FAQ's
- How does the All Seasons Composter™ kit work?
- What is All Seasons Bokashi™?
- How long does All Seasons Bokashi™ last?
- How do I know if my All Seasons Bokashi™ has gone bad?
- I saw some white growth on the surface of my compost. Has my compost gone bad?
- Can we compost during the winter season?
- Do you sell replacement parts for the composter?
- My compost (food waste) has retained some of its original, physical properties. Can I still bury it in the ground?
- The waste hasn’t broken down in the bucket. Is something wrong?
- What do I do with the “compost” tea that I drain from the bottom of the composter?
- How much should I dilute the “compost” tea?
- When the compost is buried in the soil, will foxes and other wild animals be able to smell it and dig it up?
- Is the fermented waste in the soil harmful to my pets?
- When I bury the compost, should I leave it in that same spot and then later plant on top of it, or should I dig it up after a few weeks and spread it throughout the garden?
- What is the composition of the plastic used in the manufacture of the indoor composting buckets? Are they manufactured with PCB (PolyChlorinatedBiphenyl's)? Should I be concerned about PCB’s and any potential contamination of the food waste?
- Pictorial Instructions on How to Use All Seasons Indoor Composter™
- Helpful Composting Tips
1. How does the All Seasons Composter™ kit work?
SCD Probiotics’ composting kit includes an All Seasons Composter™ and a package of All Seasons Bokashi™. The system uses beneficial microbes in the bokashi to FERMENT organic waste as it accumulates in the composting bucket. The bucket fits easily under most kitchen sinks, so it is convenient to access - right when you need it.Fermentation (or pickling) retains all the energy (no heat loss) and most of the nutrients in the waste with no foul odor normally associated with food waste.
2. What is All Seasons Bokashi™?
All Seasons Bokashi™ is naturally fermented bran that is primarily used for composting. Ingredients include wheat bran, rice bran, purified and structured water, sugarcane blackstrap molasses, mineral rock salt and SCD Probiotics Technology. All Seasons Bokashi™ allows for an odorless composting system, speeding up the fermentation process of food waste. When the fermented food waste is added to the soil, it breaks down completely and adds valuable nutrients to lawns and gardens.
3. How long does All Seasons Bokashi™ last?
All Seasons Bokashi™ can last for years. There is no expiration date. The wheat bran and drying process allow the microbes to become dormant until they are introduced to their ideal environment and food source. Keep tightly closed for maximum effectiveness.
4. How do I know if my All Seasons Bokashi™ has gone bad?
If there is green, blue, black or brown mold on the bokashi, this indicates putrefaction, and it should be thrown out. However, if kept sealed and with minimal exposure to oxygen, All Seasons Bokashi™ will last for years. (Not resealing your bag after you use it may cause a white mold to grow. This mold does not mean your All Seasons Bokashi™ is bad. Continue to use as directed.)
5. I saw some white growth on the surface of my compost. Has my compost gone bad?
No. This is a good indicator that the fermentation is in progress. White mold is a sign of beneficial bacteria. Continue to use as directed.
6. Can we compost during the winter season?
Yes. In many areas of the world, the ground is too frozen in winter to bury the compost directly in the soil. There is an option. The secret is keeping the compost moist. Cover the entire compost pile with a thick sheet of clear plastic. Not only will it heat the compost pile, it will also prevent rain from leaching all the nutrients out of the pile. You can also insulate the pile with a foot or more of hay or straw instead of plastic, if you can protect it well enough to keep it moist. .
7. Do you sell replacement parts for the composter?
Yes we do. Please call customer service at 913-541-9299 to get a replacement part or email at customerservice@SCDProbiotics.com.
8. My compost (food waste) has retained some of its original, physical properties. Can I still bury it in the ground?
Yes. The fermenting food waste in the All Seasons Indoor Composter™ will retain much of its original physical properties but will have a pickled appearance. Complete breakdown of material will occur once it's transferred into the soil and has been in the soil from two weeks to two months - depending on climate and soil conditions.
9. The waste hasn’t broken down in the bucket. Is something wrong?
The waste will NOT decompose while in the composter - it will only ferment (or pickle). If you can imagine a pickled onion - it will still look like an onion, but because it’s pickled, it will have changed its internal structure. The single criterion to determine if the process is working is the odor. If there’s no rotting odor, then the fermentation process is working. The physical decomposition of the waste only occurs when the material goes into the soil. Here, it breaks down very quickly because the material has been pre-conditioned (i.e. fermented).
10. What do I do with the “compost” tea that I drain from the bottom of the composter?
This liquid is teaming with microbes and nutrients! After you dilute the tea, you can use it directly on your garden or potted plants. Or, you can add the liquid to the toilet or a septic tank. The microbes will work to make the septic system more efficient. One other use is to simply pour it down the sink. The microbes will go to work on your drains and keep them clean.
11. How much should I dilute the “compost” tea?
The correct ratio is 1 tablespoon per gallon.
12. When the compost is buried in the soil, will foxes and other wild animals be able to smell it and dig it up?
Animals might be able to smell the fermented waste if you have not covered the compost completely with soil to assure further fermentation. You need to dig a trench 18" to 24" deep to bury the compost and mix the fermented material with soil as you add it to the trench.
13. Is the fermented waste in the soil harmful to my pets?
No. The beneficial microbes necessary to the fermentation process and found in the food waste are all natural and chemical free. However, you’ll want to make sure the compost is buried deep enough (18” - 24” deep) so all your good efforts end up where they belong - in your soil and gardens.
14. When I bury the compost, should I leave it in that same spot and then later plant on top of it, or should I dig it up after a few weeks and spread it throughout the garden?
As long as you allow the proper amount of time for the compost to become like soil, you can plant on top of your compost (two weeks to two months - depending on climate and soil conditions.) If you plant too soon, your scraps will be highly acidic as they decompose, possibly damaging tender roots of new plants.An alternative is to dig it up after the several weeks and spread it throughout the garden.