Righty ho then.

As I promised erm.... effing ages ago .... here is the report on how the
Bokashi Composting has went.

Okies, the Bokashi method is actually fermenting rather than composting. The
smell is very different in the bucket. The bran smells quite acidic. I would
be inclined to call it a compost pre-treatment - What you do to your organic
kitchen waste before hoying it on the compost bin or digging it into the
garden. You certainly couldn't use the waste directly from the bin, it needs
further breaking down. I believe the idea is that the Bokashi process helps
to speed up the composting process proper and also adds beneficial
micro-organisms to the soil improving it's health and structure (no
empirical evidence of my own, this is anecdotal so far)

First attempt - what a disaster! This first bin was left in the capable
*coff* hands of my mates. Complaints came in that the bucket leaked, that
the smell was abysmal and the contents had gone all mouldy (mouldy isn't
right apparently). Got to admit the smell in the kitchen from the Bokashi
bin was pretty bad. All we can imagine is that this particular bin had a
faulty tap which had blocked or not sealed properly thereby leaking Bokashi
wee all over the kitchen work surface. Coupled with, as I discovered later,
poor quality Bokashi bran.

Second attempt - I checked the second bin (they come in pairs fortunately)
to make sure that the tap worked and didn't leak. Then we began putting veg
waste in there. I bought some replacement bran from Recyleworks (first lot
came with the bins from the council subsidised compost scheme) and it was
noticeably different from the first bran straight away - this batch was a
little more moist and had a not unpleasant acidic odour ( a bit like
homebrew) which I figure was the EM culture. The first batch of bran was
very dry and had no odour at all. I'm beginning to think this might have
been a factor in the last bin failing.

Anyhew, this bin is now about half full. No nasty niffs, no icky mould. I've
even put a bit of mackerel skin in there and you would never know. No liquid
to drain off as yet but I keep checking.

So.... it seems the quality of the bran has been a significant factor. This
batch arrived in a sealable plaggy bag rather than the paper sack the other
one came in. Not as sustainable I know but if the stuff is supposed to be
slightly moist and airtight then why the hell was the other batch not sealed
too with instructions to keep it cool and dark?

Also we didn't expect serious leakage so I would recommend filling a new bin
with water and checking it holds, perhaps adding extra sealant if necessary,
before beginning to compost. I've got the second bin standing on a tray just
in case.

We haven't yet got as far as putting the Bokashied stuff on the garden/in
the big compost bin yet so I can't say how effective this pre-treatment
would be. Also unsure as to whether it would be ok in a wormery since worms
tend not to like their environment very acidic.

Hope this helps anyone thinking of getting a Bokashi bin.

Jo
- next article coming soonish, summat to do with Counselling, Mental Health
issues and Spirituality

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:00:12 GMT, "Jo B"
 blethered:

>Righty ho then.
>
>As I promised erm.... effing ages ago .... here is the report on how the
>Bokashi Composting has went.
>

Well... finally got round to reading it. <shamefaced grin>

>Okies, the Bokashi method is actually fermenting rather than composting. The
>smell is very different in the bucket. The bran smells quite acidic. I would
>be inclined to call it a compost pre-treatment - What you do to your organic
>kitchen waste before hoying it on the compost bin or digging it into the
>garden. You certainly couldn't use the waste directly from the bin, it needs
>further breaking down. I believe the idea is that the Bokashi process helps
>to speed up the composting process proper and also adds beneficial
>micro-organisms to the soil improving it's health and structure (no
>empirical evidence of my own, this is anecdotal so far)

I got the idea it's like a beef tea for the soil, as it were - a nice
nourishing drink. Don't know that I'd want to pour the liquid too
close to growing plants but that could be too many warnings about
manure sticking in my brain. 

>
>First attempt - what a disaster! This first bin was left in the capable
>*coff* hands of my mates. Complaints came in that the bucket leaked, that
>the smell was abysmal and the contents had gone all mouldy (mouldy isn't
>right apparently). Got to admit the smell in the kitchen from the Bokashi
>bin was pretty bad. All we can imagine is that this particular bin had a
>faulty tap which had blocked or not sealed properly thereby leaking Bokashi
>wee all over the kitchen work surface. Coupled with, as I discovered later,
>poor quality Bokashi bran.

<:-/ Not exactly encouraging. 

>
>Second attempt - I checked the second bin (they come in pairs fortunately)

Ah. 

>to make sure that the tap worked and didn't leak. Then we began putting veg
>waste in there. I bought some replacement bran from Recyleworks (first lot
>came with the bins from the council subsidised compost scheme) and it was
>noticeably different from the first bran straight away - this batch was a
>little more moist and had a not unpleasant acidic odour ( a bit like
>homebrew) which I figure was the EM culture. The first batch of bran was
>very dry and had no odour at all. I'm beginning to think this might have
>been a factor in the last bin failing.

Perhaps it had been sitting around, and no one from the council knew
what it was supposed to be like?

>
>Anyhew, this bin is now about half full. No nasty niffs, no icky mould. I've
>even put a bit of mackerel skin in there and you would never know. No liquid
>to drain off as yet but I keep checking.

That's something I wondered about - I visited the dread portal that is
Tesco yesterday and they've started selling bokashi bins, wormeries
and food cones - does it only start producing liquid when it's done? I
wondered how it works, because it says after fourteen days the liquid
can be taken out of the bin. So are you supposed to fill it then leave
it fourteen days or is it that two weeks after the first food goes in
there'll be liquid fertiliser to decant? I wondered about
contamination from the likes of meat or bones etc. if they've been in
a day or two before liquid is removed. 

>
>So.... it seems the quality of the bran has been a significant factor. This
>batch arrived in a sealable plaggy bag rather than the paper sack the other
>one came in. Not as sustainable I know but if the stuff is supposed to be
>slightly moist and airtight then why the hell was the other batch not sealed
>too with instructions to keep it cool and dark?

I wonder if misting it with some water would help. 

>
>Also we didn't expect serious leakage so I would recommend filling a new bin
>with water and checking it holds, perhaps adding extra sealant if necessary,
>before beginning to compost. I've got the second bin standing on a tray just
>in case.

That sounds like a fault with the bin though, I wouldn't have expected
leakage either!

>
>We haven't yet got as far as putting the Bokashied stuff on the garden/in
>the big compost bin yet so I can't say how effective this pre-treatment
>would be. Also unsure as to whether it would be ok in a wormery since worms
>tend not to like their environment very acidic.

Grab a thingy strip and test to see whether it's acidic? I half
remember something about wormeries and bokashied stuff but I hesitate
to guess what it is I remember, in case any innocent worms are harmed.
Maybe a potted blueberry etc. might like a drink of it though?

>
>Hope this helps anyone thinking of getting a Bokashi bin.
>

It does a bit, ta. I'm swithering. I think I'll wait and see if Waste
Aware Scotland or someone do a deal on them, I am loathe to give Tesco
any more money although I (grudgingly) admit that the local one
selling these things does mean more people will see them and think
about them. <train of thought veers off> I wonder when they'll start
selling solar panels. I was really tempted by the wormery but it cost
a lot, and I need to read up on the food cone thing, which looked very
interesting. 

>Jo
>- next article coming soonish, summat to do with Counselling, Mental Health
>issues and Spirituality
>

<waits patiently>


-- 
What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, 
in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence 
is what we do.
- John Ruskin

"Halla"  wrote in message
news:8t7qp31qh1li73basutl8ndl1saq27iurj@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:00:12 GMT, "Jo B"
>  blethered:
>
> >Righty ho then.
> >
> >As I promised erm.... effing ages ago .... here is the report on how the
> >Bokashi Composting has went.
> >
>
> Well... finally got round to reading it. <shamefaced grin>

Heh, no probs. Like I was sooooo prompt with posting the report in the first
place :-P

>
> >Okies, the Bokashi method is actually fermenting rather than composting.
The
> >smell is very different in the bucket. The bran smells quite acidic. I
would
> >be inclined to call it a compost pre-treatment - What you do to your
organic
> >kitchen waste before hoying it on the compost bin or digging it into the
> >garden. You certainly couldn't use the waste directly from the bin, it
needs
> >further breaking down. I believe the idea is that the Bokashi process
helps
> >to speed up the composting process proper and also adds beneficial
> >micro-organisms to the soil improving it's health and structure (no
> >empirical evidence of my own, this is anecdotal so far)
>
> I got the idea it's like a beef tea for the soil, as it were - a nice
> nourishing drink. Don't know that I'd want to pour the liquid too
> close to growing plants but that could be too many warnings about
> manure sticking in my brain.

Yeah kind of. Various reports on t'internet say it can be used for plant
food, disinfecting worksurfaces, cleaning drains and feeding to pets. I take
all these suggestions with a dose of salt and I think I shall stick to plant
feed. I would also err on the side of caution and dilute as t'were worm wee
in a ratio of 10 parts water to one part brown stuff.

> >First attempt - what a disaster! This first bin was left in the capable
> >*coff* hands of my mates. Complaints came in that the bucket leaked, that
> >the smell was abysmal and the contents had gone all mouldy (mouldy isn't
> >right apparently). Got to admit the smell in the kitchen from the Bokashi
> >bin was pretty bad. All we can imagine is that this particular bin had a
> >faulty tap which had blocked or not sealed properly thereby leaking
Bokashi
> >wee all over the kitchen work surface. Coupled with, as I discovered
later,
> >poor quality Bokashi bran.
>
> <:-/ Not exactly encouraging.

Yup, thats what I thought - there was much whinging and gnashing of teeth at
my mates house. Hence the bin was sent packing with me along with a flea in
my ear.

> >
> >Second attempt - I checked the second bin (they come in pairs
fortunately)
>
> Ah.
>
> >to make sure that the tap worked and didn't leak. Then we began putting
veg
> >waste in there. I bought some replacement bran from Recyleworks (first
lot
> >came with the bins from the council subsidised compost scheme) and it was
> >noticeably different from the first bran straight away - this batch was a
> >little more moist and had a not unpleasant acidic odour ( a bit like
> >homebrew) which I figure was the EM culture. The first batch of bran was
> >very dry and had no odour at all. I'm beginning to think this might have
> >been a factor in the last bin failing.
>
> Perhaps it had been sitting around, and no one from the council knew
> what it was supposed to be like?

Possible but it came via Recycleit which is a major organisation that do
subsidised composters etc nationwide. I'da thunk they knew what they were
about. But never mind eh.
>
> >
> >Anyhew, this bin is now about half full. No nasty niffs, no icky mould.
I've
> >even put a bit of mackerel skin in there and you would never know. No
liquid
> >to drain off as yet but I keep checking.
>
> That's something I wondered about - I visited the dread portal that is
> Tesco yesterday and they've started selling bokashi bins, wormeries
> and food cones - does it only start producing liquid when it's done? I
> wondered how it works, because it says after fourteen days the liquid
> can be taken out of the bin. So are you supposed to fill it then leave
> it fourteen days or is it that two weeks after the first food goes in
> there'll be liquid fertiliser to decant? I wondered about
> contamination from the likes of meat or bones etc. if they've been in
> a day or two before liquid is removed.

I have had a tiny weeny bit of liquid from mine and its not quite full yet.
I expect to get more when its in sealed mode. My instructions say to keep
draining liquid of there is any - I suppose this is in case you add a lot of
wet ingredients and it drowns the mix. After 14 days 'cooking' the filled
bin can be emptied into trenches in the garden or put on the regular heap. I
have no clear guidelines on contamination regarding meat etc. I know I
didn't fancy using my first liquid drainage as it was a bit oily from the
mackerel (but no fishy smell AT ALL!!)
The way you fill it is:
Small amount of bran in first (careful you don't clog the tap)
Add a layer of veg peelings, used tea bags etc as you generate waste in the
kitchen
With each layer of waste add a small handful of bran to just cover it.
Squash the layers down carefully (don't break the bin in your enthusiasm) to
exclude air as this is an anaerobic composting method. Air can cause
putrefaction to occur.
Drain off liquid as it is created (I got none at all for four weeks then
about 15ml but this bin is still being filled)
Once the bin is full add a generous handful of bran, seal the bin and leave
for two weeks to ferment.
While the first bin is fermenting start on the second bin
>
> >
> >So.... it seems the quality of the bran has been a significant factor.
This
> >batch arrived in a sealable plaggy bag rather than the paper sack the
other
> >one came in. Not as sustainable I know but if the stuff is supposed to be
> >slightly moist and airtight then why the hell was the other batch not
sealed
> >too with instructions to keep it cool and dark?
>
> I wonder if misting it with some water would help.

I think that might cause green mould to develop ( not a good thing
apparently)

> >
> >Also we didn't expect serious leakage so I would recommend filling a new
bin
> >with water and checking it holds, perhaps adding extra sealant if
necessary,
> >before beginning to compost. I've got the second bin standing on a tray
just
> >in case.
>
> That sounds like a fault with the bin though, I wouldn't have expected
> leakage either!

No leakage with this one at all. In fact I'm very happy with the way its
going.

> >
> >We haven't yet got as far as putting the Bokashied stuff on the garden/in
> >the big compost bin yet so I can't say how effective this pre-treatment
> >would be. Also unsure as to whether it would be ok in a wormery since
worms
> >tend not to like their environment very acidic.
>
> Grab a thingy strip and test to see whether it's acidic? I half
> remember something about wormeries and bokashied stuff but I hesitate
> to guess what it is I remember, in case any innocent worms are harmed.
> Maybe a potted blueberry etc. might like a drink of it though?

Well I'm building a wormery soon as I find a spare plastic tap and some
worms. What I've read on Bokashi the stew is acidic and worms like a ph of
about 7 which is more neutral. You can get a lime mix for worms to assist
with their environment in a wormery so its fixable. Not a bad idea on the
blueberry though.

> >
> >Hope this helps anyone thinking of getting a Bokashi bin.
> >
>
> It does a bit, ta. I'm swithering. I think I'll wait and see if Waste
> Aware Scotland or someone do a deal on them, I am loathe to give Tesco
> any more money although I (grudgingly) admit that the local one
> selling these things does mean more people will see them and think
> about them. <train of thought veers off> I wonder when they'll start
> selling solar panels. I was really tempted by the wormery but it cost
> a lot, and I need to read up on the food cone thing, which looked very
> interesting.

Definitely wait for a subsidised offer - I paid £20 for the pair of buckets
and yeah I had some teething troubles but its a sight cheaper than anywhere
else. The cones do look very good - if the blurb is to be believed you can
compost anything at all using the hot method, even dog poo. Although I
wouldn't put it on the veggies.
On the wormery front, once I have mine constructed I shall post instructions
on how to build it for around a fiver - if you're in Tesco you can start by
getting three of those black plastic stacking boxes for a quid each.
>
> >Jo
> >- next article coming soonish, summat to do with Counselling, Mental
Health
> >issues and Spirituality
> >
>
> <waits patiently>

Heh, I'm getting a kitten tomorrow - you'll have to wait a good long while
before I do anything more than take photos and film of kitten doing cute
things lol.

Jo