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  • Bokashi composting in the winter

    Traditional compost piles tend to be less active during the winter as the core temperatures drop. Bokashi composting offers a great solution for composting your food scraps during these colder months (and in colder climates). You can continue to compost all of your food scraps in your bokashi kitchen composter through the winter.

    Tips for using your bokashi bucket in the winter

    You can continue to use your indoor bokashi kitchen composter in the same way as during?the rest of the year. Keep adding your food scraps and sprinkling on the bokashi bran. There are just a few simple things to consider when bokashi composting in the winter:

    1. If you normally keep your bokashi bucket?outside, move it to somewhere where temperatures will not drop below freezing. Your bokashi bucket should be kept at around room temperature whilst it is being filled and during the fermentation process ?Keeping you bokashi bucket?inside is often most convenient as it is close to where food waste is produced.
    2. Store your bokashi compost accelerator (bokashi bran) in a place where temperatures will not fall below freezing. Freezing may kill the EM bacteria and therefore make your bokashi bran?ineffective.
    3. If possible, leave your bokashi kitchen composter for an extra few days to complete the fermentation process, rather than just the two weeks usually suggested. The pre-compost may take slightly longer to break down after being buried during the winter. So?make sure the fermentation process has had plenty of time before transferring the pre-compost outside.

    What to do with your pre-compost in the winter

    Snow may cover your garden during some (or all) of the winter and your soil may be too frozen to dig into. But don’t worry, there are still a number of ways in which you can add the bokashi pre-compost to your garden. Read more.

Comments (4 )

  • admin / 2019-01-15 05:37:19

    Hi Jess, The bokashi microbes do best at temperatures within a few degrees of room temperature. The greenhouse will likely be hotter than the optimal conditions for bokashi to succeed.

  • Jess / 2018-02-15 00:19:33

    Hi Can I keep my bokashi bucket in a greenhouse that reaches high temperatures? Thanks J

  • admin / 2017-11-22 21:40:47

    Hi Marko, I just replied to your email too, but in case you didn't see it I just posted your question (and answer) here: http://bokashiliving.com/question/winter-transport-concern/ Happy composting :)

  • Marko / 2017-11-22 13:48:56

    So, I'm interested in buying the Bokashi Starter Kit. I live in an area that is currently seeing temperatures drop below freezing. I'm concerned that transport and delivery of the EM bacteria would end up killing them along the way before they can get inside my nice warm home. Would you recommend waiting until the spring to place my order? Where do you ship from? Does your transportation ensure care for this temperature constraint?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I put my Bokashi Bucket?

Place your Bokashi Bucket where it is easy for you to use but out of direct sunlight and away from any heaters. Inside your kitchen, garage, laundry room or basement are great places to keep it.

What do I do if my Bokashi Bucket smells bad?

When done correctly you?re Bokashi Bucket shouldn?t smell. Foul odors come when you don?t?add enough Bokashi Activator, add too much scraps at a time, air gets into the bucket, or you?re not draining your bucket. Address these issues to fix a stinky bucket.

When should I drain my Bokashi Bucket?

It?s good practice to drain your Bokashi Bucket or at least check it for liquids every 2-3 days.

Where should I bury my Bokashi Bucket?

Alongside your garden bed, around trees or in an area where you plan to plant are garden are great places to bury your fermented food scraps. Anywhere in your yard is fine too. ?We like to bury ours in a plastic storage bin with some soil or compost. In about 4 weeks, it’s ready for planting!