Bokashi One Bucket

20L Bokashi composting bucket with a drainage tap.

Bokashi may be called a "composting system" but it doesn't actually work as a compost heap. Bran or liquid infused with microbes are added to the organic matter and work in an anaerobic environment to ferment the material. This means it does not break down in the bucket, but it will discolour and soften and take on a pickled smell. The liquid drained off can be diluted and used as a soil conditioner and the fermented material is buried in the garden where it continues to rapidly break down into the soil. Any organic matter can be added to a bokashi bucket (chop up large items before adding them in) - this includes many things that can't be added to regular compost like citrus, onions, meat, fish, bones, eggs and cheese. You can even add the dust from sweeping and vacuuming and hair.

The material in the bucket should grow white mould and take on a pickled smell, which is not necessarily pleasant but shouldn't be offensive. If the bucket smells rotten or blue/green mould is growing, bury the contents, rinse the bucket out and start again. The bucket should only be rinsed out with plain water, as cleaning products can disturb the microbial environment developing inside the bucket.

It's ideal to have a two bucket system, so when one bucket is full, you can leave it to ferment for about 2 weeks before burying it in the garden, meanwhile, you can fill up the other bucket.

Directions -

1. Make sure the drainage tap is closed and the drain grille is in place.

2. Add any organic matter to the bin - you can add citrus, onions, meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dust from sweeping or vacuuming - anything that was once alive. It's best to chop up large pieces. Large bones won't break down properly at all. Make sure the lid is sealed tightly after adding material - bokashi microbes work in an anaerobic environment.

3. Once an inch or two of the matter is in the bucket, squish it down with the tool and add a thin layer of bokashi bran.

4. Continue layering organic matter and bokashi bran until the bucket is full. Drain the bucket every few days - this liquid can be diluted with water and used as plant food, or just poured down the sink.

5. Once the bucket is full it will need to sit for about two weeks. Having a system of two buckets - so you can fill one while the other "cooks" is a good idea.

6. Bury the contents in a hole in the garden. You will notice that things in the bucket are still recognisable, but they may have gone soft or discoloured - this is because bokashi works by fermenting the material instead of rotting it. The material will continue to quickly break down in the soil.

7. Rinse the bucket with plain water and start again.

Features

• Can reduce the volume of waste by 90%
• Inbuilt tap allows easy siphoning of liquid for the garden
• Large capacity for low maintenance
• Easy to use and maintain

Waste Credentials

Able to be reused and refilled for many years to avoid food and organic household waste ending up in a landfill.

Dimensions

30cm x 30cm x 41cm. 20L capacity.

Starter bran sold separately.

Origin

China (Australian owned company)