Bokashi experiences - what's yours?

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. https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk

dannahaz

daysieblue wrote: »

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

dannahaz wrote: »

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 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 :rotfl: 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!

BeefyGrowler

dannahaz wrote: »

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.

Teabags are fine as long as they are not too wet. The fermentation process is best without too much moisture so I let my teabags dry out before putting in the bokashi bin.