Large scale Bokashi Composting at 1 hectare CSA garden (Cursus Agro-Ecologie in de Praktijk)
Channel: Solidarity Payment, CSA and agroecology
Date: 2019-05-16

Onderdeel van https://www.agro-ecologie.nu/cursus/
Cursus Agro-Ecologie in de Praktijk door Elske Hageraats

Bokashi is Japanese for "Letting it be". And that's exactly the big advantage: this special type of compost heap doesn't need to be turned all the time to get the oxygen in, because it is an 'anaerobic' (no oxygen) compost heap. 

1. Collect weeds on a pile
2. Spread seashell-powder and clay minerals ('bentonite') over it. Seashell powder contains calcium which optimizes the pH. Bentonite has an enormous surface area (800m2 per gram!) so it binds many ions (e.g. K, Ca, Mg, Na, NH4) and trace elements, and releases them again in the soil when needed (a high CEC).
3. Put the (fresh!) weeds on the bokashi heap. Make sure to stack it vertically and high as possible, so the weight pushes out the oxygen.
4. add a lot of water (not shown in video)
5. add more seashell powder and clay minerals
5. add the Bokashi mixture (e.g. 'Microferm') https://www.emnatuurlijkactief.nl/microferm/
(we use around 200 mL in a watering can full of water and then apply it to the heap)
6. cover it with a layer of plastic + an extra layer for protection

Depending on the temperature, after some months you will get a beautiful bokashi compost, which you can then put on the land again as an organic way of feeding the soil life, and thereby your plants. The anaerobic bacteria, fungi etc. in the pile, will also die when put on the land (aerobic) and serve as food for the soil life.

Weeds and weed seeds will die because of the fermentation. Only the outer layer might still contain some weeds. Bokashi compost heaps don't get so hot as a normal compost pile, and so you don't lose so much carbon! 

TIP: we also use bokashi (microferm) for our compost toilet!

Want to learn more about agroecology in practice? Check 
https://www.agro-ecologie.nu/cursus/

(C) Elske Hageraats. This video can be used for free in a course or presentation, but only with written permission by the maker. Please contact us via agro-ecologie.nu