Bokashi

“the mystery of alchemy is to make something from nothing, some value from no value”

Dr. A. Palatronis

Overture

Who cares about vegetable peels? Nobody eats it, nobody needs it. However, as I started to transform to a plant-based food, those enormous amounts of peeeels and stems drove me crazy.

However, as I started to transform to a plant-based food, those enormous amounts of peeeels and stems drove me crazy. Should I just through it away?

As a chemists, I realize its value as a source of vital vitamins, minerals, biologically active compounds, but…the only way for vegetable and fruit peels supposed to be directly to a trash bin.

The situation changed when I discovered a composting system which is suitable to function at an apartment. No bad smell, no flies, no bad experience at all. However, a specific fermentation bacteria is needed. Bokashi composting system enables to turn vegetable/fruits peels into a pre-compost, which should be mixed with a soil. After 2 weeks it turns into a “black gold”, as some authors call it. It is literally a gold value for outdoor or indoor flowers, fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables, any plants.

After 2 weeks it turns into a “black gold”, as some authors call it. It is literally a gold value for outdoor or indoor flowers, fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables, any plants.

After few months I discovered that Im actually do not need no more enriched soil, or…I need to buy a garden:) Yes, I had it too much, and my friends also were supplied properly. Luckily, around that period an outdoor composting bin for an apartment block appeared.

However, more than half a year and up to now I am making Bokashi pre-compost constantly and use only a liquid by-product of the fermentation – so-called Bokashi “brew“.

more than half a year and up to now I am making Bokashi pre-compost constantly and use only a liquid by-product of the fermentation – so-called Bokashi “brew“

During fermentation process, a concentrated fermented liquid from vegetables/fruits peels forms. That is another great value, I call it Bokashi brew. I always need this liquid, because it is an absolutely natural vital supplement for plants, and those plants grow like crazy! Moreover, Families with small children or pets like cats and dogs, could use it, because there are no chemicals inside.

I always need this liquid, because it is an absolutely natural vital supplement for plants, and those plants grow like crazy!

How to use Bokashi brew:

I dilute it in a proportion 1:100, that means 1 ml of Bokashi brew is dissolved in 100 ml of water; or 10 ml of Bokashi brew are dissolved in 1000 ml (1 liter) of water; or 100 ml of Bokashi brew are dissolved in 10000 ml (10 liters) of water, and so on.

dilute it in a proportion 1:100

The colour of Bokashi brew depends on a type of vegetable/fruit peels I put in. For example, it turns cherry-red when I use more beetroots in my ration. I noticed, I get more liquid product when I use juicy staff, for example, cucumber or watermelon peels for fermentation.

Where/how to use Bokashi composting system?

• I collect all plant-based waste during a day in a small container in the kitchen

• In the evening, I transfer a waste to the Bokashi bucket at the utility closet. I have two Bokashi buckets and that is a great advantage: while one of them is full and tightly closed during fermentation for 2 weeks, another is filled with daily plant waste. So, the process is always on the go.

• Outdoor (e.g. balcony) is not suitable for keeping Bokashi buckets
• There are no bad smell in my apartment, though it is not big one. I can smell some pickly/yeasty smell inside the utility closet, but not at a hall or anywhere else at the apartment. To keep the buckets always tightly closed is an important point, fermentation bran will do the rest (ensure fermentation, convert smells to slightly pickly)
• I label (name, date) and keep a Bokashi brew liquid in a refrigerator up to 2 weeks, when produced in an excess

Some thoughts

My indoor and balcony plants are absolutely amazing and grow like crazy after I started to use Bokashi brew!

Moreover, Families with small children or pets like cats and dogs, could use it with no worries, because there are no chemicals at all!

The garden experts whom I know could confirm the impact of Bokashi brew too. One family had revitalize their sunflowers and grow them up to 5 meters! Moreover, their pumpkins are unimaginably large without any chemical fertilisers, but only with Bokashi “brew“!