Bokashi FAIL: This Composting System Isn't for Me | Grow Your Ingredients

Come with me as I take a deep(-ish) dive into my personal experience with Bokashi composting and why I've ultimately decided it's not the right fit for me. This assumes you already know how Bokashi composting works, and I just speak to both its hype and the challenges I've faced. From dealing with overly acidic waste to the impracticalities of digging trenches for no-dig gardening, I'll share my candid thoughts and experiences. Whether you're a beginner gardener or an experienced compost enthusiast, this video offers valuable alternative insights to help you decide if Bokashi is right for you.
One of the key issues I encountered was the misleading claims of fertilizer and useful compost. MY PLANTS HATED BOKASHI. Both garden plants and houseplants, including my terrariums. of the Bokashi system. Despite its promise of quick and useable composting, I found it to provide the exact opposite. Also now that we've relocated to more space (making traditional composting an option) I'm going to opt for less soil disruption with an in ground no dig garden instead of "dig a trench" Bokashi. Hope this helped.
Join me as I unpack the reasons behind my decision to move away from Bokashi composting. If you've ever wondered about the practicalities of this system or are considering it for your own garden, this video is a must-watch. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of Bokashi composting and why I believe there are more effective, eco-friendly alternatives out there. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more gardening insights and tips on how to grow your ingredients right at home!
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[@HollenbergR]

When i first started my bokashi system it worked well for getting rid of food waste when i lived upstairs in a shared home and didn't want to go downstairs and it, especially during Midwestern winters, to compost traditionally.
I brought my 2 bins with me when i moved to a house in Idaho, and for some reason was expecting that after having sat dormant for over 6 months, they might resemble humusy soil somehow, but that can't be more wrong. Like you said in the video, bokashi just ferments scraps, not decomposes them. They were yucky still, and not very useful for much. I just put then into my regular hot compost pile then.

[@mindfulcountryliving]

Thank you for watching, and sharing your Bokashi experience! It helps to know that even after 6 months of fermenting the solids don't break down as much as you'd expect. It sounds like we both came to the same conclusion. So, if I may... I’m curious, about what you "love & less than love" about your current traditional composting system?
Are there any aspects you would change or improve? I’m planning to build my own traditional composting setup soon and so appreciate any tips or insights you might have! Even if it's just encouragement 😊.

[@TheHappySensitive]

I now put the bokashi in my worm bins to break it down. The bokashi "juice" does really help nourish plants but with all things bokashi, anytime I walk with any of it through my home, the smell always lingers. If I had to start over I'd just do worm bins. Using up the bokashi ferment stuff I have for now and then plan to donate / sell the bins.

[@mindfulcountryliving]

Oh boy, you're so right. That pickled smell does really hang around! I'm glad that you got some use from the Bokashi juice, I experienced droopy plants. My terrariums were super "Weekend at Bernie's " after I watered the diluted liquid in. They were weak & floppy. I had to pull some plants out unfortunately.
So, do your worms seem to like the Bokashi solids? It's not too acidic for them? 🪱🪱🪱

[@TheHappySensitive]

@@mindfulcountryliving ​I don't use 100% bokashi for the worms, I mix in maybe 20%. As for the juice, I only used it for very "hungry" plants last year, zucchini and cucumbers mainly, when they were setting fruit. I killed a bunch of seedlings last year from overfertilizing with something else so now I only use strong stuff of any kind on big hungry plants.

[@mindfulcountryliving]

@@TheHappySensitive This is such good info. Thanks a lot for sharing! I have def killed plants overfertilizing too, I got a bit too excited and tried a bunch of new things at once. Strong liquid fert, a new potting mix, and I also mixed slow release fert into the new potting mix.... bush league (rookie mistake).

[@tracywoodson496]

You should try growing comfrey.

[@mindfulcountryliving]

That's an interesting suggestion! Why do you like growing it? How do you use it? I have tons of space, and I think it would fit right into my gardening plans, but I honestly don't know what I'd use it for. I don't know anything about comfrey, care to share your knowledge?