Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 My first bin worked fine - it was pickly just like it said it should be and it went in the compost. I just emptied my second one out and it's not fermented at all . There was no smell, just all the food looking just the same as when it went in (it must be at least 3 & probably 4 weeks since it was last added to). I then had to pick it all out of the compost bin and put in back in the bokashi bin . I squished it down and covered it totally with bran. Do you think if I leave it again, it'll ferment eventually? The liquid I drained off the last bin has bits of mould floating in it . Is that normal? I put quite a lot of bread in it (crusts) - is that not a good idea? Sorry for all the questions . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 My bokashi bin contents never seem to rot down It takes us about 2 and a half months to fill a bin and I leave it 3 weeks before I empty it. When I emptied the first bin I could see pasta shells at the bottom and a couple of half eaten sausages I didn't want to put the contents into the compost bin so I emptied it into our green cone instead. I did get a lot of liquid from it. I have just finished filling another bin and this time I hardly drained any liquid at all It will be another 2 weeks before this one is ready to empty so I don't know if the food has startd to rot. I am very generous with the bran and squash the food down well. I get bits of mould floating in the liquid. If the food is supposed to rot then I am doing something wrong as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Thanks Alison, I don't think it's supposed to rot, just turn kind of pickly, brown and sweet/sour smelling (which my first bin did do). This bin just looked like I'd just put all the food in it the day before:? . Maybe someone else has had the same problem (and solved it) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I was going to ask about tea bags? Our bokashi bins arrived today and it says you can't put tea bags in? :? why ever not? I don't understand how you can decompose a bone but not a tea bag? I will let you know about our decomposition inn a few weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 It is true that it is supposed to just look "pickled" and it will smell a bit vinegary. I emptied my 2 bins today. One was wearing a white fur coat, but apart from that it was as I expected. Not much liquid in either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I think the Bokashi bins work on anareobic(sp) bacteria ie low levels of oxygen. That is why they suggest you compress the stuff in them. If the lid isn't sealed properly then this may cause it to not work so well. Ours have poor fitting lids and take some sealing. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I think the Bokashi bins work on anareobic(sp) bacteria ie low levels of oxygen. That is why they suggest you compress the stuff in them. If the lid isn't sealed properly then this may cause it to not work so well. Ours have poor fitting lids and take some sealing. Kev. Same here - mine went a bit "off" because I wasn't closing the lid properly, and then fruit flies got in I'm going to give it one more go once I've cleaned the bins out, before I throw in the towel and just put everything in the green wheelie bin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...