Soil factory
Hi! We have bought a 32 gallon trash can with lid to start our soil factory! Need to drill holes in the bottom (how many? How large?) then add 3 in of soil and bokashi compost from bin then 3 in of soil. Correct? And then what? Stir and add soil as we add more bokashi compost? The steps are unclear. Appreciate any help!
The holes in the bottom are to allow moisture to drain down (if you are doing this in an area that permits drainage like this), and also to enable life to travel between the bin and the ground (again, this is if you are doing it in an area that permits this to happen, like in the garden). Some people keep their soil factory indoors, and these people should not be making holes in the bottom of their bin.
How many holes, you ask? Well, the more the better. Basically, the more you can connect the soil factory with the garden, the better and faster the results will be.
How much soil should you mix in? Well, again, the more the better. We need the life that is present in healthy garden soil to complete the breakdown, or assimilation, of the bokashi fermented foods into the soil structure. At a minimum, start with 3 or 4 inches of soil in the bottom of the container, then add your bokashi fermented foods, and mix an inch or two more new soil into the bokashi fermented foods, then cover the whole thing up with another 3 or 4 inches of fresh soil. In effect, you are diluting the bokashi fermented foods with healthy soil, so that the soil organisms have easy access to processing the foods. It is highly important that you do not use store bought soil for this process, as in most cases this is sterile and has no life in it.
In a couple of weeks, the foods should be assimilated into the soil factory, and you can now distribute this soil around your plants/garden as you would any healthy compost. Then, simply start al over again when you need a fresh batch.
This might sound like a lot of work, but its worth it. You are mimicking nature here, and your garden and plants will thank you. Its what they want!