Question: Can I add Bokashi compost to a worm bin?
Answer: The answer is an enthusiastic YES! This is a great solution for apartment dwellers or those of you who (for one reason or another) can't or don't want to compost food scraps outdoors.
The fermented contents of the Bokashi bucket are a great addition to a worm bin, even if you've put dairy, meat, or bones into the bucket. By the time it's all fermented (which takes approximately two weeks after the bucket is completely full) it breaks down much easier.
Here are a few tips for making this work:
- Add a little bit of Bokashi compost at a time. Try adding approximately two cups of Bokashi, burying it in the bedding, and see what happens.
- When you add the Bokashi, your worms may seem to avoid the area for a day or two. Leave them alone; they'll come around!
- Once they do start working on the Bokashi, they'll devour it pretty quickly. Once the worms have eaten most of the first "serving" of Bokashi, put another two cups of it in another area of the worm bin. They'll find it and take care of it in no time!
- If you want to keep your indoor composting system working at full speed, I recommend getting two Bokashi buckets and possibly two worm bins. This way, neither system will be overburdened, and you can keep adding food to one Bokashi bucket while you're emptying out the other into your worm bin. You can also continue giving your worms fresh kitchen scraps during this time -- they'll probably appreciate the variety.
