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[00:00.44] The key to healthy plants is healthy soil.

[00:05.49] And the best way to improve soil is by using compost.

[00:12.66] Compost is decayed, or broken down, organic matter used as fertilizer.

[00:21.43] It helps heavy clay soil drain water. And it helps loose sandy soil keep water.

[00:32.05] Compost gives off nutrients and microbes to feed plants and increase their energy.

[00:42.41] It also decreases the need for traditional fertilizer.

[00:48.79] But homemade compost takes time and effort.

[00:54.37] You must turn it around often to give it oxygen.

[00:59.15] And you must keep it wet -- but not too wet.

[01:04.46] Also, compost can take up to a year to make.

[01:10.04] Now there is an easier and faster way to compost.

[01:15.35] Bokashi is a composting method that uses microorganisms to break down organic matter.

[01:25.45] Made in Japan in the 1980s, bokashi replaces the oxygen-fueled decay process with fermentation.

[01:36.87] In other words, an enzyme breaks down the organic matter.

[01:43.24] With this method, you can have compost ready to use in as little as 10 days.

[01:51.21] Plus, the process creates a product that has more nutrients than traditional compost.

[02:00.51] Traditional composting is usually done outdoors.

[02:04.49] But Bokashi composting can be done in a small, indoor space.

[02:10.60] The only equipment needed is a 19-liter container with a spout and tight-fitting top.

[02:19.10] To start the fermentation process, you need a bag of inoculant or microbes.

[02:26.27] Bokashi inoculants usually contain wheat bran, wheat germ, or sawdust.

[02:35.04] To get started, you can buy a kit with supplies or research how to do it yourself.

[02:41.94] Add kitchen waste, such as vegetables skins and eggshells, to the container in five-centimeter layers.

[02:51.51] Put a small handful of inoculant over each layer as you go.

[02:57.35] Put the lid on tightly between additions.

[03:00.81] You might cover the layers with a plate or plastic wrap before closing the container to reduce oxygen.

[03:11.16] When the container is full, take the liquid from the spout every couple of days.

[03:17.80] Put about five milliliters of that “compost tea” into about one liter of water.

[03:27.10] Then put the highly nutritious liquid on garden or houseplant soil.

[03:34.54] Be sure to not put it directly on leaves or flowers.

[03:40.38] And use the liquid within a day or so of collecting it.

[03:46.49] Meat and dairy food leftovers are not put into traditional compost.

[03:53.93] It does not get hot enough to kill harmful bacteria and parasites.

[04:02.16] However, these types of food waste can be added to the bokashi container.

[04:09.60] The microorganisms in the bokashi container will destroy any germs in the animal products.

[04:18.37] Ingredients should be added and the top put back on quickly.

[04:25.01] You want to avoid too much oxygen getting into the container.

[04:32.44] The tightly closed container should not give off any smells into the room.

[04:38.02] But you may notice a sweet-and-sour smell when the lid is opened. This is normal.

[04:45.46] A bad smell, however, means that something has gone wrong.

[04:51.30] If you smell a rotting-egg odor or if dark-colored mold is seen within the container, try adding more inoculant.

[05:01.66] If the situation is not better within a couple of days, throw away the material. Clean the container well and start over.

[05:13.35] When the fermentation process is complete — in as little as 10 days — the resulting organic matter will still look like the original material.

[05:26.37] But it will decompose quickly.

[05:30.35] It can be buried in holes in a new garden bed at least two weeks before planting. Be sure to cover the compost completely with soil.

[05:44.43] You can also add the material to the center of a traditional or worm composting bin or pile.

[05:54.26] Mix well with the contents and everything will break down more.

[06:00.63] The idea of creating “pre-compost” only to add it to a traditional compost pile might seem strange.

[06:09.66] However, consider this: adding bokashi-decomposed ingredients will save you many months. It offers you a fast track to finished compost.

[06:25.07] If you do not have a traditional compost pile, you can finish your bokashi compost by digging a hole and burying the material in one place in your garden.

[06:39.15] After two weeks, you can dig up what you need and use it as you would regular compost.

[06:48.18] But be careful that the bokashi material is safely away from plants. Take care to avoid direct contact with roots.

[07:00.40] The fermented product is very acidic and will burn the plants.

[07:07.84] For the same reason, this fermented compost should not be used as mulch unless it has been additionally composted using traditional methods.