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bokashi - A Japanese composting method. (in May RHS mag)
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. I have a wormery for food waste but sometimes I have too much for that or lots of one thing like orange skins. I was thinking more of a dump it and it will be compost kinda way of doing it. The info on composting like that is very vague. It works. My heaps are about 1m x 1m x 1m. I add stuff to the top as it comes - stuff being veg waste, paper and carboard, grass mowings, weeds and anything else which seems rottable (like old cotton or woollen material). The only mixing I do is to try not to leave grass mowings more than 4 inches deep - if its deeper than that, at the earliest opportunity I bury something else in amongst them. Hmmm... I break all the rules on this one for grass cuttings and add about 2-3 cubic metres of grass clippings a week to mine. If I have woody stuff I want rid off I layer it, but if not I pile it high and let it go. Typically it reaches 70C internally after 3-4days and requires one gentle turning to put the outer bits into the moist centre. Smells slightly sweet stale like silage. Once hot it will destroy most woody and semi-woody stems pretty effectively. 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.. When I've finally used all the compost in one of the other heaps, I take the unrotted stuff from the top of the newest heap and put it in the base of the empty heap so as to start a new heap. The top is never as good as the bulk - too dry. I do the same. It also provides and innoculation of the right fungi and bacteria to start the new heap off well. It's probably slower this way, but the result is incredibly good compared with what went on to the heap, and improves the soil a lot if used as a mulch about 6 inches deep. Indeed. The problem sometimes is finding places to put it! Regards, -- Martin Brown |
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