Bokashi experiences - what's yours?

dannahaz · 24 April 2007 at 4:48PM

Hi All

I've just taken delivery of a pair of Bokashi kitchen composters. The instructions of what can and can't go in are not great, and I wondered what your experiences were.

For example, it says you can't put tea bags in??? But on a website, someone was saying they put teabags in. What about coffee grouts? Leftover cat food?

I normally compost hair (mine and the cats). Can I Bokashi that?

The literature says "spent flowers". What about the fresh green stalks that I have just cut off new flowers?

Bread?

Any help and advice gratefully received.

MrsBartolozzi · 24 April 2007 at 4:50PM

Sorry I can't help you Danna, but there was a thread on this type of composter over on the greenfingered board, maybe you will get more help there?
MrsB.

dannahaz · 24 April 2007 at 5:13PM

Thanks MrsB, I'd forgotten we had a greenfingered board.

I've just popped over there and done a search on Bokashi, but I didn't get much. Some Bokashi type bins in poundland, and one post amongst a general "what can I compost" thread, which didn't really help. Maybe I need to post the specific question over there too.

If any of the OSers have any experience or advice I'd appreciate it.

newleaf · 24 April 2007 at 6:24PM

I got two Bokashi bins about 6 weeks ago. It's still early days, but I am putting in everything I used to put in the 'normal' compost bin with the addition of food scraps - including meat scraps. I'm still a bit nervous about the meat scraps to be honest, worried about attracting rats, but as I say it's early days yet. I ordered some more Bokashi bran from a cheap website that someone on the greenfingered board recommended, but it hasn't arrived yet and I am going to have to find some from an alternative source quite soon.
I do like the bins though, from an aesthetic point of view they look OK on the worktop and I like being able to drain the fluid off every few days. They hold a lot more than my previous compost caddy too, so less trips out to the main compost bin.
So, sorry not to be more helpful, but yes I would put in all those things you have named. I'll come back and compare notes with you in a few weeks when the outcome is clearer

dannahaz · 24 April 2007 at 6:37PM

Thanks Newleaf, I'll look forward to sharing experiences with you :-)

newleaf · 3 June 2007 at 8:12PM

Hi :hello:
Here's an update on the Bokashi bins. We've been using them for a few months now. Hubby is very impressed with the speed the stuff breaks down once it's incorporated into the 'main' compost bin, (which is his domain, as I'm very squeamish about worms

) apparently it has improved the breakdown of everything else in the main bin too.
Personally, I find the bin rather 'pongy', and it makes me heave to be honest, especially the one that has just come back from being emptied into the main bin. I have to clean it out very thoroughly before starting to fill it again. Perhaps that's defeating the object? I'm still not sure about putting meat scraps in. Maybe the smell wouldn't be so bad if I just stuck to veggie scraps, paper etc? How are you all getting on with yours?

newleaf · 3 June 2007 at 8:17PM

Forgot to mention, I ordered some cheap Bokashi from some place that was recommended on here ( I've deleted the link in a fit of pique

) my order didn't go through for some reason. I ended up needing to get some more bran in a hurry and I got a nice big bagful from https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk good price and speedy delivery.

nodwah · 3 June 2007 at 11:15PM

HI, I'm keen to hear about people's experiences as I've had mine for a month or so and I'm just about to empty the first one into the compost heap. It's got some chicken bones in it and I really can't belive they'll have decomposed but we shall see!
The insrtuctions are quite rubbish, like it says put a handful of bran on top - not very precise, I'm not sure if I'm using too much or too little.
I find the smell odd, not disgusting really but it does linger around teh house when I've opened it to add stuff, it's a sort of fruity yeasty smell.
Newleaf, where do you empty yours out, as my compost bin will soon fill up and then I don't know what to do with the stuff?

newleaf · 4 June 2007 at 8:45AM

It goes in the main compost bin. By the time the next one is ready the first lot seems to have decomposed, taking a load of other stuff with it, according to OH. He's very pleased. We have two large compost bins, one currently being filled and one 'maturing'. I appreciate not everyone will have that much space.
This website gives good general info about ordinary composting.
http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/composting/index.html
We just incorporate our Bokashi waste in with the ordinary garden waste anad it seems to work. I know what you mean about the instructions, they are vague aren't they? The bag of bran that came with the bins was apparently enough for two months, ie; 4 bin loads, so that's how I rationed mine out. It seems 'little and often' does the trick, so I add a sprinkle to the top every evening. Don't expect it to have decomposed when you empty it, you will still see loads of recognisable things at that stage, but in two weeks time when you empty the next one in it should have rotted down well. If you do run out of room in your compost bin, I believe you can just dig a hole or trench in the garden and bury it.
HTH

dannahaz · 4 June 2007 at 9:19AM

Hi newleaf, thanks for resurrecting this thread.

It was great to hear how you're getting on.

My first Bokashi was filled on 3rd May, and left for two weeks. At the end of two weeks I was really surprised to find it hadn't really decomposed at all! I left it for another couple of days, and then we incorporated it into the compost bin.It really got to work in the compost bin! The heat was incredible, so from that point of view I would recommend it. We have four compost bins (one with ready to use, two maturing, and one that we're filling), and only the one with Bokashi was that hot.

We were busy filling up number 2 Bokashi until 29th May, then we switched back to Bokashi 1. OMG the residualk smell was vile. DH had rinsed it out, but it obviously needs more than that. I'll make sure Bokashi 2 is well washed out when we empty it into the compost on 12th June.

It doesn't smell when the lid is on, it's just very pongy when we're putting the food scraps in.

DH was very reluctant to put meat in it at first, but we are gradually putting everything in. I was really surprised to see that teabags are not allowed in them (it's in the list of No's in the lealet), which is a nuisance as I have to keep a separate bin for those.

I've got into the habit of saving the scraps in a bowl or jug, and then putting them in at the end of the day along with a handful of bran. This is very unsightl, and I need to dfind a better solution. I was just going to use some sort of lidded cannister to use, but I realise that in the hot weather the scraps may smell a bit...so I think I'm going to invest in a worktop compost crock from Lakeland which has filters in the lid.

I'll let you know how we get on now we're adding meat and bones, and when we've had a chance to add B2 (Bokaswhi 2) to the compost bin.

Looking forward to hearing the rest of the stories...

Agutka · 4 June 2007 at 9:58AM

I've never heard of these before... sound stinky, but perfectly natural. I have just realised why I don't need one though. I already have a normal composter and everything else goes into DOG. I can just imagine putting meat scraps in a box... it would be like the holy grail for her to get her paws on! Reminds me of the time we got one of those mushroom growing kits. She nearly killed herself consuming the whole box of manure.

Bokashi experiences - what's yours?

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