DeleteWe are not aware of anyone having done this before, so it would be experimental. The PH should be fairly neutral, so it won’t harm the worms, but they may not like the fermented compost.
He has created bokashi rice bran, dried it in a solar dehydrator and sprinkled on to the worm bin.
This boosted the microbial value of the final compost.
If you want to try adding raw bokashi compost to a worm bin, we would be interested to know the results, and will pass on the info.
If you read the book Bokashi Composting by Adam Footer, he recommends letting the fermented product sit with soil for 2 weeks before having the worms get to it.
DeleteThis is great news to me. The soil or non soil in Nevada is extremely poor so we're always buying dirt. We're an organic family and the idea of making the compost without stench or attracting flies is very welcome. I will be ordering.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. I hope you and your family enjoy the process together! We'd love to hear how it goes.
DeleteBokashi bran is also marketed as a compost accelerator, in which an activated liquid inoculant is poured onto a traditional pile for when it's time to turn. I've used it this way and it has improved the temperature and speed of the pile, with noticeable gas(inevitably unfortunate) and white mold as I turn(good!). I have shaved off months by adding it, and though there are other ways to experiment with this has proved the easiest for anyone to use, I hope! I'm not a fan of breaking the soil to build it up. Instead, just build up and aerate! That can't be done with fermented food though, so it's great to add fermented meats and diary into a traditional pile. This requires great coordination and planning, but a system can be configured so that no waste is wasted.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this tip, Jack. That's a great example of how Bokashi can complement traditional composting.
DeleteIt's great that Dripworks is promoting this system. We started testing bokashi in our garden at the end of May. It is remarkable at how quickly the bokashi breaks down in the soil. In a couple weeks it is almost completely broken down. That is faster than our traditional compost is assimilated into the soil. I am about to plant some rutabagas into a bokashi enhanced bed to see how it works.
ReplyDeleteGlad Bokashi is working so well for you. When the time comes, we'd love to see a picture of your thriving rutabagas.
DeleteI've read that another good application for bokashi is the disposal of dog poop. Evidently it breaks it down quite quickly. After a couple weeks of fermentation the bokashi can be dug in around ornamental plants and trees. This sounds like a good solution for folks with dogs, especially big ones.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. That's great! We've also heard of people sprinkling Bokashi Bio Blend in their cat's litter box and using the waste in their system. Amazing how versatile this is.
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