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Bokashi composting #745938

Asked April 23, 2021, 4:54 PM EDT

I’m interested in learning whether bokashi composting works well in Oregon. I love in 97229. I don’t have curbside food composting here and it’s a way to compost more good scraps. Does it attract rats? Is it a good option here? I’ve had a worm bin and that works pretty well but the foods you can feed are limited. Any advice would be appreciated!

Washington County Oregon

Expert Response

I'll have to read up on bokashi composting and kitchen scraps. I know a lot about aerobic composting and methane digestion, but much less about bokashi. Let's say I'm a casual reader on that one.

I've been vermicomposting for more than thirty years. While I study up, you please tell me about the limits to feeding earthworms. What is it that you produce but cannot feed them?
Thank you for such a quick response. I was thinking about table scraps and things like citrus and onions that works don’t  like. I also know that community gardens say no meat or bones or fish but bokashi says you can pre compost these anaerobically, and them finish the whole pile off by burying it or putting in with regular aerobic compost. My understanding is that it ferments /pickles everything do it isn’t attractive to rats. I’d love to be able to compost all foods but want to make sure I don’t create another problem!  

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 23, 2021, at 3:02 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied April 23, 2021, 6:28 PM EDT

Well, I agree with you that I don't feed my worm bin onions or citrus peel (tho' no doubt there is a bit of cooked onion in some of the things that go in there).

I keep my worms in an unheated, attached garage, and I feed them plenty of fish skin and bones, chicken bones, dairy and egg. I think any mice in the garage are more interested in the dog kibble that gets spilled from the bulk bag from time to time, but I notice very few mice.

Let me share my rules for aerobic composting of food scraps. I compost food outdoors all year round in plastic compost bins, without attracting hordes of rodents. I won't say I never have a rodent, but they are periodic visitors to my yard.

Safe Food Composting Rules:

  1. Never put in direct contact with soil
  2. Never have food as top layer
  3. Layer in absorbent carbon sources
  4. Compost aerobically in hot, active pile
  5. Turn the whole pile when you add food waste
  6. Turn frequently

Your impression is correct, the yeasts that ferment the bokashi compost make nutrients available to plants, and uninteresting to rodents.

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