Bokashi experiences - what's yours?

[dannahaz]

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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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[newleaf]

Hi
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]

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 www.wigglywigglers.co.uk good price and speedy delivery.

[nodwah]

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]

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_compo...ing/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]

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]

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.

[julbags]

I've had my bokashi bins for a few weeks now, I got them cheap from RecycleNow. I'm putting pretty much all my kitchen scraps in with the occasional diversion of some things to feed my wormery. There is only two of us and my OH is a human hoover so we haven't even filled our first bin yet! I've drained off some liquid that had an interesting smell, not bad as such just interesting. Filling it with scraps has not been too smelly so far as its been mainly veg but we put some fish scraps in it last night so I will be filling it outside from now on as I know it is going to stink when that starts decomposing a bit.

I must admit I am wholly unconvinced about the decomposition of bones, however a friend of mine has put lots of chicken bones in his bokashi and I'm waiting to hear back from him how he thinks it has worked.

That's interesting information about it helping decomposition in compost bins, that's where the first load will be going!

[daysieblue]

I got my bokashis a few months ago, but stopped using them as they were taking so long to fill up! I might carry on now! Also, one of them has never produced any liquid, is this a dodgy bin do you think?

Must try and remember where I put them!!!

db xx

[paddy's mum]

A quick email to the very human and helpful staff at wigglywigglers may get you a person to talk to who will hopefully be able to answer questions and give more specific advice than just "add a handful". I've always found them to be both willing to help and interested in sorting out a minor problem. Hope that helps. www.wigglywigglers.co.uk

[dannahaz]

Originally Posted by daysieblue

Also, one of them has never produced any liquid, is this a dodgy bin do you think?
db xx

Hi Db

Did you remember to really squish and squash the contents down? They are anaerobic, which means oxygen must be excluded.

The leaflet I had suggested using a plate to push the contents down each time, but all that happened for me was I got bran over the plate. So I put some folded up newspaper over the top and pressed and pressed on that.

We get quite a lot of liquid out of ours.

[pigpen]

Thanks for the link newleaf.. I've been mening to phone for a free recycle bin and never got round to it.. I have just ordered online.. and in the interests of money saving I ordered a second to be delivered to my mothers as a second one for me.. she would never use one in a millions years so I'll have hrs too and put it to good use!

The bokashi look good too.. I'll be back to purchase a couple of those too I think.. I have very little foody waste but loads from preparation.. and like the idea of adding bones and other non-compo0stable things to the compost.. my hubby loves it when I get a new fad.. lol.. bless him

[daysieblue]

Originally Posted by dannahaz

Hi Db

Did you remember to really squish and squash the contents down? They are anaerobic, which means oxygen must be excluded.

The leaflet I had suggested using a plate to push the contents down each time, but all that happened for me was I got bran over the plate. So I put some folded up newspaper over the top and pressed and pressed on that.

We get quite a lot of liquid out of ours.

I think I shall have to try that! Right - Where did DH put them?

[newleaf]

I got loads of liquid out of the first bin load, but I haven't had any since :confused: My bins came with a 'squashing plate' for pushing stuff down, but it smells so much I don't like to keep the lid off for any longer than necessary! I will make more of an effort with this though - will put a peg on my nose first Must also confess I do put teabags in ours, I didn't know I wasn't supposed to, can't understand why not, and it doesn't seem to make any difference so I will keep putting them in
It's good to hear everyone elses experiences too. Keep 'em coming.

[angelavdavis]

Ordered mine today. Having experienced the not so nice rodent invasion of the green cone I am keen to rescue Mum from the guilt of throwing the cooking leftovers away.

[nodwah]

Well I'm just about to put my first load onto the compost tomorrow and see what's in it. It took me about three weeks to fill it but I do put some of my peelings etc in the worm bin, and I was fishing the teabags out but I won't bother in the future!
I've had loads of liquid off it and I've diluted it and watered the grass - no dead patches!
As for squashing it down I was using a potato masher!

It did occurr to me that it might speed up the compost in the bin, but I'm worried that if there's still recognisable bones it might attract unwanted visitors? We have several foxes already and I don't want anything else!