Bokashi

Garden WAste

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Our helpful step-by-step guide:
Introduces you to the world of Bokashi & the benefits you can reap in your own garden

Bokashi - Natures Blanket

Have you ever peeked beneath the vibrant tapestry of a healthy forest floor? A hidden world teeming with life unfolds – a layer of decaying leaves and organic matter nourishing the earth below. This natural "blanket" serves as a powerhouse for the entire forest ecosystem. Bokashi composting takes inspiration from this very process, offering a revolutionary approach to nurturing your own garden soil.

Bokashi doesn't just create another source of plant nutrients – it unlocks the true potential of organic waste. Through a unique fermentation process happening entirely within an anaerobic system, Bokashi transforms green waste into a pre-digested feast for the soil's microscopic residents – the vital microbial community. This mimics the natural breakdown of organic matter in a healthy forest, fostering a diverse and active population of microbes.

The benefits of a thriving microbial community are plentiful. These tiny powerhouses break down nutrients into forms readily available for plant uptake, promoting healthier and more resilient growth. They also play a crucial role in soil structure, aeration, and disease suppression. By mimicking nature's cycles and fuelling the entire soil food web, Bokashi composting offers a sustainable and natural approach to gardening.

Traditional composting certainly has its place, but it often involves turning the pile to ensure proper aeration. This can disrupt the delicate balance developing within the compost, especially for those following no-dig gardening practices. Bokashi eliminates the need for turning, making it a perfect fit for these nature-centric approaches.

Bokashi Bliss: Nourishing Soil, Growing Life

• Reduce harmful emissions
• Retain more nutrients
• Increase organic matter
• Pre-digest food for the soil
• FEED THE SOIL!
• Beneficial plant-friendly microbes.
• Increases nutrient availability to your plants.
• Produces healthier and more productive plants.
• Reduces plant diseases.
• bokashi microbes start working immediately.
• Long term benefits.
• Better water retention.
• Natural.
• Increase in the growth rates of your plants.

Skip the mess and maximize results! Bokashi green mulch offers a convenient way to boost your soil biology with abundant nutrients, all without the need for constant turning.

Faster Pre-composting - This breaks down waste materials quicker than traditional composting methods.
Reduced Odour - The anaerobic environment minimizes unpleasant odours typically associated with composting.
Convenience: Bokashi is a non-turn system as no oxygen is needed.
Saving on disposal costs of organic matter - Keeping waste in your garden means you save money from waste collections.
Optimal nutrition for soil life - Helps retain nutrients in the final product and increases the availability of some micronutrients for plants.
Preservation of minerals in garden - Bokashi fermentation enriches soil with beneficial microorganisms and essential minerals. This mineral-rich compost boosts plant growth by providing readily available nutrients for healthy development.
Potential for Suppressing Plant Pathogens & weed seeds- Bokashi fermentation suppresses plant pathogens & weed seeds in the final compost.
Carbon Storage - Bokashi retains more carbon compared to traditional composting due to the increase of organic matter.
Increase growth rates of your plants - Bokashi boosts plant growth by enriching soil

How do i make it?

1. Collect Organic Matter

Choose a combination of different organic materials.
Suitable garden scraps are leaves, stems, flower scraps, thin branches, cut grass, etc. Limit the amount of soil.
Mix carbon-rich (woody) material like branches, straw and stems with nitrogen-rich (soft) material like fresh grass, leaves, or manure.

2. Add Ammendments

Layer greens and browns. The perfect ratio is 20:1. If you can't get to this ratio then leave it for more time. The more carbon you have the longer you will need to leave it. If you cant get to a 20:1 ratio make sure you have some greens (nitrogen) so the microbes have a food source to produce your Bokashi mulch.
To each layer make sure you add the Actiferm & optional Aegir & Edasil
Each Layer:
Roughly 25ml Actiferm to 10L of water. This will depend on the moisture content. Try to get to 50% moisture
Sprinkle of edasil as a nutrient binder.
Aegir as a pH buffer.
Make sure the content is small, 5cm chunks is preferable. Remember that what you put in, equals what you will get out. Think of it like pickling an onion.

3.Cover and wait

In winter months you are looking at 16-18 weeks.
In spring- summer 12-14 weeks.
Don’t panic if it doesn’t look like black gold. The life in the soil will do the work for you as a mulch, retaining moisture and keeping microbes tucked up ready for action when plants need them. If you are unsure give us a message and we can support, you.
REMEMBER...
The material you use must contain enough moisture for the microorganisms to move around and do their job. If the material is too dry, dilute Actiferm in a little more water. If you squeeze the moist material, no moisture should seep out. Aim for a moisture content around 50% to 60%. Think of it like squeezing a wet sponge. If water drips out easily, it’s too wet. You want the sponge to feel damp and pliable, but not sopping wet.

Green WAste Using a Cut & Drop bokashi system

Bokashi method with mini piles a cut-and-drop technique enhancing soil quality and promoting sustainability.

1m3 Organic Matter (chipped to 5cm size)
C:N ratio of 20:1
Moisture % of 35-65
2L Actiferm (Effective Microorganisms)
Optional:
10kgs Edasil Clay Minerals (nutrient binder)
10kgs Ægir Seashell (pH regulator)
Creating Bokashi is a simple and rewarding process. The "Lasagne Method" is ideal for a cut and drop system.
Layering: Spread organic matter evenly to create the first layer, around 30-50cm thick.
Moisturize: Add moisture to the layer and/or additional organic matter.
Application: Apply a layer of Actiferm, Ægir, and Edasil to the layer.
Repeat: Repeat steps 1-3 until all organic matter is used.
Cover and Wait: Cover the Bokashi heap to create an anaerobic environment and let it sit for at least 8-12 weeks.
Beneficial Plant-Friendly Microbes: Bokashi introduces microorganisms that benefit plant health.
Improved Nutrient Availability: Enhance the availability of essential nutrients for your plants.
Healthier, More Productive Plants: Witness the transformation as your plants thrive with increased vitality.
Reduced Plant Diseases: Bokashi's microbial action helps suppress plant diseases.
Immediate Microbial Activity: Bokashi microbes start working immediately upon application.
Long-Term Benefits: Enjoy sustained improvements in soil quality and plant health.
Better Water Retention: Improve your soil's water retention capacity naturally.
Natural Solution: Bokashi is an eco-friendly and natural approach to waste management.
Accelerated Growth Rates: Experience faster growth rates in your plants.

Green WAste using a vessel?

DALEK NOT WORKING? Bokashi composting method with a Dalek or similar vessel.

APPROXIMATE AMOUNT NEEDED TO PROCESS A 220L DALEK
500 ml of diluted Actiferm to 200 L water (This depends on the carbon content)
OPTIONAL: 2 kg Aegir seashell grit
OPTIONAL: 2 kg Edasil Clay
1. Chop up your organic matter as small as possible and put it into your vessel. About 20 cm deep.
2. Add 25 ml of Actiferm to 10 L of water into a watering can and sprinkle over the top.
3. OPTIONAL: Add a handful of Aegir &/or Edasil Clay and sprinkle on top.
4. Make sure to compact it down. Try and get most of the air out of it.
5. Close the lid when you have finished
6. For better results find something to put over the top of the layers. This will help with taking the oxygen out of the system
7. Repeat until full
8. Leave for 12-14 weeks in spring/summer. Autumn/winter increase this to 14-16 weeks.
If it has a high wood chip / carbon content this may increase.
When it’s ready it should be able to break up easily in your fingers. Sticks or woody parts may not have broken down. Don’t worry, they are full of microbes and are still useful to the soil as it is.
Normally composting with one of these is a process of a 50/50 split Carbon to Nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Remember with Bokashi you don’t need to worry so much on the C:N ratio. If you cant get to a 20:1 ratio it will just take a little longer in the process.
This is not a fully anaerobic system (without air) but the microbes we use in this process are facultative, which means they work with or without oxygen. Try and squish down the content as much as you can. Try and get some earth contact (bare bottom) as this will help with the process. Worms love Bokashi.

Scalable ! Using the windrow design for commercial, horticultural platforms

What Do I Need?

Actiferm

Kickstart your fermentation with Actiferm!
This liquid is a powerhouse of beneficial microbes: bacteria, fungi, and yeasts (also known as Effective Microorganisms or EM®). Actiferm helps organic matter break down efficiently through a process called fermentation.

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Optional Aegir - Seashell Grit

Add this to enhance the process
Keep your Bokashi pile happy with Aegir seashell lime!
Aegir helps prevent unwanted pH swings, ensuring a stable environment for your Bokashi to thrive. But that's not all! Packed with essential trace elements, Aegir also nourishes the soil and benefits your future plants.

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Optional Edasil

Want to step it up a level?
Edasil clay minerals: Nature's sponge for your Bokashi! These amazing minerals act like tiny sponges, soaking up moisture and vital nutrients released during the fermentation process. This ensures your Bokashi stays properly hydrated and doesn't lose valuable resources!

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