In article ,
Martin Brown wrote:

Some people object to the food that I am cooking for myself on the
grounds that it is too smelly! Bombay duck - lovely, let's have
a panful - and I had some wonderful small squid in Spain that had
been sun-dried (fermenting the while) and were then deep-fried :-)

If you like those have you tried "Nattou"? Japanese fermented soya
beans. Think of baked beans in Evo-stick smelling like your dustbin - it
tastes better than it smells but most people don't get that far.

No. I am unlikely to go back to Japan again in the near future,
but will see if I can get some to try. They sound just like my sort
of thing :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Amber Ormerod" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Amber Ormerod" wrote in message
...
Has anyone come across Bokashi which is suposedly very good for food
waste
and limits smells. And its suposed to be quick.

My impression is that it is simply a method of digging in half
decomposed material and allowing the rotting process to continue
underground.

I did find a site about it http://www.livingsoil.co.uk/ but then
real
peoples experiences tend to be more useful I find.


Maybe I will give the worms more chance.
Thanks again for the advice.


Coincidence?
There's a write up about on Bokashi composting on RHS' may "The Garden."
(and a lot of stuff about naturalised planting too (-
they mention The Coach House Trust (Glasgow)
Maybe they can help.

Patrick

"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
In message , Nick Maclaren
writes
In article ,
Rodger Whitlock wrote:
On Thu, 6 May 2004 10:41:03 +0100, Amber Ormerod wrote:

Has anyone come across Bokashi which is suposedly very good for food
waste
and limits smells. And its suposed to be quick.

I did find a site about it http://www.livingsoil.co.uk/ but then real
peoples experiences tend to be more useful I find.

A caution: it's all very well to think "ooooh, a Japanese
non-smelly composting method", but don't forget that climate
plays a role -- and the hot, wet, near-tropical Japanese summer
is a far cry from cloudy England. To say nothing of the question,
what kind of food wastes are being composted?

In Japan kitchen waste will be mostly rice. Virtually no fat and a tiny
amount of meat. Nothing at all like a UK diet.

Some people object to the food that I am cooking for myself on the
grounds that it is too smelly! Bombay duck - lovely, let's have
a panful - and I had some wonderful small squid in Spain that had
been sun-dried (fermenting the while) and were then deep-fried :-)

If you like those have you tried "Nattou"? Japanese fermented soya
beans. Think of baked beans in Evo-stick smelling like your dustbin - it
tastes better than it smells but most people don't get that far.


I have heard of natto its suposed ot be good to help stop strokes but tastes
rather like some of the smellyer cheeses. I asked a Japanese lady once if
she knew of them and she turned her nose up and saidyes, but people from her
area never ate them. They look very grim!

"tuin man" wrote in message
...

"Amber Ormerod" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Amber Ormerod" wrote in message
...
Has anyone come across Bokashi which is suposedly very good for food
waste
and limits smells. And its suposed to be quick.

My impression is that it is simply a method of digging in half
decomposed material and allowing the rotting process to continue
underground.

I did find a site about it http://www.livingsoil.co.uk/ but then
real
peoples experiences tend to be more useful I find.


Maybe I will give the worms more chance.
Thanks again for the advice.


Coincidence?
There's a write up about on Bokashi composting on RHS' may "The Garden."
(and a lot of stuff about naturalised planting too (-
they mention The Coach House Trust (Glasgow)
Maybe they can help.



Thats where I heard about it and hence why I asked (starting this thread). I
thought if it was in the RHS mag/ on trial it might be ok.

In article , Martin Brown
writes
In message , Kay Easton
writes
In article , Amber Ormerod
writes


This is the problem. I don't have the physical strength to turn compost.

You don't need to.

Though it does help get a more even composting action. The top surface
left for a week otherwise ends up too dry and doesn't rot.

Oh yes, I'm not denying that it helps. But you can compost without, as
I do, and apart from the thatch on top you get good compost - I'd hate
people to feel depressed about their composting prospects if for any
reason they can't turn it regularly.

I think the issue it really when you add small amounts of grass at a
time - then it goes anaerobic, smelly, all horrible and slimy..

That's a good point. You mean in small amounts there isn't enough bulk
to generate the really high temperatures, so you get layers of slime if
the grass is too thick, but in huge quantities enough heat is generated
to break it down nicely? That would explain why some urglers report as
you do that they have no problem with grass clippings whereas I and some
others find ourselves with inch thick compressed grass slime.


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

On 5/7/04 9:40 AM, in article , "Franz
Heymann" wrote:


"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 May 2004 10:41:03 +0100, Amber Ormerod wrote:

Has anyone come across Bokashi which is suposedly very good for
food waste
and limits smells. And its suposed to be quick.

I did find a site about it http://www.livingsoil.co.uk/ but then
real
peoples experiences tend to be more useful I find.

A caution: it's all very well to think "ooooh, a Japanese
non-smelly composting method", but don't forget that climate
plays a role -- and the hot, wet, near-tropical Japanese summer
is a far cry from cloudy England. To say nothing of the question,
what kind of food wastes are being composted?

Also: I find that whenever some maven starts touting this or that
wonderful ethnic food, composting method, interior decoration
style, take your pick it turns out to be, if you will excuse the
expression, a crock of shit. Usually the hoopla over these things
proves to be nothing but a journalistic gimmick to sell more
magazines or books.

So go into this with your eyes open and your b.s. detectors set
to "highly sensitive".

I agree entirely with your whole post.

Franz
Gosh, Franz, at your age I'm surprised that you have no insight to
offer. Do you really believe in his whole post? The whole post? All of it?
"Entirely with your whole post" you agree....? Hummmm....I find that
interesting.
Gary
Fort Langley, BC
Canada

On Sun, 09 May 2004 10:01:45 GMT, gary davis wrote:

On 5/7/04 9:40 AM, in article , "Franz
Heymann" wrote:


"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in message
...
[opinion]
I agree entirely with your whole post.

Franz

Gosh, Franz, at your age I'm surprised that you have no insight to
offer. Do you really believe in his whole post? The whole post? All of it?
"Entirely with your whole post" you agree....? Hummmm....I find that
interesting.

It's a devious plot to take over the world, one urgler at a time.
Today he agrees with my post, tomorrow he sends me all his money.

Next!


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
[change "atlantic" to "pacific" and
"invalid" to "net" to reply by email]

In message , Kay Easton
writes
In article , Martin Brown
writes
In message , Kay Easton

I think the issue it really when you add small amounts of grass at a
time - then it goes anaerobic, smelly, all horrible and slimy..

That's a good point. You mean in small amounts there isn't enough bulk
to generate the really high temperatures, so you get layers of slime if
the grass is too thick, but in huge quantities enough heat is generated
to break it down nicely? That would explain why some urglers report as
you do that they have no problem with grass clippings whereas I and some
others find ourselves with inch thick compressed grass slime.

A couple of related points. A neighbour who has much more grass (~2
acres) also has problems with his grass not composting well - so there
may well be an ideal amount.

I also try to make sure that the grass put on the compost heap is nicely
fluffed up, not too dry (or wet) and not in any way compressed or
compacted. It slumps down naturally after a couple of days.

I had some large scrap cardboard boxes 6" deep so I tried one on top of
the heap and the top surface stayed moist and got hot too. This may be
an alternative for folk averse to turning the heap - to add a simple
cardboard box lid!

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

On 5/10/04 10:49 AM, in article , "Martin
Brown" wrote:

In message , Kay Easton
writes
In article , Martin Brown
writes
In message , Kay Easton

I think the issue it really when you add small amounts of grass at a
time - then it goes anaerobic, smelly, all horrible and slimy..

That's a good point. You mean in small amounts there isn't enough bulk
to generate the really high temperatures, so you get layers of slime if
the grass is too thick, but in huge quantities enough heat is generated
to break it down nicely? That would explain why some urglers report as
you do that they have no problem with grass clippings whereas I and some
others find ourselves with inch thick compressed grass slime.

A couple of related points. A neighbour who has much more grass (~2
acres) also has problems with his grass not composting well - so there
may well be an ideal amount.

I also try to make sure that the grass put on the compost heap is nicely
fluffed up, not too dry (or wet) and not in any way compressed or
compacted. It slumps down naturally after a couple of days.

I had some large scrap cardboard boxes 6" deep so I tried one on top of
the heap and the top surface stayed moist and got hot too. This may be
an alternative for folk averse to turning the heap - to add a simple
cardboard box lid!

Regards,
Composting, anything, has it's individual inherent problems. Too much
grass, too many leaves, too much of anything creates poor compost...or it
takes longer for the compost to do what we all want to have-nutrient rich
soil.
Too much grass, only grass, it will matt. Too many leaves will attract
worms if there is enough moisture there. But leaves take a long time to be
devoured by worms even if the leaves are cut up by a lawn mower.
I try to get a mix in my compost: some grass, some leaves, some soil,
and anything else I can lay my hands on. Chicken manure, horse manure etc.
will all help the process. My guess is that it adds nitrogen used in the
decomposition.
Urine on a compost pile? I, personally, feed the lawn first what the
lawn produces goes into the compost. (let the cool breezes blow! To heck
with coke...this is the pause that refreshes. My grass loves me... )
Gary
Fort Langley, BC
Canada

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