Here in Victoria, we're lucky to be able to send our food scraps for composting by the city. But what if you want to grow something yourself? Composting is the original recycling after all! Your food scraps get broken down into something to help you grow even more food. Traditionally thought of as something for people with lots of space, many of us shy away from composting ourselves. However, with bokashi composting, it's easier and takes up less space than ever before, even us apartment dwellers can get in on the action.

What is bokashi?

Bokashi is a Japanese term meaning 'fermented organic matter’. 

How does it work?

Bokashi composting starts with the bokashi bran, a mixture of dried carbon material (usually rice or wheat bran) and sugar infused with bacterial cultures, it is fermented and then dried for long term use.

When you add bokashi bran to a bokashi bin with your food scraps, the bokashi bran gets to work fermenting the food scraps. The good bacteria breaks the food scraps down into a 'pre-compost' which can then be buried, added to the compost pile or your potting containers. After two more weeks it is assimilated into the soil and ready for planting.

Why should I compost with bokashi?

The benefits of bokashi composting are many.

Space:

The bokashi bin we sell as part of the bokashi starter kit is small enough to use in even the teeniest apartment.

Ease:

On a day to day basis, all that's required is adding food scraps to the bin, sprinkling on some bokashi bran and leaving it alone.

Speed: 

It takes just 4 to 6 weeks to go from food scraps to nutrient-rich and microbe saturated compost.

Odor:

Bokashi composting has a pickle and yeast type scent, no foul rotting odors.

Pests:

Traditional composting attracts flies, mice, rats, raccoons and bears, these pests are not attracted to the scent of bokashi compost.

Plant growth:

The good bacteria in bokashi composting creates a microbe and nutrient-rich compost that provides an excellent foundation for building productive soil structures. We've had customers report enormous growth increases in plant growth when switching to bokashi compost.

How do I do it?

Easy! The bokashi starter kit comes with everything you need, including instructions.