Bokashi For Students-Guest Post

Bokashi For Students

Composting is an increasingly popular habit that helps individuals, the environment and even the economy. For busy students in graduate programs online, who are often living in small housing like apartments or dorms; many methods of composting are unfortunately impractical due to space and time constraints. Bokashi offers a quick and convenient composting solution for students with little time and space.

Bokashi is the Japanese word for fermented organic waste. The microorganisms found in Bokashi break organic matter down quickly, compactly and in an odor-free way. Although it is referred to as composting, what is really happening is the microorganisms are fermenting the food waste in a Bokashi bin. Bokashi is a mixture that is added to food scraps. The mixture contains one of several different types of carriers such as bran, rice hulls or sawdust along with the effective microorganisms (commonly referred to as EM). The Bokashi mixture aids in the fast fermentation of the food scraps and helps significantly speeds up the process of composting, which will really help make the process faster for students.

Because composting is so beneficial to the environment, using a system like Bokashi is a great solution for students or others who need a compact and easy way to dispose of kitchen scraps in an environmentally friendly way. Here are some of the reasons Bokashi is ideal for busy students who wish to compost:

Location and Space

Those who use traditional composting techniques must carefully consider location when starting a compost pile. An article from The University of Illinois outlines some helpful tips for homeowners who would like to begin composting. The article suggests choosing a location with good drainage and avoiding too much direct sunlight or wind. Bokashi composting, however, can be done anywhere. Students can use any bucket or purchase a specially designed Bokashi bucket and place it almost anywhere.

Time

Turning the compost pile, watering and even monitoring temperature are all common suggestions for those trying to succeed at composting. For busy students, Bokashi is ideal because none of this is required. Kitchen scraps are added to the bucket, followed by a sprinkling of Bokashi. The only additional step is to drain the liquid from the bucket every few days. The liquid can them be diluted and added to plants. The simple process is repeated until the bucket is full at which point students can use their compost to grow their own apartment garden or donate it to someone else with space to garden. Materials can take months to break down into compost using other mehods, making Bokashi the quick alternative.

Money

Students will find that Bokashi composting is cost effective in a number of ways. The only equipment required is a bucket and Bokashi; no other special tools are required. Students can dispose of many types of kitchen scraps and create high quality compost quickly and easily. Students who would like to grow a small garden can even use their Bokashi to fertilize a small patio garden.

Students can choose to use any large bucket or make an initial investment and purchase a convenient Bokashi bucket. Students have two options when it comes to obtaining Bokashi to add to their food scraps. The least time consuming method is to buy pre-mixed Bokashi and simply sprinkle it on the layers of food scraps. This will require regularly purchasing bags of Bokashi, or you can mix your own. There are step by step processes for making Bokashi to mix with your food scraps. In this case the carrier Wheat Bran is mixed with warm water, molasses and EM (the microorganisms). A number of variations can be used like using sawdust or rice hulls as a filler. The requirement is that a carrier be mixed with the composting microorganisms to be effective.

Making an Impact

Students interested in reducing waste and helping the environment will find that Bokashi is the ideal way for them to do so. The Bokashi process allows users to compost almost any kitchen scraps, including meat and dairy that cannot be used in regular composting. Students will feel good knowing they are producing less waste and reducing pollution by using the Bokashi fermenting method to dispose of food waste.

Pest Free

Bokashi composting is odor free and contained in a small container; therefore it does not attract rodents and other undesirable pests the way regular composting can. For students who often rent or live in dormitories this is important.

With the many personal and larger environmental benefits that can be realized through composting; it is appealing to many people, including students. Unfortunately many students are not aware of this simple and versatile way to compost kitchen scraps and believe that composting is not practical for typical college living situations. Bokashi makes composting possible for people like students who would not otherwise be able to participate.

Anthony recently completed his graduate education in English Literature. A New Mexico native, he currently resides and writes in Seattle, Washington. He writes primarily about education, travel, literature, and American culture. garciaanthony39@gmail.com

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