It’s more and more common for people to grow food or plants at home. This can help reduce carbon footprints and at the same time beautify the home. Also, it’s healthier to enjoy fresh organic vegetables, fruits and herbs at home. Food waste generated every day can also be turned into compost with the use of Bokashi. Bokashi means ‘fermentation’ in Japanese. It is made by fermenting rice barn with EM (Effective Microorganisms), sugar and water. It contains a large amount of effective microorganisms which have the ability to inhibit bad microorganisms thus it is beneficial to both the microorganism community in soil and plant growth.

Bokashi composting is very simple. You only need a compost bin with 1) airtight lid 2) sieve at the bottom of the bin 3) a drainage tap. The airtight lid prevents any odour leaking out while the sieve can prevent food waste blocking the drainage [system] thus enabling the nutrient-rich compost liquid to be collected at the drainage tap. You can always DIY or buy a commercially available one.

How to make Bokashi compost?

1. Collect kitchen waste and garden waste for compost-making. First chop the waste materials into small pieces and put them in the bucket. Apply a layer of Bokashi on top of the waste. Repeat the process if more waste is added to the bucket until it is full.
2. When the materials ferment inside the bucket, anaerobic decomposition slowly takes place. Close the lid of the bucket tightly to avoid leakage of the unpleasant smell. Liquid can be collected regularly and diluted for application as fertilizer. In Bokashi composting, organic matter is not fully decomposed inside the bucket. The semi-decomposed product has to be buried in soil for soil microbes to act to complete the decomposition process. You may plant into the Bokashi enriched soil 2-4 weeks after it has been buried.
3. You may mix Bokashi with garden waste and bury the mixture in soil immediately afterwards.

Note: Bokashi contains active microorganisms effective for one year only. Please use it as soon as possible.

Bokashi is currently on sale at the Farm Shop. A 2kg package sells for HK$50, while 1kg sells for HK$30.