3 Tips to Successful Bokashi Composting

First developed in ancient Korea, bokashi composting is an increasingly popular composting method today due to its ease of use and efficiency.  By utilizing an anaerobic environment and beneficial microorganisms, bokashi works by pickling and fermenting food scraps.  This unique method speeds up the breakdown of food waste. It creates a finished compost in a fraction of the time it takes to compost using other methods.

 

1. What do You Need for Bokashi Composting?

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The bokashi process begins with an airtight container and inoculated bran.  Bokashi bran is generally composed of wheat or rice bran that has been inoculated with Effective Microorganisms (EM). Effective Microorganisms include lactobacillus and other beneficial bacteria and yeasts.  Both containers and bran can either be purchased online or homemade using a few simple items.  From here, bokashi composting is incredibly simple. It can produce a finished compost in 4 to 6 weeks.

You can purchase a bokashi container and bran kit to begin bokashi composting here:

 

 

2. How to Start Bokashi Composting

 

When you’re ready to begin composting, add just enough bran to your bokashi container to lightly cover the bottom. Next add a 1-2” layer of food scraps and top with a sprinkling of bran.  As you accumulate food scraps, continue layering them with a light topping of bran until your container is full.  Once your container is full, allow it to sit covered and undisturbed for two weeks.

After your bokashi container has fermented for two weeks, you are left with a “pre-compost.”  Your food scraps will look essentially the same; however, their internal composition has been broken down and predigested by the bokashi microorganisms.  At this point, your pre-compost is too acidic to apply directly to plants; however, it can be added to your compost pile, worm bin or left to process a further two weeks in a dedicated bokashi pile.

Alternatively, pre-compost can be added directly to your garden in holes or trenches dug 10-12” deep. If you do so,  planting should be postponed for two weeks to allow your food scraps to fully compost.  After two weeks, your bokashi compost should be completely incorporated into your soil. The pH will stabilize, and nutrients will be readily available for plant absorption.

 

What Can You Compost With Bokashi?

Unlike any other method of composting, nearly all food scraps can be processed using the bokashi method.  Vegetable and fruit scraps can be used, as well as dairy, meat, bones, cooking oil, pasta, cooked foods and even pizza boxes with leftover oil.  Larger food scraps should be cut into small, 1-2” sized pieces to speed fermentation.  Moldy or rotten food should not be included as it can compromise the fermenting process.

 

3. How to Add Food Waste to Your Bokashi Composter

 

Because bokashi composting is an anaerobic process, always remember to replace your container lid after use and to limit the number of times the bokashi container is opened.  To achieve this, collect food waste in a countertop composting bin or jar and only add it to your bokashi container once a day.  Additionally, it can be helpful to place a piece of cardboard or wax paper on top of your food scraps to press them down and further reduce air circulation.

During the fermentation process, it is normal for white mold to appear and for your ferment to smell slightly like a jar of pickles.  This just means the process is working.  Because they are airtight, bokashi containers should emit no odors and will not attract insects.

As your bokashi ferments, it is important to draw off any liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the container.  Most bokashi composting containers have a spigot for this purpose.

This liquid, known as “bokashi tea,” is highly acidic but packed with nutrients.  Undiluted, it can be added to your outdoor compost pile as an accelerator. It can also be applied directly to weeds as a natural, environmentally safe herbicide.  This “bokashi tea” can be diluted with water at a rate of 1:100 and applied to the soil around houseplants and garden plants. It is an exceptional organic fertilizer and natural pest control option.

 

The Benefits of Bokashi Composting

Compared to other composting methods, bokashi composting has several distinct advantages.

Not only can bokashi handle hard to process food scraps, like meat and dairy, but it also allows composting to continue during cool months when outdoor composting halts.  Additionally, bokashi produces finished compost significantly faster than other methods. Finally, the unique components of bokashi composting makes it inhospitable to pathogens and repulsive to rodents and other garden pests that may be drawn to other types of outdoor composting.

These properties, and the relatively inexpensive startup costs of bokashi, make it an outstanding composting method for the home gardener.

 

Written by Lauren Landers

Lauren operates a 2 acre homestead using organic methods. You can find more of her work at Zero Waste Homestead.