Kitchen Garden Forum

Chantal, how are you getting on with your Bokashi composter?

Hi Jenny

It's working well, I think.

I've taken two full and "pickled" bins of compost down to the allotment and dumped it in the compost bin. There was all sorts in there; cat food, cooked vegetables, cooked beef, chicken, bread, the lot. I drained off around 2 pints of clear fluid during the fortnight it was working and the only smell I had from it was citrus from the orange peel.

I'll need to have a poke around in the big compost bin in a week or so to see what's happening, but there's no rat activity around the bin which is good news. Apparently bokashi composted material rots incredibly fast so there may be nothing to see at all.

I'm happy with them and it's reduced the amount that goes in my dustbin.

Thanks for the update. Is it stinky when you tip it out onto the compost, does it work out very expensive, and do you put bones in too?

Hey this caught my eye. Coming to this as a newbie, I'm, interested to know:
- Is the resulting compost as effective as "standard" compost?
- Do you actually need to buy the composting vessels, or could you just add their Bokashi mixture to an ordinary compost heap?

I found some info here, but am interested in people's actual results: http://www.greengardener.co.uk/bokashi.htm

Colin

I only started this around 6 weeks ago so it's too soon to tell on the longer term results.

Regarding the bins, they are supposed to be EM impregnated and also have a special sump and a tap for draining off the liquid. In addition the lid is a seal so no smell gets out and when it's full, the compost is squashed down and sealed as it works better anaerobically.

As the proverbial professional shopper, I've been having a look around the internet about Bokashi bins, activators, etc.

Have we got any members in Doncaster? Residents there can get a Bokashi starter kit for free from Doncaster MBC, which I thought was pretty good. Time to write to my council, methinks.

There's a number of makes about on the market and they vary significantly in price. One of the most interesting discoveries I have made is 2 companies with different names and different bokashi bins and products for sale, at different prices, with separate websites and e-mail, who appear to be operating from the same address. They're about an hour away from me, so I'm going to explore further.

How did your investigations go Tigger? I'm intrigued by all of this!


Colin

Well......my local Council doesn't want to know, but I won't leave it there.

It would appear that there are indeed 2 companies providing the same products (albeit it with different colours and logos) from the same base under different names at different prices. My intention is to pay them a visit next week!

I do actually want to buy these products but I'm da***d if I'm going to be had - if you know what I mean?!

I was having a look at these Bokashi jobbies. The bins themselves seem very expensive! I've not done a great deal of research yet so would be grateful of someone can enlighten me as to how they cost sixty quid for the pair. What's so special about the bin itself to justify the price?
I'm desperate to do something meaningful with my teabags!
Ta

It's to do with them being impregnated with EMs but I have no idea how this happens and they look just the same as ordinary plastic bins.

My two were in fact £40 complete with bran as they were on special offer from Wigglers; I also had them as a birthday present.

To get special Wiggly Wiggler offers, sign up to their on-line newsletter.

eeeee - look what I found!
http://www.recyclenow.com/applications/ ... =WRD/026/C

Hence my suggestion to look around before you order.

right then, I've ordered a bokashi bin from those jolly nice fellows at Recycle Now. Presumably because it's acidic there'd be a mass exodus from the Can Community if I tipped it in there, so I guess I'm going to need ideas of what to do with it.

Wigglers say that worms love bokashi compost but I think only a little at a time.

The bran looks like a good deal too.

Have you collected much of the liquid from your Bokashi tub yet?

I realise it's a bit early in the season, but have you tried using it anything yet?


Colin