The Making and Use of a Bokashi Compost Heap
Choose a combination
of organic materials that have either a high or low ratio of carbon and nitrogen,
e.g. wood and or grass. In order to increase the mircrobial diversity as much
as possible, it is recommended that at least three different materials are used.
The method for making a typical Bokashi compost is as follows:
1.
Organic material (kitchen/garden waste) 100 litres (volume)
2. EM-Active 200
ml (dilute with water - see below)
3. Dilute this EM-Active solution slightly
so that it can be mixed with the various fresh organic materials such as grass,
weeds, shredded cuttings etc.
4. Heap the material up in layers and press
down firmly so that as much oxygen as possible is released from the heap.
5.
Finally cover the heap with a plastic cover or piece of carpet.
6. Leave this
to ferment for at least six weeks before using the material as plant fertilizer.
NOTE: The final product is not composted but fermented. This means
the EM-Active will transform the heap into valuable fertilizer for ground and
plants. The end result will not look the same as traditional compost but it is
pre-fermented so that soil organisms can make optimal use of the material and
there is absolutely no wastage which occurs from a rotting process.
The
amount of water you use to dilute the EM-Active depends on the moistness of the
material used. The degree of moistness of the heap must not be higher than thirty
percent. You can check this as follows: press the materials with your hands into
a lump - the lump should remain whole and no moisture should leak from it.
Almost all organic materials are suitable for making Bokashi. If you are a keen gardener, there is nothing to stop you making your own at very little cost.
Usage:
0.5 kg Bokashi / m² 2.6.
Traditional Compost Heaps
Use of EM-Active as starter for traditional compost.
The traditional way of making compost from kitchen/garden waste can be advanced by applying EM-Active regularly to the compost heap or container. Use: 1-2 litres EM-Active / 1 m³ or 1000 litres