Bokashi composting is an efficient and eco-friendly way to produce nutrient-rich compost for your garden. It is an Asian-based method of composting that uses beneficial microbes to break down organic matter in a controlled, oxygen-free environment. Bokashi composting is a great choice for those who don’t have the space or time to maintain a more traditional compost bin, as it can be done quickly and without fuss.
Benefits of Bokashi Composting
Bokashi composting is a unique and effective way of adding nutrients to garden soil. It is particularly useful for those who do not have access to a traditional compost bin or green waste collection service. The process involves adding fermented food scraps into anaerobic bins and then later allowing the material to decompose further in your garden. Bokashi composting has many benefits that make it desirable for gardeners looking to improve the fertility of their garden soil.
Bokashi composting is much faster than conventional methods of composting. This means that you can quickly add nutrient-rich material directly into your garden beds without having to wait several months for traditional compost systems to break down materials into usable form. In addition, bokashi does not produce unpleasant odors like other forms of decomposition due to it being in a sealed container, making it more pleasant for anyone close by when turning the material over in the soil.
Bokashi can be added directly to a garden bed before anything is planted or if there are plants already in the bed bokashi should be processed separately in soil where nothing is growing. Straight out of the bucket bokashi compost is very acidic and can kill your plants. By letting the bokashi compost further process in a pile of soil the bokashi literally turns into black gold full of nutrient soil.
How To Compost Using The Bokashi Method
First, you’ll need an airtight container such as a Bokashi bucket or bin. Next, purchase special bokashi bran (search bokashi bran in your favorite search engine, Amazon has bokashi bran) which contains beneficial microbes that break down food faster than traditional composting methods. Then, simply add layers of kitchen waste alternating with layers of Bokashi bran within the container – just be sure to keep it tightly sealed! Go beyond the normal kitchen waste that you would use in a traditional compost bin. With bokashi you can compost meat, cheese, animal bones and more. Just be careful not to use things that have a lot of black or green mold as that could ruin your bokashi batch. White mold is ok.
As time passes, the beneficial microbes will break down the kitchen waste which then can be added to a garden bed where nothing is growing, to a bokashi soil factory or to your regular compost bin. The end result will be a nutrient-rich soil suitable for your garden’s needs. Additionally, this no-mess method prevents bad odors from escaping as it ferments in its own liquid (which should be drained off periodically).
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, bokashi composting is a great way to convert food waste into nutrient-rich soil. It is simple and easy to do, and also reduces your carbon footprint as it does not require electricity or large amounts of water. Additionally, the process can be done indoors, making it an ideal option for city dwellers with limited outdoor space. Bokashi composting is a great starting point for anyone who is interested in reducing their environmental impact through composting.
Check out this video on bokashi composting for more information: