In Today’s episode, let’s learn step by step – how to easily, quickly and successfully
perform anaerobic odour free Bokashi composting at home, indoors.
Coming up!
In our previous two episodes we discussed on the fundamentals of composting, Types of
Composting and the materials that can be added and those that are prohibited in compost bin
plus we also discussed on the CN ratio and the Greens vs Browns Ratio.
You can find links to those episodes from the description below.
In this episode, we will demonstrate how to do Bokashi composting correctly to get that
perfect organic compost at home – with no foul smell and within a short period of time
plus you also get a glass or two of nutrient rich compost tea which you can dilute and
water your plants.
Bokashi composting is anaerobic method of composting, meaning it happens in the absence
of air or oxygen and is actually a fermentation process carried out by special anaerobic microorganisms,
first developed by a Japanese professor – Dr. Teuro Higa.
The term Bokashi is a Japanese word that means “fermented organic matter.”
This method was mainly developed to recycle wet nitrogen rich kitchen waste quickly, unlike
the conventional aerobic composting which takes atleast 4 to 6 weeks to form complete
compost.
So, What are the materials that best work with this type of composting.
Anything can be composted, but the carbon rich browns like dried leaves, saw dust, grass
clippings, paper, card board, etc will take a long time to decompose in this method or
might even halt or fail the process of composting.
Anaerobic Composting works best with nitrogen-rich materials as they are mainly wet – the kitchen
scrap including left over cooked or raw food, vegetable and fruit scraps, cooked or uncooked
meat and fish except bones – this is actually avoided in aerobic composting and vermicomposting,
but this is the beauty of Bokashi composting!
You can also add egg shells, tea and coffee grounds, tea or coffee bags and other stuff
which is common for greens in aerobic composting as discussed in our previous episode.
Avoid adding large seeds like mango seeds, bones, rubber bands, condoms, metallic objects
and so on.
Well, now Let’s learn Bokashi step by step.
One thing to note before we start is: You can either do batch composting or one shot
composting.
In batch composting you add your kitchen waste on a day to day basis, opening the compost
bin lid.
I recommend One shot composting, like Add it, close it and forget it.
One Simple Tip for you: Collect your daily kitchen waste in bags and store the waste
in your refrigerator.
Step 1: The Container: This is typically any air tight container called Digester.
You can use any barrel or a bucket with a lid which can seal it perfectly.
This container should have a tap at the bottom to collect our nutrient rich compost tea once
or twice in a week.
Step 2: Preparing the Bottom: First of all place about 20 to 30 gms of jaggery or molasses
at the bottom of the container.
This accelerates the fermentation process and is a food for our hard working microbes.
Then Place the plastic grate at the bottom of the bucket with the knob facing upwards.
This space of about 3 inches is required for the fluids to collect at the bottom which
we drain out as the Bokashi Tea.
Then Make sure the tap is closed and then Place a piece of newspaper over it.
Step 3: Bokashi Bran: or Bokashi powder is a magic ingredient in this system.
This is a vegan stuff and contains the essential microorganisms to perform the composting process
quicker than the conventional method of composting.
This powder is inexpensive and easily available.
Step 4: Layering: First layer you sprinkle the bokashi bran over the bottom – two table
spoons.
Then you add a 1 to 2 inch layer of kitchen waste over this.
For every 1 – 2 inch waste, sprinkle atleast two tablespoons of bokashi bran.
Then again add 1 – 2 inch kitchen scraps and then again sprinkle bokashi powder.
Make sure you chop large chunks of waste into smaller pieces for faster composting.
Crush and add egg shells.
Step 5: Compression: In this step you compress the layers as and when you are adding the
waste layer by layer.
This will displace out the air pockets which may be present in between the waste.
This is also an important step for successful smell free composting.
Step 6: After your finish multiple layers.
Add a thick layer of bokashi powder like about 3 tablespoons and take and extra step to keep
it air tight.
Place a piece of cardboard on top of the layers and press it.
Then Finally Close the Lid properly to make sure there is no chance of air entry.
Step 7: Location: You can keep it indoors or in any location where there is no sunlight.
Step 8: Collecting Bokashi Tea: This tea must be collected every 3 or 4 days to avoid foul
smell and composting failure.
This tea can be used as a liquid fertilizer for your plants.
It must be diluted with water at a 100:1 ratio, that's 100 parts water to 1 part bokashi juice,
that’s approximately 2 teaspoons of juice for every litre of water.
Mix well and water your plants to give them an instant supply of nutrients.
Step 9: Leave it Undisturbed for at least 15 days before you harvest.
But don’t forget to collect the bokashi tea twice in a week.
Step 10: Harvesting: This is the only drawback of Bokashi.
Just as pickled onions or mangoes are still the same size and shape, your pickled food
scraps preserve their looks, unlike aerobic composting where the stuff shrinks considerably
during decomposition.
But the advantage is its high nutritive value, but the harvested bokashi after 15 to 20 days
needs further processing and cannot be added directly to plants.
You need to dig a trench in soil and add this final product and cover it with atleast 6
inches soil.
Allow another 3 to 4 weeks for final processing and then plant over it or use this finished
compost on your plants.
If you also have the conventional aerobic composting going on, you can just dump this
into it for faster and perfect processing.
In our next episode we will demonstrate conventional aerobic composting method, step by step.
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Happy Gardening!