I hate that all the Bokashi composting starter kits have containers made of plastic.
I have a question for anyone experienced with Bokashi composting:
Has anyone had success setting up bokashi composting with a glass, metal or ceramic container with a sealed lid and a spigot? What did you use? 1/2
***Please only answer this if you've only done this yourself. No opining or speculation.***
It looks like the trick for me is to find alternative containers for Bokashi composting that fit these criteria:
1. Non-plastic;
2. Spigot for draining "tea";
3. Airtight for anaerobic respiration;
4. Size: countertop OR floor + feet/stand;
5. Affordable.
I'm thinking of buying a 2-gallong glass drink dispenser with a spigot, and separately buying a gasket to make the lid airtight.
Has anyone done this?
Thanks in advance for replies informed by experience.
More details below.
Before anyone jumps in to say: "Just get X from an industrial park", or "Just ask your neighbours for Y"...
I use my words deliberately. I do not have the means to go across town. I do not have friendly neighbours or community support. I said "buy" because I meant buy, because it's my only option.
"But can't you just--" Oh god no, if I could "just", I would have already.
If you wish to reply, please reply to what I asked, and not what you think I should have asked. Thanks, sweeties.
It's looking like going with a DIY system is going to introduce some exciting failure points.
E.g.,
- not airtight enough for anaerobic respiration (cf spigots as much as lids);
- not rated for the heat that the compost will give off. [edit: heat is possibly not a concern, reading conflicting info]
I may get the most basic and affordable BPA-free starter kit I can find, and then see if I can improve on it once i know what I'm doing.
But I have time! So I'll keep noodling on this.
I've fallen into the rabbit hole of online advice about how to build your own Bokashi compost unit...
...and every single article starts with "Get a plastic bucket!"
Some days I feel like the only person on earth who's trying to avoid (micro)plastics.
Ah well. At least pre-made BPA-free options exist. (A far cry from perfect but at least not full of BPA.)
Bokashi Composting update!
I don't have the latitude to try and fail with a DIY system (I'm allergic to mold) so I have gone with prefab.
I contacted Canadian company Bokashi Living, and their Bokashi bins are BPA- and PFAS free. That's a good start.
My new (single) bin arrives this week (I don't generate a lot of food waste, a 2 week hiatus on occasion won't be a hurdle).
I'm excited to get started.
@ShaulaEvans I also went with the purchased option. As much as I wish it wasn't plastic, the weight of the foods scraps & liquid from the process added to a glass or ceramic container would make it difficult to manage.
We've been doing bokashi for a few years now. I recommend a screen for the inside of the spigot as it gets clogged with small bits of food or clumps of the bran. I diy'd it with a piece of old stocking.
@LJ Thank you for the tip. I really appreciate it!
How did you attach the screen?
I have some coco coir mats from old growing projects; my first thought is if I can fix something in place effectively (but how?), it could be a non-plastic filter that I just replace over time as it degrades.
@ShaulaEvans i stretched the piece of stocking over the opening & screwed down the plastic collar over it. Not pretty but it works.
We also use a bit of biochar at the bottom of the bucket as an absorber & deodorizer.
@LJ That's good to know too, thank you.
I'm not sure yet where it's going to live in/near my kitchen, so I'll experiment to find the Optimal Smell Zone once I know what it smells like.
But fermentation smells don't bother me so with luck I should be fine, I hope.
Shaula Evans
LJ