To begin with, Fiona says her two children weren’t too keen on the smell, but given some time, they have come to understand and appreciate the benefits of their Bokashi bin.
The Bokashi system consists of two stacked buckets (one with holes for liquid to drain from into the other) with a tight-fitting lid. In it goes the food scraps that produce a fermented material, which is then buried in the ground to allow for the composting process to finish.
“It’s great because the kids can get involved and being part of the trial has promoted loads of great conversations about decomposition, reducing food waste, doing our bit for the environment, what lives in the soil, and much more!
“The liquid that comes out of the Bokashi system is fairly potent. We have been diluting it and watering it on the plants.”
Fiona says the Bokashi system is really easy to use.
“We just sprinkle the Bokashi mix over the food scraps every other day, press it all down with an old potato masher and keep the lid on tight! After three weeks, we dig a hole in the back of the garden and chuck it in.”
What comes out of the bucket resembles a giant, colourfully-striped ice block, and the kids take turns burying the mound.