{"id":91,"date":"2015-07-30T11:06:26","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T10:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.naturalcollection.com\/blog\/?p=91"},"modified":"2015-07-30T11:06:26","modified_gmt":"2015-07-30T10:06:26","slug":"home-composting-the-bokashi-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturalcollection.com\/blog\/gardening\/home-composting-the-bokashi-solution\/","title":{"rendered":"Home composting – the bokashi solution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Home composting is great for the environment, benefitting your garden and plants with a free source of fresh, natural compost. It’s a great way to cut down on organic waste going into the bin, as everything from eggshells to cardboard can be added. However, you need to know what you can and can’t put in, as well as what will be the best solution for your home or garden.<\/p>\n

Did you know you shouldn’t<\/em> put bread, dairy products or olive oil into a regular composting bin? Oils can upset the moisture balance, and bread or dairy products can attract unwanted insects or bugs to feast on them. Even biodegradable cat litter shouldn’t be added, because of the cross-contamination risk of faeces it may contain or have touched. Eww. The same goes for any meat products or bones, which as well as attracting unwanted bugs can risk spreading disease. But did you know there’s a way that you actually can<\/strong> compost meat and dairy products?<\/p>\n

Long used in Japan, bokashi composting<\/a> can actually deal with some of the foods we can’t put into the normal compost bin, and can actually give you an odourless solution to use right in the kitchen. It’s also a great compact solution for those of us who want to stop food waste going to landfill but don’t have a garden or enough space\u00a0for a regular compost set-up.<\/p>\n

About bokashi composting<\/strong><\/p>\n

In bokashi composting, kitchen scraps\u00a0(including meat and dairy products banned from normal aerobic systems) are mixed with some of the special bran, pressed into the bokashi bin, covered with another handful of bran, and covered. When the bucket is full, it is shut and left for around 2 weeks. Every other day you empty off the ‘leachate’ which is actually a nutritious liquid fertiliser.<\/p>\n

Bokashi is a Japanese term meaning \u2018fermented organic matter\u2019<\/em>. It is often referred to as composting but it’s actually an anaerobic fermentation process or a type of pickling, resulting in a different end product than that produced via regular composting.<\/p>\n

Many people like bokashi because it’s very easy, and generally free from smell. All that is needed is a bucket with lid, some special bokashi mix, and of course your food\/organic waste. The product you get out of the bokashi bin\u00a0then sits for a couple of weeks to ‘age’ to become suitable for your plants. Our bokashi bins also have a tap that gives you handy liquid fertiliser that can be diluted and used for your plants – this liquid is also perfect for clearing drains to prevent smells and clogs! Use the liquid within 24 hours of draining.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The special bokashi ‘bran’ mix<\/strong>
\nBokashi mix usually consists of a bran with a special mixture of microbes or ‘friendly micro-organisms\u2019.\u00a0The bokashi process is\u00a0pretty\u00a0simple – once a day just add your kitchen waste (including meat and dairy products) with a handful or so of bokashi bran (enough to coat it lightly) then press everything\u00a0down into the bin, sprinkle over another handful of bran, and close the lid. (A plate left over the pile can help seal it against the air left in the bucket.)<\/p>\n

Bokashi product is sometimes referred to as ‘pre-compost’. When the fermented waste is ready from your bokashi bin, it’s not quite<\/em> ready for using on your plants – it’s too acidic – but can be dug into the garden away from plant roots for a\u00a0couple of weeks\u00a0to break down. Some people add bokashi pre-compost to the regular compost bin to help things along.<\/p>\n

It’s ideal to have at least 2 bokashi bins\u00a0because you can be adding to one while the other sits and breaks down the waste.<\/p>\n

A compact kitchen option is our\u00a0clever bokashi compost bin – single<\/a> and twin pack<\/a>\u00a0– which enables you to compost right there in your kitchen, without worrying about any smell! It’s simply topped up with more bokashi bran<\/a> as and when you need it.<\/p>\n

Some tips:<\/p>\n