Is Bokashi The Answer To Our Landfill Problem?Bokashi is not a word that you are likely to be familiar with unless you keep up with some of the better composting or organic gardening blogs. While it has become fairly well known in Japan where it originated over forty years ago, the majority of people have never even heard the word. A word that everyone has heard of however, is landfill.It is no great secret that we are literally choking on the wastes that are continually being dumped into our landfills. Experts tell us that some seventy five percent or more of the waste that ends up at the landfills is organic in nature. Organic waste is largely comprised of food wastes, paper, cardboard, grass clippings and landscaping debris. It does not include man made materials such as glass, steel or plastics. Once at the landfill these wastes begin putrefy and slowly rot. Then they release greenhouse gasses, namely methane which is very destructive to our environment. Landfills not only stink but they attract scavengers like rats and gulls that spread disease. They also pose risk hazards our groundwater systems. Many of us want to do the right thing for our environment but feel powerless to make a change. All that could be eliminated however if we used Bokashi to dispose of the organic waste from our household rather than putting it out to the curb every week. Think about it. It would not take a government program and billions in funding. It would not take months of political hyperbole and pointing fingers. All it would take is some personal initiative and a decision to do the right thing. Think about all that fermented organic matter being put back into the soil where it came from. Can you imagine how our gardens and lawns would flourish? Those in apartments would quickly find community gardens, parks and farmers who would gladly pick it up to help build their soil fertility. This not only would eliminate millions of tons of green house gasses being produced every year, but it would also absorb millions of tons of atmospheric carbon and increase our soil fertility unlike anything else in the history of mankind. So how do we get there? One household at a time, beginning with you! Starting a Bokashi bucket is very inexpensive and it can be as simple as a recycled plastic pail with a lid or you can get more fancy and stylish with a bucket with a drain at the bottom. Both are equally effective, it is only a matter of personal taste or budget.
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Boakshi For Your Garden
After two weeks of fermentation your organic waste will be ready to bury in your garden. As a visual indicator, should be able to see white fungus growing in you pail.
After being buried for two weeks the pH level will have balanced nicely and you will be ready to plant.
All the nutrients, minerals and trace elements from your organic waste will now be available to nourish your garden.
Bokashi Bran is available from Teraganix. You can buy it pre-made or order a bottle of EM-1 and learn to make it yourself
