How Does Bokashi Composting Work?

It’s all about the microbes!

The microbes in the bokashi bran consume the waste in the bokashi bucket and turn it into pre-compost. After that, when you mix the pre-compost with soil, the microbes in the soil take over and turn the waste into organic matter, or compost.

A key thing to keep in mind is that these two types of microbes depend on the presence or absence of oxygen (air).

🌱**The Fermentation Phase is an ANAEROBIC Process** 🌱

During the fermentation phase, when you add waste to the bokashi bin and let it cure after the last load, the microbes in the bokashi bran require an ANAEROBIC environment - meaning one with little to no oxygen.

That’s why it’s super important to keep the lid on your bokashi bin tightly sealed and minimize the time that the lid is off when you’re adding more food waste.

🌱**The Composting Phase is an AEROBIC Process** 🌱

During the composting phase, when you mix the bokashi pre-compost with soil, the microbes in the soil require an AEROBIC environment - which means they need oxygen.

The usual way to do this is by burying the bokashi pre-compost in the ground, where there are naturally occurring air pockets, so you don’t have to worry about oxygen levels.

However, if you use the soil factory method to mix the pre-compost with soil, just make sure there are ways for air to get in, like ventilation holes if your container has a lid.