Fact Sheet #3 – YOUR GUIDE TO –

HOMES BOKASHI COMPOSTING

What is Bokashi?

Bokashi is a Japanese word for fermented which is an ‘EM’ – Effective Micro-organism. This is a mixture of and yeasts that break down food using the process.

The system is anaerobic as practically get to work on it. This process is all air is excluded, whereas normal repeated until the bin is full, after composting needs plenty of air mixed which it is ready to be emptied in. When the anaerobic bacteria into the garden or heap. is added to the food it creates a Depending on the types of foods fermentation process a bit like which have been added to the bin it pickling. (rotting) is is quite common to get a coloured occurring to your food mass, after liquid at the bottom which needs to you have left it for between a week be drained off every 2-3 days. This and 10 days in the Bokashi Bucket, ‘bokashi tea’ also contains the EM occurs, there is more feeding and a the resulting mix is ready to bury. and has a variety of uses including corresponding break down of your feeding soil and household cleaning. To keep the process anaerobic, it’s waste food into rich, black compost. best to store up the cooked food Once you bury the mix, positive Once the food waste has broken waste and add it to the main bin microbes that live in your soil are down (4 weeks max, usually less) once a week - to keep out excess air exposed to this massive amount of your soil will be boosted by this new . Bokashi bran is then spread thinly healthy food. They come rushing population of healthy microbes, and over each 3-4cm layer of food to in, attracted by the Bokashi food healthy soil equals healthy plants. introduce the EM, the mixture is and they feed and reproduce. As pressed down and then the bin lid is they reproduce, their population tightly sealed. grows massively, and this growth is sustained by your Bokashi food If the food being added is in large waste being added frequently. Bokashi kit consisting of chunks, then it needs to be chopped stackable sealed buckets up into pieces so that the EM can As this exponential growth cycle and Bokashi mix

LOCATION The Bokashi system can be kept inside your house while in use as it does not produce any smell. However, if this does not sound like an option for you then it can be placed outside undercover, close to the kitchen to make disposal easy. Bokashi Options

The Bokashi system can be made from any sealable Harvesting buckets, these need be stacked on top of one another. The Bokashi tea that is drained off is generally You will need two buckets only. Holes will need to be a dark red colour but this depends on what drilled in the bottom of the top bucket, the bottom kinds of food are in the bucket at the time. bucket is to collect any liquid created in the process. This liquid can be diluted 1:100 with water If DIY is not a preferred option, the buckets can be then used on the ground around plants, not purchased ready made with sealable lid and holes for directly onto the plants themselves. The tea draining liquid. There are multiple options online for needs to be used within 24 hours of draining. purchasing the system or they can be brought from The liquid can be particularly good when hardware stores. Each bucket comes with an interior used in drains, during hot summers drains can sleeve that slides out for easy cleaning (made from become smelly and adding bleaches can be bad plastic). The sleeve has a number of holes in the base to for the environment. Adding the Bokashi tea allow the juice to drip through and collect in the bottom (undiluted) makes a big difference clearing up of the main bucket. the nasty smell within a few days. To help speed up the Once the decomposing food waste is dug system with plenty of into the garden it is important not to plant micro-organisms Bokashi directly on top for a few weeks as the mix is mix should be added to very acidic and is processing and breaking the food, the mix can also down. Alternating digging spots in the garden be purchased online or at is a good idea to leave enough space for new hardware stores. The mix planting throughout the seasons. looks a lot like sawdust however is full of many helpful bugs.

Easy Bokashi Composting Recipe: Method: Ingredients: 1.Choose a position for the Bokashi Bin - things to consider when choosing a position: • Bokashi Bin • Sheltered from heavy rain • Bokashi Boost Mix • Shade for most of the day • Food Scraps • Inside or outside is OK • Garden Material • Close to the kitchen to make disposal easy

2. Assemble the Bokashi Bin, make sure the bag is installed correctly to allow for drainage into the bottom bucket

3. Sprinkle a layer of the Bokashi Boost Mix on the bottom of the top container (about 3-4cm layer)

4. Add 2 litres of food scraps (keep a 2 litre ice-cream container on the bench and empty it when full into the bin). Only use food waste that is reasonably dry - don’t use any liquids.

5. Add another layer of Bokashi Boost Mix and press firmly to exclude air and compress (the top of the ice-cream container is great for this as it has rounded corners that fit the Bokashi container).

6. Ensure the airtight lid is replaced. The system is working well if there is sweet pickle smell and the food doesn’t appear to be breaking down (decomposing).The bacteria extracts liquids from the food and this drains into the lower chamber through the holes. This liquid is highly nutritive for plants - dilute it 1:100 with water and use on the garden or pot plants (2 tablespoons of juice to five litres of water). Tip it neat down the sink/toilet/shower to help digest any inside pipe scum and enhance the septic tank efficiency.

BOKASHI COMPOSTING

BOKASHI Troubleshooting There are generally very few problems which can arise from the Bokashi system however new starters may notice that food after 10 or so days may not look very different when opening the bucket. This is completely normal and the food is still fermenting and decomposing it is just not visible to the eye. The mix can be left for up to 4 weeks and still no change can be obvious when looking into the bucket. If the Bokashi gets too wet then it can become smelly, make sure to empty out any excess liquid and add some more Bokashi mix. Replace the lid to continue with the decomposition process.

Looking after your   Bokashi

Adding the mix is an Food Scraps Food scraps important part of the process that can be put that cannot be of looking after your Bokashi, in your BOKASHI: put in Bokashi: after each reasonable amount of food is added to All food types can be added • Food that is rotting the bucket, then between to the Bokashi bin including; already 3-4cm of Bokashi Mix should • Meat - including bones be placed on top. Bokashi • Soup or high liquid Boost Mix contains untreated • Dairy – not too many content foods pine chips, wheat bran, and liquids • Don’t add things that dolomite which boosts the • Bread have already started to go mouldy productivity of the EM. • Vegetables • Ash from a fire slows As the process is airless it is • Fruit down the process of the a good idea to keep food in a • Coffee grounds sealed container and add to micro-organisms • Cooked food such as the Bokashi bucket once per or pasta week to limit the air exposure. The food can be left in the • Tea bags - let them drain bucket and be completely first so to not add too DO NOT USE processed by up to 10 days. much liquid into the mix A liquid will accumulate from • Garden material in small the food decomposing and can amounts is OK soup or high be emptied every 3-4 days or when it is getting too full. liquid content foods

For more information, contact Council’s Sustainability and Waste Team (07) 577 7000 [email protected]