The Easy & Clean Way To Compost Your Food Waste.
The Bokashi Bucket Quick Start Guide READ THIS FIRST
(Don’t worry. There’s lots of pictures.)
THE BOKASHI BUCKET THE STRAINER
Separates liquids from solids. Place The Strainer at the bottom of your Bokashi Bucket.
THE SMASHER
Smash down your food scraps with The Smasher.
THE BUCKET
BOKASHI ACTIVATOR MIX
BOKASHI ACTIVATOR MIX
Compost activator. Up-cycled wheat bran, beneficial microbe blend, molasses and a few secret ingredients. Non-toxic and all natural.
* One bag treats 1-2 Bokashi Bucket cycles. Store in cool dark place.
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WHAT GOES INSIDE
The Bokashi BucketTM is designed to recycle almost 100% of your food scraps, with just a few limitations.
YES! • Fruits & Veggies • Rice, Bread, Pasta • Meats
(cooked or uncooked)
• Bones • Dairy • Coffee Grinds
The Bokashi BucketTM utilizes a new and innovative process called anaerobic (no oxygen) fermentation to break down organic waste. Instead of letting the food waste rot, we ferment or pickle it by layering it with the Bokashi Activator Mix. Fermentation is a way to rapidly break down all types of organic material, including meat and dairy to transform the food waste into nutrient rich compost.
WHAT DOESN’T GO INSIDE NO! • Grease • Liquid • Paper & Plastic • Yard Waste • Glass • Metal
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Congrats on making it here! Now, let’s get started. To start your Bokashi Bucket, first make sure the strainer is snapped into place at the bottom of your Bokashi Bucket. Next, sprinkle a handful (approx 2-3oz.) of Bokashi Activator Mix into the bucket. Spread evenly to cover the surface of the strainer.
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Bokashi composting is all about layering. Add a 2” layer of food scraps to your Bokashi Bucket. You can add scraps as you make them, but we reccomend collecting your daily food scraps (in a container or bag) and add all at once to the Bokashi Bucket. It’s good practice to break or cut up larger food pieces to help them break down faster, but not absolutely necessary. Just be sure not to add more than a 2” layer of food scraps at a time.
See the process in action. Watch how-to videos at TheBokashiBucket.com www.thebokashibucket.com
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Use the smasher that comes with your Bokashi Bucket to smash down the food scraps into an even layer. This helps to make room for more food scraps and also reduces air pockets. Remember, air is our enemy!
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For every 2″ of food scraps added to your Bokashi Bucket, sprinkle a handful (approx. 2-3 oz.) of Bokashi Activator Mix (microbes) on top. It helps to gently mix the new layer of food scraps with the Bokashi Activator Mix and smash down again. Repeat Scraps, Smash, Sprinkle until your Bokashi Bucket is full.
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Every 2-3 days, drain your Bokashi Bucket. To do this just turn the spigot dial to the left and tip the bucket until liquid comes out. Don’t throw it away! This liquid is primo plant food. We call it “Bokashi Tea”. Dilute the Bokashi Tea at 2-3 oz. per gallon of water and then add it directly to the soil or spray on plants.
Bokashi composting is an anaerobic (no oxygen) process. Be sure to always keep your lid on your Bokashi Bucket sealed tight, to ensure that no air gets in. Not doing so could result in a stinky bucket. Repeat Scraps, Smash, Sprinkle until your Bokashi Bucket is full.
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Your Bokashi Bucket is now full. The food scraps have been fermenting and are now half way broken down. To complete the the process, you will need to mix your fermented food scraps with soil. Once mixed with soil, the fermented food scraps will quickly (4 weeks) turn into garden ready compost.
You got two options for mixing scraps with soil:
Option A:
Dig - First, drain out any liquid from the spigot. Dig a trench about 12” deep and about 3’ ft long. Empty out all the fermented food scraps into the trench and spread them out. Mix food scraps up with soil and then completely cover up with soil.
Option B:
If you don’t have the yard space or don’t want to dig, bury your fermented food scraps in a bin or planter. Fill 1/3 of the bin with soil or compost. Empty out your Bokashi Bucket in the bin and mix food scraps with soil. Cover with 3” of soil and pack down.
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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.
Am I doing it right?
A sweet & sour smell and presence of white mold are signs that you’re doing it right. Rotten smells and/or dark colored mold are no bueno.
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.
What if I have to go away for awhile?
You can leave your sealed Bokashi Bucket for weeks at a time. Just drain it before you leave and when you get back. Adding a generous amount of Bokashi Activator to the top before you go also helps. You’ll be able to pick up where you left off when you return.
Where do 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.
What if I fill my bucket in less than two weeks?
Food scraps need at least two weeks to ferment. If you fill your bucket up in less than two weeks, let it sit with the lid on until two weeks is reached.
How long will the Bokashi Activator Mix last?
One bag of Bokashi Activator Mix will treat 1-2 Bokashi Bucket cycles. It can take 2-6 weeks to fill up a bucket.
HELPFUL TIPS
• You can never add too much Bokashi Activator Mix. Better too much than too little. • Only add fresh waste to your Bokashi Bucket. Never add rotten or moldy food scraps. • Keep air OUT. Keeping your lid on tight and compacting your food scraps help to remove air. • Wash your bucket after each cycle.
Get answers to more frequently asked questions and watch our how-to videos at www.TheBokashiBucket.com 9 | www.thebokashibucket.com
Aloha! Thank you for your purchase and congratulations on making the decision to recycle your food scraps. Food waste is the least recycled waste we make and accounts for most of the waste in our landfills. Rotting food waste in the landfill pollutes our air, land and water. Our landfills are overflowing and we’re running out of space to keep stashing our waste. It’s time to get food waste out of there. It’s time to do something different. Using The Bokashi BucketTM to recycle your food scraps instead of sending them off to the landfill is an easy way to have an immediate impact on both your local and global environment. You’ll also be an inspiration for others to take action. Our mission at Each One Teach One Farms is to make sustainability easy and accessible to the masses. We believe that small changes can have a big impact in this world. It’s all about taking action one step at a time. Activate yourself and the rest will follow.
Jim DiCarlo
Co-founder / Compost Ambassador www.bokashibucket.com | 10
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