![]() ![]() ![]() However, all types of bokashi are produced through fermentation processes. Bokashi is a Japanese word that has no good translation into English, according to Yukiko Oyanagi, a staffer with the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Japan. I am a huge proponent of composting, whether it’s traditional outdoor composting or vermicomposting with a worm bin.This article is from ECHO Asia Note #17 The Concept of BokashiĪround the world, many agriculturists and gardeners are adopting soil amendments and fertilizers that are called bokashi. These are great options for organic matter like leaves, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based material. But what about meats, bones, and dairy? After a little research, I learned about Bokashi composting as a way to compost these food scraps that you wouldn’t want to compost otherwise. So today, I’m going to open up my new Bokashi composter and take a look at all the components that this starter kit comes with. What is Bokashi Composting?īokashi composting is a relatively new composting method developed in Japan in the early 1980s, though there are similar processes have been utilized for centuries in other countries, especially Korea. While traditional composting is an aerobic process, meaning it requires air to break down organic materials, Bokashi composting is quite the opposite. Bokashi composting is an anaerobic process which requires an air-tight container and and special microbes, called Bokashi, which actually ferment food scraps and break them down into nutrient-rich byproducts.īecause active microbes are used in the process, other food scraps which are typically non-compostable can actually be composted pretty easily with Bokashi. While doing my research, I contemplated building a Bokashi Composter. But once I factored in the materials required, the Bokashi microbes, and the time it would take to build it, I decided it would probably be worth it to spend $50 on a pre-built Bokashi starter kit. Not that it seems too difficult to build a Bokashi Composter, but I could just see it start leaking or for some reason not being air-tight and screwing up the process, so I decided not to take any chances with my first experience. Right off the bat I just want to say I have no affiliation with this particular company. I simply found the starter kit that seemed like the best value, had good reviews, and seemed easy to set up to get started. ![]() I went with a company called SCD Probiotics, who specialize in all sorts of probiotic products. Their Bokashi Compost starter kit had everything needed to get started and was ready to use right out of the box. So let’s take a look as I unbox it! Unboxing My New Bokashi ComposterĪt first glance, the Bokashi bin just seems like a normal 5-gallon bucket.The Espitals decision to live on the farm was borne from their background in community development. “Before becoming parents, our background is in community development, I teach livelihood diversification and biodiversity conservation while Gio teaches sustainable farming and livelihood linked to eco-tourism,” Leila says. We wanted to apply the learnings we had from those years of work and see if this lifestyle is doable for our family.” “Both of us have seen how small communities changed for the better by protecting their natural resources and starting an organic farm as their livelihood. The many positive experiences in their work led them to decide on an agricultural path for their family, even before their son Nayon was born. “First, we have a control over our health and healing. Growing our own fruit and vegetables gave us a variety of food each day. It tastes better because we always have them fresh and it is safer to eat because we do not treat them with chemical pesticides, which are linked to numerous diseases. “Second, we find peace being surrounded by nature. It makes us happy to see the garden grow that soon attracts birds, butterflies, frogs, worms and bugs. Working with the soil sparks the wonder of our child, helps decompress our minds from whatever worries we have and lets us be present in the moment. Instead of spending the biggest chunk of our budget to buy vegetables, we can allocate them for other utilities at home and add to our travel fund. It is also a joy for us to have a source of income that offers health to other people through farm produce and composting kits. “But above all of this, we decided to lead this lifestyle because we believe that it is our moral imperative to take good care of our planet and our way of participation is make the soil healthy and grow food without harming nature. It is our duty as parents to model to our son the meaningful work that farmers do for their family and society. ![]()
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