How did the bokashi bucket making go? Are you ready for our next Bokashi adventure?

Inquiring Mind was thinking. Certainly all the good microbes don't live in Japan. How did
they come up with the "perfect blend" of microbes? They experimented until they found one
that was stable and marketable. Are there other microbes out there that will work too? I'm
sure there are zillions of combinations of microbes that will give very good results. 

Here's a method called Newspaper Bokashi. You start with the water you wash rice with,
ferment it with milk, give your newspaper a bath in the potion, and dry the newspaper. The
newspaper is innoculated with your microbes. You then use the bokashi bucket, layering
your kitchen scraps with the newspaper instead of bran. 

http://bokashicomposting.com/

COLLECTING WILD LACTOBACILLUS

Combine 1 part rice to 2 parts water. Shake or stir vigorously. Drain. The water will be
cloudy. Lightly cover it. (Canning jar and ring to hold a coffee filter, cheesecloth or piece of
paper towel should work) Air should be able to move in and out. The liquid should fill only
1/4 to 1/2 of the jar. Need a LOT of air exposure. Place in a cool dark place for 4 - 8 days. It
should smell somewhat sour. Strain out any particles.

PURIFYING THE LACTOBACILLUS

Put the ricewater in a larger container. Add 10 parts milk or skim milk. Cover lightly,
ferment for 14 days. Most of he solids should float to the top, leaving a yellowish liquid.
Strain off the solids. This is your purified lactobacillus serum. (Don't you feel like a real
scientist now?)

INNOCULATING YOUR NEWSPAPER

Take 1 part serum, 1 part molasses and 6 parts water. Soak newspapers, then drain. Put
the newspaper in ziplock bags, squeeze air out and ferment for 10 days to 2 weeks. Remove
newspaper, separate the layers and lay them out to dry.