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BSG Bokashi bran Learn it, Use it, Make it

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Integrating Bokashi into your farm, industry and lifestyle

What is Bokashi/BSG Bokashi Bran?

Microbes, Microbes, Microbes!

It’s all about the microbes with Bokashi composting and Bokashi Bran. Our BSG Bokashi Bran is loaded with Beneficial and effective microbes that can safely break down organic matter and odors in a wide variety of useful applications.

How we do it:

We inoculate fresh Brewers Spent Grain (a combination of spent wheat, barley and oats) with a combination of molasses, EM-1 and other favorable microbes and let it ferment for around 3 weeks outside in the sun. When ready, we evenly spread the wet BSG Bokashi Bran over our home made outdoor drying racks to dry under the sun! Once properly dried, you have a shelf stable granular concentration of beneficial microbes ready to come alive and go to work as soon as they hit moisture and a food source (organic matter). It’s that simple, think of Bokashi Bran as a concentrated microbial product full of beneficial organisms, very similar to probiotics for humans. In fact, many of the identified organisms within our BSG Bokashi Bran can also be found in the human and animal gut biome. In this case however, Bokashi Bran is directly used to improve the health and vitality of water, soils, plants, animals and waste streams.

The Bokashi concept and system was originally developed by Dr. Teruo Higa

in Japan in the early 1980’s. The term Bokashi simply means “fermented organic matter” and describes an innovative and powerful composting method Dr. Higa developed using anaerobic fermentation to break down different forms of organic matter. In this method, food wastes, manures and biomass from plants are inoculated with effective microbes and sealed in an oxygen deprived environment (say a sealed 5gl bucket) for a period of time until anaerobic digestion occurs. This method is only possible by applying a specialized group of beneficial and effective microorganisms to the organic matter including Lactic Acid Bacteria, Yeasts, and Photosynthetic Bacteria to name a few. Dr. Higa is renowned for inventing the true EM-1 formula: a powerful combination of over 85 different species of microbes in a liquid suspension that when activated perform in concert to safely and quickly break down organic matter. These microbes, or similar ones can be cultivated at home or purchased and can be added to your system in the form of a liquid solution or as a granular Bran (Bokashi Bran).

By utilizing the Bokashi composting method, there are some potentially major ecological benefits in regard to waste management, and it has the power to revolutionize how we view organic waste streams. Compared to standard thermophilic composting methods (your typical outdoor compost pile) which do have their benefits, the Bokashi composting method stands out for a few key reasons:

By anaerobically composting organic matter with the addition of beneficial microbes we can see ready-to-use compost in a fraction of the time it takes in an open-air pile. We can compost troublesome food scraps usually thrown away such as meats, dairy and oils, while at the same time greatly reduce disease and pathogen populations. Finally, we can create a much more nutrient and biologically dense compost compared to the thermophilic piles which off-gas much of their nutrients to the atmosphere and cook off many beneficial organisms. The fact that we can compost virtually all food scraps and transform them into an exceptional compost in half the time is a game changer. Likely, Bokashi could play a major ecological roll in the future health of our planet and species.

Solutions of Effective Microorganisms and granular Bokashi bran can also be used as powerful tools to mitigate odors and suppress diseases in animal husbandry applications, clean and remediate soil and water, and generally improve the health of soils and plants.

Standard kitchen scrap composting method:

Do you wish to have to transform all your food scraps into high quality compost all year round without the noxious odors and extra work? Bokashi composting with kitchen food scraps is one of the more common uses of the Bokashi method and is very simple/low cost.

You’ll need:

–A couple 5gl buckets (or handy sealable containers of some sort)

– BSG Bokashi Bran (or other inoculate)

-Kitchen food scraps!

– A place to dump compost

-Willing spirit!

Thats it! Not much too it. Now this 5gl bucket in your kitchen will serve as your new dumping ground for all your food scraps including meats, small bones, dairy, breads, some oils and fats and of course all your fruits and veggies. Although you probably could compost a bucket full of meats, dairy, and oils/fats with the bokashi method, try to somewhat limit these items, if possible, ideally you are looking for a balanced ratio of fruit and veggie scraps in the container as well.

Step 1

Sprinkle 1/4-1/2 cup of BSG Bokashi Bran onto the bottom of your empty container.

Step 2

Each day, or every other day, layer your food scraps (1-3″ layers ideal) into the container and sprinkle around a 1/4-1/2 cup of BSG Bokashi Bran over the scraps for a nice even dusting over each layer(More BSG Bokashi Bran can be used if necessary to attain even coverage, or if there is a lot of harder to break down items like meat, dairy, etc.)

Step 3

Press down and compact food scraps and Bokashi Bran after each layer to reduce oxygen and save room for more layers!

Step 4

Continue layering and pressing until the bucket or container is full. Add one more dusting of BSG Bokashi Bran on the top then seal the bucket or container with lid.

Step 5

Set aside and leave alone your sealed, full bucket somewhere sheltered to ferment for 2-5 weeks depending on your temperature. Ideally you want your container to ferment at around 70-90 degrees and out of direct sunlight or extreme temperature changes. In temperate regions, you can simply keep the fermenting container inside at room temperature during the winter and outside in the shade in the summer months. If in the tropics, inside or outside any time of year will be fine. Expect fermentation to be much quicker in the tropics (1-2 weeks) and a bit slower in temperate regions (2-4 weeks).

Step 6

After your recommended fermentation time depending on your temperatures, open the bucket or container and check the compost. You’ll notice the food scraps have just begun to break down and are still evident in the container. unlike the finished thermophilic compost, you may be used to, Bokashi compost is half-finished and must be placed in the soil or another compost pile to finish breaking down completely. Ideally there should be visible fungal growth and a sweet/sour pickled aroma. Healthy fungal growth should be mostly white in color, if too much black, yellow, gray, red or blues are visible this is an indication the compost has turned septic, if this is the case dont worry and dont discard your fermet, simply add it to an outdoor compost pile or soil before applying it to plants. Also use your nose, if the compost smells putrid or foul, this is another indication of a spoiled ferment. Possible causes are opening container too much or improper seal, too much meat, dairy, oils etc., or not adding enough Bokashi Bran. Again, this is an anaerobic process that requires the absence of oxygen to effectively grow the right microbes.

Successful ferment

Step 7

Is the ferment looking good!? If yes, now it’s time to build soil! Your finished Bokashi bucket can be added directly to your garden soil or thrown into a standard outdoor compost pile to completely break down. Either way the Bokashi composting method has halfway predigested your food scraps in a fraction of the time ensuring negligible pathogens, greater nutrient retention, no off gassing and few uninvited rodents or pests. If the soil is workable, find a place in the garden around a tree, shrub or annual bed that needs a boost in fertility. Dig a whole or trench around 6-12” deep or enough to bury the compost 4-6” and dump in your compost bucket. Bury and done! If wishing to create a nice, finished compost, you can add your Bokashi compost to another outdoor thermophilic pile to finish breaking down. It will break down twice as fast, smell better, retain more nutrients and won’t attract rodents and animals nearly as much as unfermented food scraps. While all this is going on, you have started another bucket or container in your kitchen, and the process continues all year long!

As Bokashi compost is initially very acidic in nature, for best results allow buried Bokashi compost to breakdown 2-3 weeks in soil before planting directly over it to allow PH to adjust and bury Bokashi compost 1-3′ away from shrubs/trees.

In conclusion, the major incentives with Bokashi composting are you create a usable compost all year round regardless of climate (as it can be made indoors) in only weeks that is more nutrient dense, smells better, reduces pests and pathogens and eliminates virtually all your food scraps. Better for you, the soil and our environment! Get started today!

Mixing/Top dressing BSG Bokashi Bran into your soil:

An excellent way to utilize our BSG Bokashi Bran is to add it directly to your soils! Whether top dressing or mixing, our Bokashi Bran has shown spectacular results on the farm including greater water retention and better soil structure, more nutrients cycling and greater nitrogen availability and enhanced crop resistance from pests and pathogens. We have thoroughly vetted our BSG Bokashi Bran through many different application methods and have been 3rd party tested and approved by trusted labs. We are confident our truly superior BSG Bokashi Bran will bring your soil to the next level!

Top dressing App. rates:

-1/4-1/2 cup/sq ft. of soil. Sprinkle BSG Bokashi Bran evenly across soil any time of year. Apply at same rate with compost for best results. Apply several times annually.

Mixing App. rates:

-1/2-2 cups/cu ft. of soil. Thoroughly mix in BSG Bokashi Bran into your soil when workable. Apply several times annually.

Transplanting App. rates:

-Mix 1tbls BSG Bokashi Bran with 1 tsp Mycorrhizal fungus and sprinkle in hole before transplanting. Adjust as needed for larger or smaller transplants.

Adding to outdoor (thermophilic) compost piles:

One amazing fact about the microbes in our BSG Bokashi Bran is they work effectively in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions! These are known as “facultative” microbes and are just as effective in an outdoor thermophilic compost as they are in your anaerobic Bokashi bucket. Pretty amazing right! Super charge and accelerate your compost pile today.

Mixing App. rates:

-1/2-2 cups/cu ft. of compost. You can also add BSG Bokashi Bran in layers to your pile rather than mixing if a static pile is desired.

Adding to composting toilets:

Did you know you can add Bokashi Bran to composting toilets as your neutralizing material!?

In fact, Bokashi Bran is the Rolls Royce for composting toilets. The combination of the carbon in the spent grain and the beneficial microbes create a powerful composting toilet addition that effectively neutralizes odors, quickly breaks down waste, and reduces pests and pathogens. It works excellent in septic systems and as kitty litter too!

App. rates:

-A handful or 1/2 cup/use. Sprinkle into compost toilet or kitty litter after each use.

Adding to chicken coups and animal pens:

Do you have unwanted odors coming from your animal systems or are you dealing with pathogen and disease pressure? would you like to give your farm helpers an immune boost?

Bokashi Bran is extremely effective in creating a healthy animal system just as it is creating a healthy soil system. The microbes in Bokashi Bran work the same way. Remember humans, animals, plants and soils share similar micro biomes. So, when you sprinkle our BSG Bokashi Bran onto the ground floor of your animal system, be it chicken, horse, cattle, pig, goat, etc. these beneficial microbes immediately go to work suppressing disease spreading microbes and pathogens, eliminating odors, breaking down wastes, and as your animal friend eventually try a taste, boosting their immune system with beneficial probiotics! In fact, there is a lot of established research on the usage of EM-1 and how these microbes benefit both farmers and animals all the way from better soil and crops to healthier water and silage.

App. rates for animal pens/yards/runs:

-1/8-1/2 cup/sq ft. of area. Sprinkle evenly across the ground area as well as underneath coups. Apply once weekly, or as needed.

Cleaning water!

EM-1 and BSG Bokashi Bran are so multi-functional and effective, their uses continue to be discovered. Along with cleaning and revitalizing soils, humans, plants and animals, another incredible function these microbes serve is cleaning and restoring water! whether it’s a pond, stream, spring, river, lake, or water trough, the beneficial microbes found in EM-1 and our BSG Bokashi Bran can help in effectively remediating toxicities and rejuvenating water back to its life-giving state. Can be effective in improving situations with excess algae, nitrates and phosphates, heavy metals, anaerobic conditions, noxious chemicals and pathogens.

App. rates for still water (ponds, lakes, water troughs, rainwater tanks, etc.):

-1/8-1/2 cup/sq meter of water. Toss/scatter Bran onto water or place BSG Bokashi Bran in a large tea bag or nylon sock and steep in water. Re-apply once a week in the warm months and twice a month when its cooler. Use as needed

App. rates for moving water (springs, streams, rivers, ocean):

-1 cup/100′ for smaller waterways. Place BSG Bokashi Bran into large nylon tea bag or sock, tie near the top of your watershed, or whatever section you have access to, and let steep for 2-3 days. Replace Bran and bag twice a week during warm months and twice a month when cooler.

-2 cups/100′ for medium waterways

-Up to 4 cups/100′ for large waterways

You can substitute BSG Bokashi Bran with liquid EM-1 if desired. They both contain the same beneficial microbes; however, the Bran can be more effective at neutralizing excess nitrates, phosphates and algae due to its high carbon content. Supplementing with both inputs is recommended for optimal results.

When deciding to apply either liquid EM-1 or BSG Bokashi Bran, there are a couple things to consider. Although both inputs are practically interchangeable and can be equally effective with many of the above applications, you generally want to use liquid EM-1 in situations where extra moisture is desired and extra carbon is not needed, such as breaking down woody materials or high carbon composts. However, in most situations, especially with water and soil, the extra carbon content present in BSG Bokashi Bran is usually desired and beneficial. Plus, the fermentation process our BSG Bokashi Bran undergoes unlocks a large amount of beneficial metabolites not present in liquid EM-1.

How to make your own Bokashi Bran at home:

Coming soon!

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