If you are a practicing “composter” but would like to speed up your composting results or output, the Bokashi Kitchen Composter is your answer. The Bokashi Composting System is a kitchen starter kit for recycling your household waste or food scraps. It uses a natural process called fermentation but the type of fermentation that is anaerobic. Fermentation? Yes, it basically “pickles” your food scraps! The system contains your bin, which houses your food waste, and the Bokashi.
What is Bokashi? It’s actually a wheat bran that also contains microbes, the little guys that do the fermenting, along with molasses. Is it safe? Absolutely! It’s all natural and through the fermenting process, the microbes deter the growth of any harmful organisms.
What Makes the Bokashi Composting System Unique?
Besides speeding up your composting efforts through fermentation or pickling by using the All Seasons Bokashi, the Bokashi Composting System or bin incorporates two unique product features:
The Strainer: The strainer allows for the draining of moisture that is produced or released through your food waste and this prevents the spoiling of your compost
The Spigot: The spigot also allows for draining of liquid. This powerful liquid can then be used as a great fertilizer for your indoor plants at a diluted ration.
Advantages of a Bokashi Compost Bin:
The main is advantage is that of “time”. It actually takes half of the time to create a batch of compost using Bokashi than it does through normal composting. Another advantage is it creates your compost without the smell! Another advantage is for those folks who live the urban lifestyle and want to still compost from areas like your apartment or balcony! Really, you can use the Bokashi Compost Bin in any indoor environment, from schools to restaurants to places of work.
Bokashi is even popular for using as a compost accelerator on a large or industrial scale as demonstrated here in The Great Falls Community Food Bank recycling program:
The Great Falls Community Food Bank recycles food waste to produce a rich organic compost to help with the revitalization of local soil. Since starting their food waste recycling program in 2010, the Great Falls Community Food Bank now recycles 24 tons of food waste annually by composting. By recycling the food waste, the Food Bank is able to save roughly $2-3,000 per year in solid waste disposal costs. In the past 6 months, Food Share, a Helena, Mt. food bank has also begun composting their food waste.This entire program was started with very little capital start-up money through the efforts of Mike Dalton and his team at Gardens From Garbage. Food banks receive quite a bit of produce from surrounding farms and grocers selling or donating what they can. However, not all of the produce makes it to the plate. What is left over is waste that can be turned into a valuable organic soil amendment (compost soil). This type of system helps complete a full recycling loop.
The Great Falls Community Food Bank supplies foods to 50 member agencies with a mission to feed the hungry in their own community. Gardens From Garbage has helped the Food Bank recycle their food wastes into a soil builder through a fermentation process using a material called EM Bokashi, a fermented organic material that is made with EM?1® Microbial Inoculant purchased from TeraGanix, Inc.
Boakshi Indoor Composter Demo Video:
Bokashi Kitchen Composter Customer Reviews:
The Bokashi Kitchen Composter System has only received 4 customer reviews for this particular system and color (black). Two of the customer reviews gave it a 5-Star Rating, which is the highest rating available. Two customers gave it a 1-Star Rating due to the fact that both customers received their product or system and it did not contain a lid. It sounds like there was a packing issue, but there was no follow up to their review stating that the company sent a replacement lid! The manufacturer of this particular system is SCD Probiotics. They are large well know company who produces a large line of probiotic products and who also have a great reputation. With the 4 customer reviews being 2 with a 5-star rating and 2 with a 1-star rating, this give the average rating of 3 Stars!
The Bokashi Composting System by SCD Probiotics also comes in a tan version. The tan version of the system has 5 customer reviews, with 3 of the reviews being a 5-Star, 1 being a 4-Star, and 1 being a 1-star. This gives this particular model and color an average rating of 4 Stars.
Does exactly what I wanted it to. I was dubious that it could compost after just 2 weeks in the ground… but after checking it was surprisingly broken down. The “tea” seems to do wonders with the vegetable garden… we have used no fertilizer and everything has grown wonderfully quick. No smell when the lid is closed, but there is a bit of a learning curve to get it not to smell even when open. Once you get the hang of it, it is quite easy and fun!This is my first attempt at composting and it has been pleasant so far. I find the instructions to be clear and easy to understand. There are notes that help a novice to understand what is happening and how to do some basic troubleshooting if the process doesn’t appear to be working. I do not generate very much material that can be composted, so I only open the container about every 3 days to avoid putting too much stress on the plastic parts. The lid is a malleable plastic which seals tightly and keeps the odors inside. The valve on the bottom is also effective at draining the compost “tea” without leaking when it is closed. I am slightly concerned that the lid and the valve will not work as well over time. I generally tilt the bin when draining the liquid to try to get it all out as it can be difficult to get the flow going. I believe that there may still be some left when I am finished. I use a jar to collect a reasonable amount of compost material before adding it to the bin and also for draining the liquid. It is a very simple system and does not require other tools except for a shovel or trowel. An old wooden kitchen spoon works just fine. It is also recommended that a piece of plastic be kept on top of the accumulating compost to eliminate contact with air. That is not supplied, but an appropriately sized plastic bag seems to work just fine. The Bokashi blend is effective at controlling odors and seems to speed up the decomposition process. One bag is supplied with the initial purchase, and I have found that it is also available at Wal-Mart. It could easily last for 2 bins depending on the size of the compost layers and the amount used. I am quite satisfied with this product at this point.
I was very excited to get this today. But when I opened the box there was no lid for the bin. So now I wait for the replacement. I will try to update this when I get everything.
If you want to take advantage of the many benefits of composting at an accelerated speed, the Bokashi Kitchen Composter coupled with Bokashi is a simple and easy-to-use system that will get you fast results. We have searched the internet and have found the best price for the composter at Amazon! They just have extreme buying power and most often have the best prices. Click Here to see the Bokashi Composting System at Amazon, which is now offered at an 8% savings at the time of this writing. Amazon is also currently offering their “this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping” and this composter is “in-stock” at the moment!
February 26, 2012 at 10:38 pm
This is very interesting, have a composter that can be kept in the house and it is accelerated buy the Bokashi. And the fact that it doesn’t smell is great. I have always thought that composting takes way to much time and you have that rotting smell for way to long as well. With this system it sounds like that is not the case. How much time does this way save you?
February 28, 2012 at 9:24 pm
The Bokashi is a compost “accelerator”, so your food waste and scraps are “pickled” and it saves you about half the time that regular composting takes. You can bury your pickled scraps and let the natural decomposition process continue to work. The pickled food waste is actually completely broken down in about 2 weeks…REALLY!
February 26, 2012 at 10:38 pm
I am also contemplating about investing in an Bokashi Composter. Do you have any idea if it comes with any type of e-book or manual on how to utilize it and exactly what variety of substances to add to it? We really would like to speed up my composting endeavours and I’m just undertaking the typical compost pile right at this point and not necessarily making use of any sort of container. I would like to be able to likewise make use of the compost tea on my household greenery.
February 28, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Yes, the Bokashi Kitchen Composter “Kit” does come with directions for use and what type of ingredients you should add and at what rate! It will speed up your composting efforts as compared to the composting pile that you are currently working with.
February 27, 2012 at 6:39 am
Many thanks for the review article about the Bokashi Kitchen Composter system. I’m considering getting one and so I seen in your current evaluation that you just showcase photos of the black model. Do you know what exactly is the difference between that one and the one particular located at Amazon . com that is tan? Is it just the color?
February 28, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Barbara, there is no difference in the “kit” for the Bokashi Kitchen Composter System. It comes in 2 colors, a black color and a light tan color. The kit is a “starter” kit and includes the Bokashi as well as the “container” which features the spigot for the drainage of compost tea or liquid.
February 29, 2012 at 6:37 am
The Bokashi Composter seems to be really amazing and I am thinking of getting this system to speed up my composting efforts. Just where have you determined the top pricing for it…over at Amazon? Thanks for the video as well. I like the part that shows what to “add” to your Bokashi system as far as ingredients goes.
March 13, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Dorothy, yes, we have found that Amazon has a great price for the Bokashi Kitchen Composter. You’re welcome for the video…the Bokashi system is really easy to use.
March 1, 2012 at 11:17 am
Thanks for providing the video presentation. It was interesting to learn about the process of creating nutrient rich soil. I know a person who is in the business of selling high end exotic plants. He grows them on his vast rural property. I would consider buying this product in order to possibly start selling him the compost or soil if I could learn how long the actual process takes from start till it becomes rich soil.
March 2, 2012 at 7:25 pm
This looks easy enough but I just don’t think I want one indoors. I am leaning more towards the aerobin 400 for my purposes. I am going to need a lot of compost to get my yard nutrient rich enough for grass to even grow. Once you mix it in to the soil how long should you wait before planting grass or anything else for that matter?
March 16, 2012 at 1:14 am
Martin, the Aerobin 400 is great for outdoor composting if you prefer not to do your composting indoors with a system like the Bokashi Kitchen Composter. The 2 systems are different as the Bokashi is “anaerobic” composting through fermentation and the Aerobin is “aerobic” composting!Just make sure that you let the decomposition process complete fully using the Aerobin compost. If it is a completely decomposed batch of compost, you can mix it in your soil and immediately plant your grass.