Oh crikey, it's been a long time since I posted.  I have been traveling for over 1 year, to & in the great country of New Zealand.  I have learned  a lot more about the professional cooking of food.

I have started out by looking at how we cook our food?  What machines do we use?

More posts coming in the next few days about my recent findings and updates about the www.bokashi.com.au  business in Australia and how its helping people become more sustainable in your own back yard. 

Bokashi Bucket in the Heatwave Cities

Certainly in normal conditions,  then a warm day will not affect the microbial actions that are quietly taking place in your 'Green Frog' Bokashi Bucket. 

But there is a small chance (hence this post),  in the receptical that the live and working micro-organisms may  face an early death if the temperature gets hot enough.  In this case,  then the fermentation process will likely stop and no longer be actively working.

Keep your bucket's out of direct sunlight during these long hot summer days to make the most out of this fantastic system.

If you are in any doubt,  then do the following:

1. Drain away the Bokashi Juice.  Bokashi Juice will form in the bottom of the bucket. This should be drained off as it builds up.   Bokashi Juice can be diluted with water and makes a terrific fertiliser for garden or pot plants.  It can be poured down drains and it is safe to use in septic tanks. When used in drains it will help to clean up our water ways by competing with harmful bacteria.
2. Bury the current waste
3. Clean out the bucket with a hose (over a poor patch of the lawn recommended) and wash out & some biodegradeable detergent  (if necessary) 
4. Start the process again, as per the instructions  http://www.bokashi.com.au/Bokashi-Instructions.htm 

Any questions, please send me a message direct through this blog,  i'll be happy to answer your enquiry.

Prepare for Holidays (Bokashi Bucket)

Its that time of year when a lot of us clear out of town for holidays.  Things to remember:

1. Take the cat to cattery
2. Redivert the postal mail
3. Stop the newspaper
4. Configure your OOF in MS Outlook
5. Turn the hot water cylinder off
6. Put that old set of disco lights on the timer,  so everyone knows your home  (Right!)
7. Etc

Don't forget poor'lil Bokashi Bucket.  He doesn't need to be feed,  he knows you guys need a holiday.  But drain his "Bokashi Juice" before you leave town.

Pour the juice down the sink if you are not going to water out (fertilise).  Certainly you can go away for 3-6 weeks  and the Bokashi waste will just continue to ferment and you can bury it when you get back.  Or bury the waste now, give him a good cleanout and get things started in the garden on your return.

Bokashi Videos http://www.youtube.com/user/billjackjane?feature=mhum

Bokashi Videos

Milestone. Reached 44,421 views on the Bokashi Videos. Visit Green Frog Bokashi for more Aussie Bokashi info

Randwick Council 150th Anniversary

Just a quick wrap up. Weather was fine. Well organised again, as is their annual sustainability event that has been at the community centre.
Good interest in the Green Frog Bokashi Bucket. Jane Saville bought 2 x Green Frog Bokashi Buckets, so they must be good, right?
Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!!

Bokashi Juice - Dilution Rates

Received an enquiry from a customer today that has read several different versions of how he should dilute Bokashi Juice. This was my response:

Hi xxxx

Apologies that you have been confused. We sell and distribute Green Frog Bokashi Buckets and Green Frog EM Bokashi Powder. For our instructions, please see the attached recommendations. Some stores (Green Frog Bokashi Resellers) may not to use our instructions, if you have bought our product, can you let me know where from, so we can enforce some consistency?

I would swing more to 200:1 as a general rule for most established plants. (100:1 being a much stronger dose for those that need a shot in the arm, so to speak). Where I would be careful is with sensitive natives, small vegetable seedlings and for spray on direct foliage (I personally don’t include grass as a direct foliage) for which you might like to go down to 300:1. 500:1 is a teaspoon for 5 litres, I just cannot see it as being beneficial at that diluted rate. For Green Frog Bokashi at least.

I’ll revise our instructions with the owner of Green Frog Bokashi in the new year to see what improvements can be made to the accompanying materials. We don’t have any lab tests as such. However, we would like your feedback if you have time to contribute.

Manly Environment Centre

Last weekend there was a couple of big events on Manly Beach. The Fair Trade event on the Saturday, then Manly Ocean Care Day 2008 on the Sunday.

We had the Green Frog Bokashi stand there on the Sunday. Good crowd, good turnout and heaps of positive feedback for Bokashi. This is the 3rd year in a row we have done this event, and it is a premier event on the Sydney sustainability calendar. Moreso, because of the amount of people that are on the corso all day. Walking, running, watching, eating fish and chips.

People come from all over Sydney to Manly for a Sunday out. Ferry, Car, Sydney Busses. Manly has heaps to offer.

Even in the morning, we had nippers in front of our stand, going there their routines with the trainers. Later in the morning there was this mass of surfers, paddling out. No Surf, so I was surprised. Once they got out about 100 metres, they all formed a ring, and they were just sitting on there boards. I was even more surprised. Someone was talking, but I could not hear what these surfers were listening to. Then 1 big chant (exclamation) at the end, sealed the deal. What was it all about? Anyway, I asked my colleague at work this week, and he said it could have been some surfers paying homage to the Bali incident.

Back to the Bokashi subject. Feel free to email us or make a comment through the blog, if you have any queries, questions, concerns or other things you want to get off your chest.

There will be another blog before Christmas, but for all those who are going away, safe journey and don't forget to drain the excess juice off the "Green Frog Bokashi Bucket" before you leave home.

What would you like to see on this blog? Post some Manly photos soon.

Manly Environment Centre

Newsletter

We thank all our customers for your support and feedback over the last year. We appreciate it.

Green Frog Bokashi - In fitting with the environment and to make our product more recognizable, we have rebranded the EM Bokashi and Bokashi Buckets to carry the name “Green Frog”. Bokashi Composting Australia will still be the Distributor; the product is named “Green Frog”.

Retail Outlets - We now have over 40 retail outlets selling Green Frog Bokashi, we supply to every state in Australia and most major cities. Visit our website to see if there is a store near you, you may be able to save on the postage expense if buy direct from one of these stores.

Organic Farmers Markets (affects Sydney customers) - For the last 3 years we have had a stall at various Organic Food and Farmers Markets, most often the Orange Grove Leichardt and Frenchs Forest venues, and generally every fortnight, as noted on our Markets Page. We will no longer attend these markets regularly; however you can still get your Bokashi Mix and Buckets from both Orange Grove and Frenchs Forrest Markets. Baliz Woof Woof, Sydney’s Organic Pet Food supplier, is stocking the Green Frog Bokashi Mix and Buckets; they won’t hold a large number of buckets so you can pre order. Baliz Woof Woof attends these markets every 2nd and 4th weekend. Dates that they attend are on our Markets Page or you can contact them direct.
Like most stall holders they will be taking their annual holiday over the month of January so remember to pick up your Bokashi before then so as not to run out. Of course you can always order on line or over the telephone or visit one of our retail outlets.

$50.00 Rebate closes 17 December 2008 – (affects Queensland customers) - Queensland customers have been fortunate as their state government has provided a 50% rebate of up to $50 for certain gardening products including the Green Frog Bokashi Bucket. To be eligible for this rebate purchases must be made prior to 17 December 2008.

If you have purchased a Bokashi Bucket since 18 December 2006, and have not already done so don’t forget to apply for this rebate. Please contact us if you want an application form, or contact the Queensland Government Hotline on 1800 243 585 or down load application pack. Tell your friends and family to get in quick to essentially get the Green Frog Bokashi Bucket at half price.
Christmas Trading Hours

Our office will be closed from Saturday 20 December 2008 and reopen on Monday 5 January. However, internet orders will still be dispatched. Get your orders in early, to avoid possible seasonal delays in courier or postal services.

Remember, your bokashi bucket can stay at home fermenting while you travel. Just remember to drain the Bokashi Juice before you leave home, or bury the Bokashi Waste and take the Bokashi Bucket camping!

Customer Service - How is our customer service? If you have feedback, then we want to hear it. We are always striving to improve our service and the way orders are handled.

If you have a question about the Bokashi System, we are very happy to answer any questions send an email or telephone the office on 02 9591 1699, Monday to Friday.

We wish you a safe and happy festive season ahead and look forward to being of service in 2009.

Best Regards

Bokashi Composting Australia Team