My friend got one the other day, and she surprised me with one too! (That would be the reason for the big bow.) Now right now I'm sure many of you are saying "What's a bokashi?" Well let me tell you what it is! It's a Japanese composting system!
Now those of you that know me are saying "Only you would get this excited over some sort of composting system, and only you would have friends that actually gift wrap things like that!" Those of you that don't know me are saying "Why would anyone get excited over a composting thing, and what kinds of freaks gift wrap things like that?" Well you'll find out more about the composting thing in a second, but as to what kind of freaks gift wrap things like that, well, apparently, my kind of freaks. In thinking about it, I have at least 3 friends who would do things like that, possibly a 4th, but she tends to be a tad more conservative (translation - she's know me for 20+ years and thinks I'm a pretty crazy but is still willing to go along with the insanity!).
So back to the exciting world of bokashi! The Japanese are very into gardening. Also into recycling. Plus they don't have much extra space. Most people live in apartments or houses with no real yard. They grow things on any extra space they can carve out. Apartment balconies are often overflowing with greenery. But what all this means is it is hard to have enough room for a large compost container, so they came up with a small, compact system that works inside! (I know you are just about to burst with excitement at this new aren't you?)
Basically it's like a 5 gallon bucket with a spigot on it. You layer your food waste in it, including meat and fish. The only things you don't want to put into it are liquid-y things like milk and juice. In between each layer you sprinkle the bokashi powder (made mainly with wheat germ and molasses and a few other things) which has micro organisms that don't decompose the food so much as pickle it. Because it's not rotting, and because you keep it in the air tight bucket, it doesn't smell.
It will produce a bokashi juice (hence the spigot) that when diluted with water is a great fertilizer for plants and gardens. If you are using it for that, you poor it down and drain and it helps clean the waterways by competing with the harmful bacteria.
So after you bucket has been filled, you let it ferment for about 2 weeks. At that point the food waste is pickled. Once you bury it in your garden it will start to decompose. Within 2-3 weeks, it turns into great soil.
We are all so excited about my bokashi! (Collin is easily converted to anything you convince him to be excited about and David, is, well, as excited about these types of things as he usually gets. I'll let you all create your own mental image of his excitement level. However I will say that this is rating higher than the potential of a future worm farm!) We aren't allowed to do compost bins in base housing. We have the room, but they won't let us for fear they'll attract (more) shrews, and also rats. Plus rats attract habu and mongoose. Neither of which is very appealing to be running around my yard! So this is a good alternative.
But it will be so nice to not only not be throwing the food waste into the garbage, but to actually build up some good soil. We really have a year round growing season, but the soil here is just not so great. We can get topsoil for free from the recycling center on base, but it's really a sandy mix of stuff, not what we think of as "topsoil" like when you buy it in the bag. Same thing with the compost get get from there. It's sort of chunky and just not like what used to come out of my bins when they were going. We built our gardens last fall, but so far not much is going on with it. Hopefully this will help. I really am hoping for some good tomatoes, and it would be nice to grow peppers instead of buy them for $4.50 a pound! So we'll see what happens!
For more information on bokashi's check out http://www.bokashi.com.au/index.html or http://www.bokashi.co.nz/ They are Australia and New Zealand sites, but obviously a Japanese site won't work that well for many of us!
Talk to you later!
20 comments:
We aren't allowed to do compost bins in base housing....,[so] this is a good alternative.
It sure is!
Ensure your pickled food waste is buried deep enough so the smell doesn't attract the critters you are trying to avoid.
Cheers,
Al
Sounds like a great solution. I would not have thought they prohibited composting, but maybe they had some issues with that in the past. Maybe you could grow some cool sunflowers again like you did in WR.
I can understand the excitement of getting your Bokashi buckets - it's an amazing system and SO simple.
where can a fellow okinawan base-dweller pick one of these up? i love it!
Cindy,
My friend got it at the Monkey store in American village. She said she was looking around and just said "Bokashi?" and someone took her right to it. I'd guess it was in the garden area somewhere.
Good luck!
You have a monkey store? Do tell!
Hey Kelly---
Am I counted as one of the freaks (friends) who would get excited at this? Because if not--up your total!!!
love, Jen
i just stumbled across your blog, i am new to the island and i love your bokashi. who much was it?
Strange how the word bokashi looks and sounds suspiciouly like the word bucket
"Here, try this really cool Japanese bucket [made in Taiwan], for only $19.95."
"But that other bucket over there is only $7.95."
"Yes, but this is a bokashi. It has a spicket. And it's exotic!"
"Okay, who do I write the check out to?"
First of all "Anonymous" (who sounds suspiciously like my husband!) bucket in Japanense is baketsu.
And it's not just 'exotic', it's "good for the environment"!
HA!
What a great idea!
I had tomatoes a few years ago - they came out splendidly. Of course, that year was the year with only a few (weak) typhoons.
Just discovered your blog and was thrilled to learn about Bokashi...just wish I had known about it while living in Okinawa. Now it is another reason on our list to return! Great blog. Enjoy the island life and happy gardening!
Thank you so mush for posting about the bokashi. I got mine yesterday. It is already filling up! It is sooo awesome to find something that is green AND convenient! After doing a little more research on my own I discovered that the idea and technology for the bokashi came from right here is Okinawa. Kinda cool I thought. Thanks again.
Great post. This recycling center on base you mention - which base? where? Thanks a bunch.
The Recycling center is on Kadena. If you come in gate 3, the Karing Kennels and a child developement center is there on your right. You have to turn into the parking lot for those two, drive throught the kennel parking lot, and then you turn left and just follow it back and you'll see the recycling center.
I think that is pretty neat!
~Kristen
We did composting in a huge bin in England and I've missed using our leftovers in that way! SOOOO glad I clicked on you from Okinawa Hai -- will have to run out and get one!
We did composting in a huge bin in England and I've missed using our leftovers in that way! SOOOO glad I clicked on you from Okinawa Hai -- will have to run out and get one!
Kelly,
I've just gotten my organic seeds in the mail and am getting ready to start my garden and so came BACK to look at your post! Would you be willing to write about your bokashi for Oki Hai?? I do Friday's TO DO post and I think one about gardening sounds fabulous! If you're willing, just email me at todoinokinawa@yahoo.com -- THANKS!
Hi!
I can't remember if I already asked you - can you tell me anything that would help me buy the same bucket you got as a gift? The name of the manufacturer? Their URL/phone/address? Even the name of the bucket?
Thank you so much!
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