Bashoki, Bouzouki, Bokashi, Bolshoi .....???

[johnhcrf]

The Bokashi bin (plus bran) is a Japanese originated design which allows indoor composting of food waste ( including fish, meat, fat, rind, bone, dairy produce, fruit, veg). The best feature is the removal of food waste from bins making them less of a health hazard, so that weekly/bi-weekly collection is not an issue. There is a pleasant smell from the anaerobic processing, discouraging vermin, flies etc.

Its the best,

John.

[johnhcrf]

There seem to be a good deal of confusion about equipment nomenclature, use, safety. Feel free to add your experiences or questions. Other uses apart from food treatment could emerge. Any Japanese input would add to the knowledge.

John.

[johnhcrf]

I have searched google for dead animal/bokashi bin placement. This has occurred but finding the actual detail was difficult to find. It would be a safe way to dispose since smell is removed in the process. Any experiences out there?

[johnhcrf]

WARNING! If you are squeamish read no further.

I saw a daft advert under msn which offered liquid nitrogen frozen treatment of the dead (what would it cost?).
The bokashi is a cheaper alternative. There would have to be a site (crematorium?) to hold the procedure. I have recently buried 3 female relatives, so this is still fresh. Instead of sprinkling a handful of dirt over the coffin in situ a handful of bokashi bran would be used over the body. The liquid runoff which results could be drained periodically to give a keepsake (like ashes, only more aesthetic). After a few weeks anaerobic processing the body could be added to a compost heap, with due ceremony, for the final decomposition. No more graveyards, cremation and giving something back, I think it is ideal.

John

[johnhcrf]

I contacted the Japanese embassy and various UK/Japanese garden companies regarding my ideas. The answers have been negative. Trying fish/small animals at home may reveal the practicality of the process. If any other Bokashi users want to add their experiences, that would be very useful.


John.

[johnhcrf]

One of the best features is the run-off from the process, which can be drained off every 2-3 days. I have diluted in several litres tap water and poured alongside vegs and plants. So far, there has been no negative effect and it is too early to see any enhanced growth yet.

[the.fee.fairy]

WARNING! If you are squeamish read no further.

I saw a daft advert under msn which offered liquid nitrogen frozen treatment of the dead (what would it cost?).
Instead of sprinkling a handful of dirt over the coffin in situ a handful of bokashi bran would be used over the body. The liquid runoff which results could be drained periodically to give a keepsake (like ashes, only more aesthetic). After a few weeks anaerobic processing the body could be added to a compost heap, with due ceremony, for the final decomposition. No more graveyards, cremation and giving something back, I think it is ideal.

John

i don't think that's a good idea at all!

Human remains need to be dealt with in a destroying fashion, either by burying so that they can decompose, or by burning, or freeze-drying (as the liquid Nitrogen does). Mummification is permissable.

Bokashi Bran is designed to deal with scraps, not a whole body...of anything. Maybe if you cut the body into thousands of small pieces as big as a bacon rind, and then distributed it. Otherwise, no, no no and no. Its not right, There are too many bacteria and pathogens in a human body. How would bokashi Bran break down blood-borne diseases and antibiotics?

Have you ever smelt decaying flesh? It is one of the most unpleasant smells you can get. Bokashi may take the odour out of rotting, but i don't think it will take the odour from the bodily fluids escaping, or the rotting gasses.

Would you really keep the liquid run-off in the same way that you'd keep human ashes? It wouldn't be more attractive!! Lets face it, human ashes are packed in boxes within urns or wooden boxes. We don't keep ashes for their aesthetic value!! Why would someone want to look at 'grandma's fluid run-off' on the mantlepiece?!

There are many ways of dealing with dead bodies, many of them green, many not. Personally, i won't care when i'm dead what people do with me...i'll be dead... I think that huname, green burial would probably be preferable...or being cremated and turned into a diamond,...i'd quite like that! But...i don't want to be covered in bran and then have someone looking at a box of 'liquid run-off' before sticking me on the compost heap...

[johnhcrf]

The idea comes from the process, where meat/fat/bone can be safely composted. The details of such a burial process would have to be investigated further. To say that slicing a corpse would be necessary is jumping to a conclusion based on current practice. Such practice could be improved. Factors such as temperature, humidity, bran concentration or composition, could all lead to a more vigorous composting rate.

[MKG]

"What's in that big bucket, Dad?"

"That's your Granny, son. She's kicked it - the bucket, that is."

"But why is she in a bucket?"

"Because we've fed her to the little animals and plants which live in the bucket."

(Beginning to cry) "But why, Dad? Granny was nice."

"Because she was just a useless lump of decaying matter, so we decided to do something useful with her."

"Like what?"

"We feed her to the bucket and then we use what's in the bucket to feed our own plants. Then we eat the plants. So, son, we're going to eat your Granny."

Final scene fade as son, complete with red spotted hanky on a stick, walks tearfully down the garden path into the sunset. Fadout music: Ilkley Moor Bar T'at.

[johnhcrf]

Children do not have to be told the whole truth! When mature enough they will learn that their Granny had decided to allow a natural process to return her body to nature in a useful form. The red run-off could be tastefully encased in a crystal ornament or if preferred used to fertilise a family garden.

[Big Al]

Children do not have to be told the whole truth! When mature enough they will learn that their Granny had decided to allow a natural process to return her body to nature in a useful form. The red run-off could be tastefully encased in a crystal ornament or if preferred used to fertilise a family garden.

I guess you pride yourself in being a weirdo !

[the.fee.fairy]

Hmmm...

I still don't think that looking at 'Grandma's Run Off' will be the thing to do...especially when Grandma's Run Off goes clotted and black and starts to decay, when it gets to a certain point and has produced enough gases, the pressure would get too much and the room will be sprayed with 'Grandma's Remains'.

Nice...

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Children do not have to be told the whole truth! When mature enough they will learn that their Granny had decided to allow a natural process to return her body to nature in a useful form. The red run-off could be tastefully encased in a crystal ornament or if preferred used to fertilise a family garden.

Wooahhh! Vision of my mortal remains (red fluid) being turned into a lava lamp. No, I can see the humour in that.

Our commune has started an experiment (our house wasn't included in the trial, unfortunately) to test the "hot" composting of all food residues - meat, fish, bones the lot. I've yet to see the system proposed, but I am given to understand it comprises a compost bin, sealed against flies, with a sort of trap door similar to those found on, ahem, feminine hygiene bins.

The liquid run-off, it is said can be used as plant food, and the compost is removed in a twice yearly collection. I'll try and find out more, if anyone is interested.

[MKG]

Oh bugger - quote mechanism didn't work (translate as the birthday wine got in the way)

I'd be very interested, Riff-Raff. Just (PLEASE) no Grannies.

[johnhcrf]

It is an interesting topic because it is a possibility for the future. After all we are meat/fat/bone and that is what the Bokashi uses! As for exploding ornaments, I think all aspects would be thoroughly investigated. Riff_Raff's commune thing would make a good topic.