Read the GreenCape case study on our Bokashi composting programme, and its impact on resilience for Cape Town!
Join the OZCF Bokashi Brigade!
Our soil works extra hard to provide our plants with nutrients and needs a heavy dose of compost to make all the veggies tasty and gorgeous – and we need your help.
Our team of farmers, in consultation with soil experts, has determined that the bokashi method is the most suitable one for OZCF, and the good news is that it’s easy for all of us to get involved and help.
What is Bokashi?
Bokashi composting uses a selected group of micro-organisms to anaerobically ferment organic waste. The micro-organisms are applied using an impregnation carrier, either wheat bran or sawdust or both. The fermentation process breaks the organic matter down in a process that is odour-free. Unlike more conventional composting systems, bokashi systems will also break down heavier items like cheese and other dairy.
The process is very fast and usually takes less than two weeks. The finished product has a sweet, pickled odour. Once the fermentation has completed the kitchen waste is mixed in as part of the compost making process adding important nutrient density to the compost.
Bokashi composting has proven to be a safe, convenient, and quick way to compost food. Since the process is done in a sealed system concerns about insects and smells are eliminated, making it ideal for an urban setting.
What can I do?
You can bring your kitchen waste, layered with Bokashi, to the Farm so we can use it to feed the soil. How?
- Throw your kitchen waste into the bucket until it reaches approximately 10cm depth
- Sprinkle a bit of Bokashi on top (a thin layer)
- Press the waste down and put the lid back on the bucket.
- Repeat until full
- When the bucket is full, bring it to the Farm to empty!
How do I get started?
Easy – Here’s how it works:
- Buy a Bokashi starter kit, containing 1 kg of Bokashi ,1 plastic bucket with a lid (20 litre) and 1 clip card good for dropping off 10 buckets. Cost = R300 for a household, R400 for businesses.
- Most households will want an extra bucket or two. We have extra buckets for R100 each. We recommend getting 2 or 3, but you can take it as it comes and just get more buckets as you figure out how many you’ll need.
- If you just need to buy Bokashi, it is R110 per kg.
Sign me up
If you’re keen to join the OZCF Bokashi Brigade, you can buy a Bokashi Kit in our online shop. Together we divert over 100 tonnes of household food waste from landfill every year!
