Have I told you about Bokashi composting?
This is how the Japanese have been composting for centuries. If this worked for these industrious gardeners I wanted to try it. I bought the two containers (the size of an office waste basket) and the compost accelerator and got started.
I put in every morsel of food we didn’t eat and sprinkled the accelerator on top each time, then tightly sealed the container with the lid. When the container was full I waited two weeks, per the instructions, and proceeded on.
“Proceeded on” means you dig trenches about 8″ deep, add the compost and cover with the soil from the trenches. I had to dig several trenches (in my flower beds) to accommodate all of the compost. I had big expectations for larger blooms and I was doing a good job of recycling. I was pleased with my first attempt using Bokashi compost. Another positive thing was that it was good exercise.
I wasn’t so pleased the next morning when I discovered all of my compost had been dug up by coons. Under the cover of darkness, I was going to be waiting for them the next time, loaded shotgun and all. In all of my life I’ve only killed one of God’s little creatures and that was an accident. Another solution was needed.
I’m not sure I dug the trenches 8″ deep, probably only about 4″ or 5″. I’ll correct that the next time and will cover the trenches with rocks or discarded wood until the compost has decomposed more.
If the coons find a way around that I’ll be calling Japan for some help.
Wilda is a Master Gardener in the Tarrant County Chapter. She is also the founding Commissioner of Keep Kennedale Beautiful. Wilda has lived here in Kennedale many many years with her husband, Pat Turner and sons, Kirk and Kelly Turner.
