Surfin Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Due to the price charged for Bokashi bran I've decided to make my own. It took me a while to source the wheat bran but found it at Holland and Barrett it cost me £10.34 for 10 Kg including delivery which I think is a good buy. There were a couple of discounts but these are available to all. I couldn't source molasses which is needed but found molasses sugar which when mixed to a syrup should be the same. The only other ingredients are rice, milk and water. I estimate that the cost to me per kilo will be about £1.20. I know that 10Kg is a bit OTT but I will use it in my kitchen Bokashi bin and the compost heap as well as the chooks which should be with me in 4 to 6 weeks.......Getting a bit impatient now Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Great idea Horsey supplies shops should sell molasses in 1lt and/or 5lt containers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Thanks Redwing I'll look at the horsey people. I've plenty of time as it takes about 3 weeks to produce the EM culture. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I tried it a couple of years ago and it was disastrous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 I tried it a couple of years ago and it was disastrous. It would help if you could tell me of your problems with it. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Ooooo, please keep us posted as to how you get on ... it's not the cost of the bokashi itself I have a problem with, more the P&P, so will be very interested to hear your results. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Of course I will keep you posted......no postal charges It will be a while before I get to the end product though. Delivery charges are a nightmare. Once I have decided to buy a product I always walk through the minefield of postal costs. Sometimes the delivery costs exceed the item cost DOH!!! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Are you working to a "recipe"? How long do you think it will take? You seem to be starting completely from scratch making your own EM culture, wow!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I tried it a couple of years ago and it was disastrous. It would help if you could tell me of your problems with it. Ian It just didn't work, despite following the instructions to the letter. The stench was appalling and the bran became covered with a curious blue mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 From what I've read Egluntyne (and I've read a lot of googles) That is the result of letting air into the mixture. The process needs to be anaerobic to work. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 My first attempt at making my own Bokashi bran is IMHO a resounding success. Today I fed some to my chicks and they begged for more I can't believe how keen they are on it. The biggest problem that I had was drying the stuff, but with a few good sunny days the 5kg is now dried. I did some in the garden and some in the shed. Warning if you try this at home the odour is very strong until it dries. Final cost £1.10 per kg...........beat that Wiggly Wigglers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Ooh! How did you add the effective microbes to it? Any chance of your exact recipe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 Ooh! How did you add the effective microbes to it? Any chance of your exact recipe? No problems.....Would you like me to PM the info or have it as an open post? Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Excellent, well done! It would be great if you could give us an Omlet masterclass in bokashi brewing, please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Ooh! How did you add the effective microbes to it? Any chance of your exact recipe? No problems.....Would you like me to PM the info or have it as an open post? Ian As an open post please ... then everyone will benefit. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Ooh! How did you add the effective microbes to it? Any chance of your exact recipe? No problems.....Would you like me to PM the info or have it as an open post? Ian As an open post please ... then everyone will benefit. Many thanks. Sorry to have taken so long to reply to this. To a certain extent I have 'copped out' on this one. here are 2 viable url's to the info that you will need:- To produce the em-1 culture http://www.hawaiihealingtree.org/?p=163 To produce the bokashi http://www.thebluesun.co.uk/bokashi.htm A couple of points to note. Use dechlorinated water, I used filter water but you could use tapwater stood for 24 hours. Fill the container as full as possible and make sure that it is fully airtight. I used a homebrew bucket. Don't peak until at least 2 weeks has passed. The hardest part of the process is drying the bran. Drying stops the process and puts the microbes into suspended animation. This is easier in sunnier times but I had to cover mine against showers when I did my last batch. Warning whilst drying the odour is very strong, I certainly would not advise drying it indoors ( I did some in my shed and it is very strong in a confined space). Even in the open garden my wife passed comment. It is not a bad smell just very strong so don't let this stop you from saving a small fortune. BTW I've found a local petshop that can supply a 20kg sack of course wheat bran for £12. Just picked up a sack. My bokashi will now cost me marginally over 60 pence a kilo................beat that if you can. Good luck if you try this at home. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MammaT Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Thank you so much for this Ian. I've been put off Bokashir because of the price and I obviously didn't research enough as I was unaware that it was something we could do at home. It's a bit of a procedure but all good things come to those who wait! Time to track down the ingredients methinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Fascinating. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Thanks Ian I have been reading this with much interest and maybe I'll have a go once I've worked out how to dry it On that point - how dry does it have to be? I have just opened my first kilo bag of a 6kg bulk order from Bokashidirect, which cost £23.30 so about £3.89 per kilo (inc p&p) BUT it is packaged in plastic bags, and the bran feels quite damp, clumping together AND does not smell quite the same as the Wiggly supplied bran. If drying it suspends the bacterial processes, what happens if it stays damp- does it go off? I feel like a headless on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Thanks Ian I have been reading this with much interest and maybe I'll have a go once I've worked out how to dry it On that point - how dry does it have to be? I have just opened my first kilo bag of a 6kg bulk order from Bokashidirect, which cost £23.30 so about £3.89 per kilo (inc p&p) BUT it is packaged in plastic bags, and the bran feels quite damp, clumping together AND does not smell quite the same as the Wiggly supplied bran. If drying it suspends the bacterial processes, what happens if it stays damp- does it go off? I feel like a headless on this one. Oh dear !!! I got 2 bokashi bins from this company. First bins arrived broken due to inadequate packing. They replaced them, so I ended up with 2 lots of bran.both of which were damp. I should have tried to dry it out but didn't The next time I looked at it the bran was green and totally useless. As it happens I've had to replace the bins with a sturdier brand as the plastic sieve panel looks to be bio-degradable. I should have got onto them to complane.......I certainly will not be ordering from them again. As to your damp bokashi? bran, at the very least replace the plastic bags with sturdy paper bags leaving lots of air to circulate. To be viable long term the bran must be bone dry, any dampness at all and it will clump and go off. Good luck. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Yikes. Thanks for the info Ian. I have phoned the bokashi direct people and am awaiting a response to telling them its damp.I 'll see what they say I am interested to know what type of bucket you got in the end and from where, as I thought the BD ones looked a bit flimsy (thats why I just went for the bran). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Sorry to have been the bearer of bad tidings Goodegg. I would push to get your money back TBH. They will almost certainly leave the bran with you which you could try to retrieve without cost. You could point out to them that I had problems with the damp bran and it went geen mouldy. The company that I went with for the replacements (you do need 2) was evengreener.com. http://www.evengreener.com/Shop/Composting_-_Home.html I bought the 18 litre twinpack for £41 incl. delivery. The volume is less but that is not a bad thing as the BD one packed a fair weight when full. Certainly it far better designed and more robust. I hope that helps. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Thank you so much for this Ian. I've been put off Bokashir because of the price and I obviously didn't research enough as I was unaware that it was something we could do at home. It's a bit of a procedure but all good things come to those who wait! Time to track down the ingredients methinks. Good luck with sourcing the ingredients... the bran is the most difficult to get in bulk. How about keeping us posted on your progress. I wish you every success. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Thanks Ian I have been reading this with much interest and maybe I'll have a go once I've worked out how to dry it On that point - how dry does it have to be? I have just opened my first kilo bag of a 6kg bulk order from Bokashidirect, which cost £23.30 so about £3.89 per kilo (inc p&p) BUT it is packaged in plastic bags, and the bran feels quite damp, clumping together AND does not smell quite the same as the Wiggly supplied bran. If drying it suspends the bacterial processes, what happens if it stays damp- does it go off? I feel like a headless on this one. Oh dear !!! I got 2 bokashi bins from this company. First bins arrived broken due to inadequate packing. They replaced them, so I ended up with 2 lots of bran.both of which were damp. I should have tried to dry it out but didn't The next time I looked at it the bran was green and totally useless. As it happens I've had to replace the bins with a sturdier brand as the plastic sieve panel looks to be bio-degradable. I should have got onto them to complane.......I certainly will not be ordering from them again. As to your damp bokashi? bran, at the very least replace the plastic bags with sturdy paper bags leaving lots of air to circulate. To be viable long term the bran must be bone dry, any dampness at all and it will clump and go off. Good luck. Ian Just an update about Bokashi Direct, they did agree that the bran should not smell rancid or be clumping so refunded me in full. I had been bulk buying but to be honest am still using the bokashi from 'wigglies' which is so nice, the hens can't get enough. Have you tried making your own and been successful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfin Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 Henchanted, I'm glad you managed to get a refund on the poor quality bran. I agree that the WW bran is good. I have recently completed about 10 kg of home made bran brew and it's good stuff equal to the WW at a fraction of the cost. I am able to give my hens a cup a day as a 'treat' without worrying about the cost. BTW they love it. Drying the bran is still an issue with the UK's unpredictable weather but i've found that I can dry about 3 kg at a time in my shed layed out on a bench. It takes about 3 days per batch and the shed pongs a bit until it's dry. When dry it takes on the typical molasses/sour smell like the WW stuff. I am about to start another batch using the last 10 kg of the sack of bran I bought. Give it a go when you get into it it is so easy to make. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
