(This article was written by Angela Mason Foster, Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer)

Gardeners know that healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. One of the best ways to improve soil fertility is composting, but traditional composting can be time-consuming, require space, and demand careful balancing of materials. If you’re looking for a quicker, more efficient way to recycle food scraps and enrich your soil, bokashi composting might be the solution.

This innovative method, originally developed in Japan, offers a simple, odor-free way to compost nearly all kitchen waste—including meat and dairy—right in your home. Whether you have a large backyard or a small apartment, bokashi composting is an easy way to turn food waste into valuable organic material for your garden.

What Is Bokashi Composting?

Bokashi composting is an anaerobic (oxygen-free) fermentation process that breaks down food waste quickly using beneficial microorganisms. Unlike traditional composting, which relies on aerobic decomposition and requires a careful mix of “greens” (nitrogen-rich materials) and “browns” (carbon-rich materials), bokashi relies on fermentation. The result is a faster, low-maintenance process that reduces food waste and enriches garden soil with nutrients and beneficial microbes.

Bokashi composting is particularly popular among urban gardeners and those who don’t have the space or time for a traditional compost bin. It can be done indoors, year-round, and produces nutrient-dense compost much faster than conventional methods.

How Does Bokashi Composting Work?

To start bokashi composting, you need a special container, called a bokashi bin, and a microbial inoculant known as bokashi bran. The bran is a mix of wheat bran or rice hulls infused with beneficial microorganisms, including lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and phototrophic bacteria. These microbes ferment the food waste rather than allowing it to rot.

Here’s how the process works:

1. Collect Your Food Scraps
   Unlike traditional composting, bokashi allows you to compost almost all types of food waste, including fruit and vegetable scraps, cooked food, dairy, meat, and even small bones.
2. Layer with Bokashi Bran
   Every time you add food waste to the bin, sprinkle a handful of bokashi bran on top. This introduces the beneficial microbes that will ferment the material.
3. Press Down and Seal the Lid
   Compact the food waste slightly to remove excess air, then tightly seal the bin. Since bokashi is an anaerobic process, keeping air out is essential.
4. Drain Liquid Regularly
   As the food ferments, it releases a nutrient-rich liquid known as bokashi tea. This should be drained every few days to prevent unpleasant odors. Bokashi tea can be diluted and used as a powerful natural fertilizer for plants.
5. Let It Ferment for Two Weeks
   Once the bin is full, allow the contents to ferment for about two weeks. The food waste won’t decompose completely but will develop a pickled smell, indicating successful fermentation.
6. Bury in Soil or Add to Compost
   After fermentation, bury the material in a garden bed or mix it into a traditional compost pile. Within a few weeks, it will fully break down, enriching the soil with nutrients and beneficial microbes.

Benefits of Bokashi Composting

Bokashi composting offers several advantages over traditional composting methods:

1. Faster Composting

Since bokashi begins breaking down food waste immediately through fermentation, it is much quicker than traditional composting. Once buried, the material fully decomposes within two to four weeks.

2. Less Odor and No Pests

Because the process is sealed and anaerobic, it doesn’t produce the strong odors associated with rotting food. The fermentation process also deters pests like rodents and flies, making it an excellent choice for urban composting.

3. Works in Small Spaces

Bokashi bins are compact and can be stored indoors, making them ideal for people with limited outdoor space or those who want to compost year-round without dealing with a large compost pile.

4. Handles All Food Scraps

Traditional composting methods often discourage adding meat, dairy, and oily foods because they attract pests and decompose slowly. Bokashi composting, however, can process all these materials efficiently.

5. Produces Beneficial Microorganisms

The microbes in bokashi compost enrich the soil, improving its structure and helping suppress plant diseases. These microbes enhance nutrient availability for plants, leading to healthier growth.

6. Creates a Powerful Liquid Fertilizer

The bokashi tea that drains from the bin is packed with nutrients. When diluted with water, it can be used as an excellent liquid fertilizer for garden plants.

How to Use Bokashi Compost in Your Garden

Once the bokashi process is complete, the pre-compost material can be incorporated into your garden in several ways:

• Bury it in garden beds – Dig a trench, pour in the fermented waste, and cover it with soil. Within a few weeks, it will fully break down and improve soil health.
• Add it to a traditional compost pile – If you have an existing compost pile, mixing bokashi pre-compost can accelerate the decomposition process.
• Use it for container gardening – Those with limited space can bury bokashi compost in large pots or raised beds to create nutrient-rich soil for vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

Tips for Successful Bokashi Composting

To get the most out of your bokashi composting system, keep these tips in mind:

• Chop large food scraps into smaller pieces to speed up fermentation.
• Keep your bin sealed tightly to maintain an anaerobic environment.
• Drain bokashi tea regularly and use it as a fertilizer to prevent liquid buildup.
• Use enough bokashi bran – If the waste starts to smell foul instead of pickled, add more bokashi bran to balance the process.
• Bury the compost deep enough – If you’re adding bokashi compost to your garden, make sure to bury it at least 8 inches deep to avoid attracting animals.

Suggested Reading List

For those who want to learn more about bokashi composting, soil health, and organic gardening, here are some excellent books to explore:

1. “Bokashi Composting: Scraps to Soil in Weeks” – Adam Footer
   A practical guide to bokashi composting, covering everything from the science behind the process to step-by-step instructions on using it effectively.
2. “Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web” – Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis
   A fascinating look at how microorganisms in the soil help plants thrive, with insights into how bokashi composting fits into a healthy garden ecosystem.
3. “The Complete Compost Gardening Guide” – Barbara Pleasant & Deborah L. Martin
   Covers various composting techniques, including bokashi, and explains how to create compost that enhances soil fertility and plant health.
4. “Building Soil: A Down-to-Earth Approach” – Elizabeth Murphy
   An accessible book that explains how to improve soil health naturally, with practical advice on composting, including bokashi.
5. “The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments” – Nigel Palmer
   A deep dive into creating homemade fertilizers and compost amendments, including fermented methods similar to bokashi.

Conclusion

Bokashi composting is an excellent option for gardeners looking for a faster, more space-efficient way to recycle food waste. Whether you have a large backyard or a small urban garden, this method helps build rich, healthy soil while reducing kitchen waste. It’s easy, odor-free, and produces a valuable liquid fertilizer in the process.

If you’re ready to take your composting to the next level, give bokashi a try—you’ll be amazed at how quickly your food scraps turn into garden gold!

If you have questions about your home garden or landscape, reach out to Gene Fox, Consumer Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Email Gene at gene_fox@ncsu.edu or call (252) 946-0111. Master Gardeners are available on the Greenline Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to assist with your horticultural needs. Don’t forget to check out the Beaufort County Master Gardeners Facebook page for additional resources.