Why I prefer Bokashi Composting?

Out of all the ways I have tried composting,  Bokashi Composting has made my composting obsession, easier by 80%.

Quick start : Bokashi Composting

You will need a Bokashi Composting Kit (see bottom most section for different Bokashi vendor's info). 

Main parts are : 

• 2 Bokashi Bins with taps fitted.
• Bokashi Bran (powder) - you could make it at home, or buy from vendors. I have not tried making it myself yet.

Stage 1  (Anaerobic)

Day 1 : Start with Bin #1 

1. Replace your wetwaste dustbins with bokashi bins and keep dumping full day's kitchen leftovers (just ANY kitchen leftover can go into this bin - no restriction)
2. When you retire for the day and before you are off to sleep, sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of bokashi bran to cover all the leftovers at the top and press the pile down with the newspaper. (it is anaerobic composting, so no air)
3. Once in 3-4 days, open the tap to drain the leachate.
4. You could use the leachate daily on plants and spray or pour it into pots, after diluting it 1:80 or 1:100 (do not spray on saplings, dilute more if you really want to) If you want to store it, add some jaggery to the bottle in which you collect the leachate and keep in the fridge; could be stored upto 1 month. But try not to store it for so long. And most important, inform your family that it is NOT sugarcane juice! ;-) 
5. Repeat the process until the bin gets filled up (took 2 weeks for me in 20ltr bins, for a family of 6)

Pickling

1. Once this is filled up, keep aside in shade unopened for 2 weeks, but continue to drain the leachate. This is called Pickling stage and during this stage, all the pathogens, weeds will be destroyed during fermentation.
2. Use Bin #2 meanwhile and repeat all the above steps for Bin #2.

Stage 2 (Aerobic)

1. Once the pickle ferments after 2 weeks (white fungus on the top of the bin inside), you have two options : 

Option# 1 

Note : You will need some ready compost. So, either Beg, Beg, Borrow, or Steal! (in whichever order you prefer :-P ) 

Move the pickle to an aerobic bin (I used existing khamba and Leave it pots at home; as an alternative, use earthen pots or cane basket) and layer it as Ready Compost : Pickle : Ready Compost : Pickle and so on until the khamba fills up and forget about it for 2 weeks! No need to stir or keep an eye for troubleshooting any issues.

Ready Compost after Bokashi Stage -2

Option# 2

Layer it in pots directly as below for new pots : 

I tried both and for me Option #2 is more easier and more effective  : 

Look at the size of the leaves, due to direct layering! I am hoping to get great veggies too :-D  *fingers crossed* 

Can I used the pickle in existing pots, where I cannot layer it as above pic?

Yes, if u want to use pickle on existing plants, dig a corner in the pot, and place a handful of pickle not directly touching the roots of the plants. Too much of it could burn the plant, as itis too strong. So, dont be too liberal. Like you do a "test patch" on the skin for any products before using, do a "test patch" for this step for you to get confident for next time!

Why I would continue with Bokashi Composting? 

1. I replace dustbins with bokashi bins - due to which I can manage the space, lifting, better. I need not have a separate dustbins and then shift these to aerobic bins.

2. The leachate is of high quality and with just 2 sprays in a week, the flowers in my garden are blooming. There is significant change - I cant help but notice that each day.

3. As the leachate drains out completely, before stage-2 of bokashi layering, I dont have to worry abt the leaking aerobic bins - it was a very messy experience for me few months back, when I had put a lot of citrus peels and watermelon peels and due to the rains, the bins started leaking.

4. I dont have to keep thinking about composting (lifting, stirring, getting dustbins to compost bins) each day. It is an automated process now to segregate and dump kitchen waste directly to bokashi bins, draining leachate once in 4-5 days, forget it for 2 weeks after the bin is full - my mind is not thinking of composting and shifting all the time.

5. Even in the layering stage, I dont have to turn the pile regularly. It is just a one time job to layer it and forget abt it for 2 weeks.

6. I also observed that I need not chop up veggies for faster breakdown here.. I know its always better if we do that. But still, it works well with bigger pieces too (specially watermelon peels)

7. Since we are family of 6, before bokashi bin, I kept making space for more and more aerobic compost bins as they fill up pretty fast. Composting is such a faster process with bokashi  - I harvested compost just within 50 days! (which used to be 3-4 months before)

Life is about making things simpler and faster and I am so glad I came across Bokashi Composting. In all the angles, it is an one time investment and a win-win situation.

So overall, Bokashi Composting is apt for my lifestyle! rather I would say - for the urban lifestyle! :) 

Group Pic :) My current Compost Factory 

Disclaimer : This post is not a product promotion. This is my personal experience with Aerobic, Vermicomposting and Anaerobic Composting and is my personal preference. Bokashi has a science behind it's composting and hence it is so effective and faster. 

Bokashi Vendors

There are various Bokashi Vendors in the market. You could enquire, compare and take your decision!

Current Vendors, which  I am aware about are : 

Ecobin 

Smartbin

Quantum Leap Guru

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As a consumer, do not fall for "appealing" vegetables and fruits!

We as consumers, are sometimes equally responsible for adulteration/coloring of vegetables and fruits, because we tend to judge by the "outer color" of them and do not buy them if they are dull. We go for the more appealing, shiny ones. Hence the vendors are "forced" to make them look more appealing.

This is very common with many fruits and I have learnt this year abt these :

1. Apples
2. Mangoes
3. Litchi

- Apples : which are shiny, are wax coated.
- Mangoes : which are too yellow on the outer, may be ripened using the chemical called as "carbide"
- Litchi : Are spray painted to make them look reddish!

Click on the pic below to see the video!

Here is the list published by the Environmental Working Group of the 12 Most contaminated foods:

Peaches

Apples

Sweet Bell Peppers

Celery

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Pears

Grapes (Imported)

Spinach

Lettuce

Potatoes

How To Detect Carbide Ripened Mangoes

How to clean pesticide and toxins off the fruits 

Wax Coating on Apples

And there's more than just fruits and vegetables...

There seems no end to human greed and today (7/2/2015) I came across a post, which was telecasted on TV and newspaper's as well - "PLASTIC RICE". Yes, you read that right.

It is so saddening to see that China is manufacturing this rice made out of plastic, that is being exported to Asian countries - including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and India. Yes, it has already entered India. The government has taken action, but look at the ridiculous things we humans are capable of doing!

It cannot be differentiated just by looking at it. It smells and tastes different after it is cooked. Imagine what can this plastic do inside our tummy and how our health is at risk! You could read about it more here.

As the old saying goes - "dont judge the book by its cover", give a thought and change the way we look, lets get logical and consume healthy food!

[Disclaimer : All the pictures and videos I have used in this post are sourced from the internet]

Red Pierrot Caterpillar - could be chomping up your succulents without your notice!

I learnt about a new insect today; rather a larve : the Red Pierrot Caterpillar.

I had got this beautiful Kalanchoe sapling from Raigad, which I had seen for the first time in my life and without knowing what plant was it, I picked up the sapling, looking at its beautiful vibrant flowers!

After almost a year, it flowered and I was all happy, until last week, I suddenly saw that their condition was not so good.   I was out of station for 4 days and had told my maid to water all the plants regularly while I was away.. I forgot to mention not to water the cactus and succulents on a daily basis! So, the first thing that struck to me was that I did a mistake and probably she watered them regularly as any other plant and so the succulents are rotting and that made my heart crunch. 

Suddenly it struck me to shout out in "Cactus and Succulent India" FB group and I am so grateful for them, that I was able to rescue my plants and learn something new! 

It was not due to hot summer or overwatering, it was these tiny Red Pierrot larvas moving all around and inside of the Kalanchoe  leaves and gulping up the flesh inside the leaves, that would leave only empty leaf cover and which would dry up after 1-2 days, giving us a look as if they dried up due to too much of direct sun or due to overwatering!

See how intelligently they get inside the leaf, start munching and move around the leaf, leaving behind their poop! :-P 

I found 17 of them in 4 plants and removed all the affected leaves and discarded them all.

If you wish to grow them, leave them as host plants and they could turn into butterflies one day. I was not so kind hearted this time, as this was my first time on my favorite plant and I could not take the shock. Hopefully I will get more forgiving in future, as I have learnt to be forgiving on my cauliflower munching insects!

So, next time you see such a mysterious way your succulents are dying, do make a closer check!