Bokashi

DWhite

I’ve decided that my green waste bin needs to go! It’s often disgusting and attracting flies. It’s simply not used enough to make it worth using if that makes sense? So I did some research and have invested in a Bokashi kit bought cheap via my council. It allows all food scraps to be used for plant nutrition, meaning practically zero waste kitchen as cooked meat etc can also go in there. It’s a Japanese form of composting through fermentation. Probably best to google than have me explain
Anyway! It does require slight investment as it needs a bran to cover the food scraps when they’re in the bin, this bran helps the micro organisms do their job. Does anyone else follow this method? Where is the best place to get the bran from? I’ve not seen it sold in shops, but then I’ve also never looked
I have seen online that a few people make their own bran, has anyone tried this method? Must be cheaper that way :money:

happydays89

Could you use bran for animals.....Amazon have 20kg sacks for £18 with free postage.

bsuije

Bokashi sounds interesting; thanks for bringing it to my attention DWhite!

I had a quick google and found the following re bran:

A dry mixture of bran and molasses that has been inoculated with beneficial micro-organisms; Bokashi Bran is a carefully controlled mixture of microscopic bacteria, yeasts and fungi.

These work together to accelerate composting, suppress pathogens, prevent putrefaction and eliminate foul odours.

1kg will last approximately 3-4 months.

This was from the first or so results that came up on Google (https://evengreener.com/composting/food-waste/kitchen/bokashi-bran-1kg-refill-bkshx1kgi). Price on that website is £7.49 for 1kg, which seems a bit steep... Google Shopping suggest that lower prices are available on Amazon.

Then again, it might be preferable to making your own (https://www.turningtogreen.com/post/diy-bokashi-bran)....!

DWhite

Thank you ��
I’m very interested to see how I get on with it, must be better than my awful green bin and the smell and flies!
A part of the problem is that there’s no instructions for how much bran to use other than covering the top layer with it. So maybe I’ll over use it?
I’ll stick with buying it for now I think, I think back to my attempts of sour dough starter and think some things are better not being tried by me ��

iamsalt

Hello, i have had one, well 2 actually for a while. It breaks down waste quickly in the soil and makes lovely addition to my veg beds.
I dont use masses of bran, i have a line on a small scoop (i can measure the amount if it would be helpful). I dislike the smell of the bran personally but my OH doesn’t.
It really helps to let a full one “stew” before emptying it. The liquid used very diluted has been great for my pots this year. I would also suggest making sure things are cut small and you open it as infrequently as possible.

Great kit though, but took us a while to get into a routine with it.

S x

DWhite

Thank you Salt, I fear I may have put too much in on the first filling. I had a clear out of the fridge...
I used enough bran to cover it all, I might give it a bit of a mix to help get the bran mixed in with it all and leave it to do it’s work.
Must say, I got home from work today and my house smelt distinctly of bran! I left the bad open slightly. Now folded and put away. It’s not an unpleasant smell but I don’t need my whole house smelling of it!

iamsalt

Yes, the smell is potent! I decanted from the bag into a large tupperware type box with a lid i had. Solved the problem!