Recycle food waste by the bokashi method

For upcoming bokashi workshops, tablings, and bokashi-related events, go to bokashi.nyc. 

Down to Earth Garden (formerly Children's Garden) is looking for volunteers where you can experience hands-on with the bokashi method of composting. Visit downtoearthgarden.org or fill in their form.

See bokashi process with photos and videos: downtoearthgarden.org/bokashi-process.
See also downtoearthgarden.org/composting.

For all about bokashi and Effective Microorganisms (EM), visit Bokashi Research and Education, bokashiresearch.org.

Videos

• Making Activated EM (in the garden version) | or on YouTube
• Making bokashi spray | or on YouTube
• Spraying EM-5 with hose-end sprayer

The Basics (PDF files):

• Bokashi Basics [2 pages. 6/27/2022]
• Activated EM [2 pages. Revised 10/13/2023] — Recipes & Ingredients
• EM-5 foliar spray [2 pages. 9/5/2014]

How-To's (PDF files):

• How to spray Activated EM to food waste ("bokashi spray") [2 pages. 9/22/2020]
• Manual: How to Recycle ALL Food Waste (includes how to make bokashi) [22 pages. November 2015]
• The microbes in EM-1 [1 page. 10/30/2010]
• Materials for EM Bokashi Method of Recycling Food Waste (community garden setup) [1 page. March 2015]
• Bokashi Making Checklist & Cost [1 page. 10/1/2015]
• bokashi method diagram [1 page. 5/15/2017]
• Composting Types (by biological process) [1 page. 2/2/2013]
• Word slide: bokashi methods - bokashi composting [20 slides. June 2016]
  • refs (links, new tree of life)

Presentations

• 3/31/2023 bokashi workshop (PDF 4.7 MB, 13 slides)
• 11/21/2020 EM-5 Workshop Online 1 pm - 2 pm (PDF 9.9 MB) | Video (shown on the last slide): Spraying EM-5 with hose-end sprayer
• 10/24/2020 Bokashi Workshops Online 1 pm - 2 pm (PDF 10 MB)
• 10/24/2020 Bokashi Workshops Online 4 pm - 5 pm (PDF 16.3 MB)
• 5/9/2020 Bokashi Workshop Online (PDF 9.7 MB)
• 4/16/2020 Bokashi Workshop Online (PDF 16.3 MB)
• PDF version (11.31 MB) | HTML version (online slide presentation)
• Slide presentation for bokashi workshop at NOFA-NJ Winter Conference 2020
• For 10/16/2019, 11.7MB PDF file
• For 10/24/2018, 13.8MB PDF file
• For webinar 4/18/2018, 4.8MB PDF file
• bokashi composting, slide presentation, Mar 2018, 8.3MB PDF file
• bokashi composting, slide presentation B (additional slides), Mar 2018, 12.32MB PDF file

Bokashi composting at El Sol Brillante community garden (ESB) and Children's Garden (CG)

Amount of food waste treated with bokashi at ESB and CG

Bokashi Workshop - Preliminary Lesson Sheets

(intended for students/interns/attendees to read/study on their own in advance of the workshop):

• Lesson 1 - Microorganisms
• Lesson 2 - Fermentation
• Lesson 3 - Organic matter and soil
• Lesson 4 - Bokashi and EM
• Lesson 5 - Making bokashi
• Lesson 6 - Using bokashi (including fermented food waste) (TBD)

Handouts (4 per sheet, 8 1/2" x 11"):

• Recycle Food Waste at Home, cards (4 per sheet, both sides)
  See images below of front and back side.
• Recycle All Food Waste Back to the Soil (4 per sheet) -- SJC version