Countertop Bokashi Compost

Jimin's Project

Preface

In the Summer of 2020, at my home in Seoul, Korea, I started my own Bokashi compost pile to aid my understanding of the general mechanism of 'composting', an area not of my expertise prior to the execution of this experiment. I managed to generate a countertop Bokashi compost in my apartment in just a matter of 2 weeks with only one purchased item at a cost of $5 , successfully discrediting the public's number-one excuse to not engage in composting --"We do not have space, time, nor money to accomplish such a laborious work." Frankly, I shared the similar view when it came to 'composting' despite feeling the importance of such environment-friendly effort. I hope my fellow 21st-century residents of the Earth face 'composting' with no fear but with enthusiasm and readiness after reading my progress journal.

Take 1

DAY 1 (07/01/2020)

Materials

1. Bokashi Bran (EM)

It is a mixed culture of naturally-occurring anaerobic microorganisms of more than 80 species in 10 genera, living under pH 3.5, consisting mainly of lactic acid bacteria, photosynthesizing bacteria, and yeasts. It is fermented with brans at low temperature for effective decomposition of food wastes.

2. Countertop Food Waste Caddy

inside:

Layer 1

Layer 2

It provides a solid anaerobic environment with an air-tight cap and an auxiliary layer for gathering liquid generated from food fermentation.

3. Bucket Insert

Non-wooden Fabric

Non-Wooden Fabric + Bubblewrap Complex

TOP:

Bottom:

Bubblewrap

It ensures the maintenance of an anaerobic environment inside the compost bin by preventing direct air flow to the pile of food waste.

5. Cloth

Placed on the bottom of the first layer(caddy), it provides an additional air barrier and precludes any solid materials from entering the collected fluid in the second layer.

Procedure

1. Place a piece of cloth on the bottom of the first layer (bucket) to prevent excess fluid getting accumulated in the second layer

2. Repeatedly place layers of EM powder on top of food waste

3. Create an anaerobic setting by pushing in the bubble wrap + non-wooden fabric covering

4. Fill up the remaining space with extra bubble wrap

5. Enclose the container with an airtight cap

6. Leave the container at a place where sunlight does not reach for 2 weeks

RESULT

2 Weeks Later

DAY 15 (07/16/2020)

Observations

On the top-surface of the compost pile, white mold covered the peripheries, while close contact between the center and the bucket insert curtailed the mold's area of reach and left the region bare.

In comparison, on the bottom of the compost caddy, white mold proliferated, giving off an appearance of raw cotton.

Amidst the slits located at the bottom of the first layer, decomposed food materials can be seen, of which the webs of surrounding white mold prevented their escape.

Result 1

Bokashi compost tea, the liquid produced from the compost caddy, barely had any moisture left and was rather coated with white mold.

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When the tea was diluted with water and fed to a plant, petals fell off and showed signs of withering, indicating the toxicity and a potential contamination of the fluid.

Video

Video 1

The pre-compost—incomplete decomposition of food waste —was buried in a plant pot with soil and when it was dug up after a 2-week period, all was decayed.

Conclusion

Anchor 2

1. The bucket insert seems unnecessary; it only impedes the growth of white mold and the air-tight cap of the caddy does enough work.

2. Bokashi tea is not well-brewed well, possibly due to lack of moisture of the food waste or the Bokashi bran itself, and the lack of fluid eliminated the need of cloth used as an absorbent waste filter.

3. Apart from the aforementioned issues, Bokashi composting was successfully conducted at an anaerobic setting of the caddy at a corner of my apartment in just 2 weeks, without me having to do any extra work after generating the compost pile.

Take 2

DAY 1 (07/20/2020)

Materials

1. Effective Microorganisms (EM)

2. Countertop Food Waste Collector

3. Onion Mesh Bag

Take 2

To replace the cloth, onion mesh bag was used to facilitate the flow of fluid to the second layer but to also obstruct that of solid food wastes.

4. Plastic Bags

Procedure

1. Place the onion mesh on the bottom of the first layer (bucket) to prevent excess fluid getting accumulated in the second layer

2. Repeatedly place layers of EM powder on top of food waste

WARNING

The pictures might disturb you, so skim through if you must.

Anchor 1

3. Create an anaerobic setting by pushing in the folded plastic bags lightly

4. Enclose the container with an airtight cap

5. Leave the container at a place where sunlight does not reach for 2 weeks

RESULT

2 WEEKS LATER

DAY 17 (08/05/2020)

Observations

The pattern of white mold formation on the top surface was akin to that of the first trial, despite the lighter bucket insert of two folded plastic bags. This may imply that absolute absence of a bucket insert may ensue a much prolific white mold production.

Result 2

Although the second compost pile was greater in magnitude and the waste filter was much less absorbent, the amount of Bokashi compost tea decreased, which suggests that the inherent moisture of bokashi brans I used was comparably negligible and if I used the Bokashi brans with liquid EM inoculants, much more successful tea may have been created.

Video

Video 2

Recording of the creation of my 2nd Bokashi Compost pile

Conclusion

1. The larger the food waste, greater was the production of white mold, which signifies the success of the compost pile.

2. The failure to produce bokashi compost tea was the lack of moisture within the compost pile and the bokashi bran, which may be solved with the addition of EM inoculant.

3. For smaller-scale, countertop composting, a bucket insert may not be in need, if the compost bin is air-tight.

4. The general outcome of the second trial was highly similar to that of the first trial and both achieved the purpose of successful composting.