Changing everyone’s attitude to home waste and the environment…
The horticultural industry has started looking towards a greener future, so choosing my Product of the Year was easy – the Bokashi Composter. Made by Hozelock, it’s a brilliant bit of kit that uses the tried-and-tested Bokashi bran method of composting but with a twist. Why was it so successful? It changed the behaviour of the non-gardening members of my household, not just preaching to the converted (me).
It’s a kitchen composter, small enough to sit on the bench with no unpleasant smells, as it’s airtight. I keep mine in the conservatory just outside the kitchen door.
All food waste ferments with the addition of Bokashi bran. It turns it into nutrient-rich compost when added to a traditional compost bin. Bokashi bran, invented in Japan, is a combination of bran and effective microorganisms. They act as an activator and compost all biological kitchen waste – vegetables, meat, fish and dairy. A liquid fertiliser is made in five days and composted in just 15-20 days.
Bokashi Composter – compost, plant food, drain and septic tank cleaner
It can then be added to a conventional compost heap. You can dig it straight into the ground, where it quickly breaks down. It’s even suitable for cleaning drains and septic tanks. It is easy to train your Luddite family to add their kitchen waste into the composter. Pack it down with the supplied tool, cover it with a layer of bran. Finally, make sure the lid is put back on properly.
That’s all they need to do. You can use the concentrated liquid plant food and solid fermented compost as you see fit. If a product can tap into the psyche of people who aren’t really thinking about the wider environment, then every home should have one!
The Hozelock Bokashi Composter retails at £54.99. For more details, visit www.hozelock.co.uk.
