Composting contacts
Did you read about the Bokashi method of composting organic waste in the last issue of Elements and wonder how you could get started?
Bokashi compost bins
The Bokashi Compost-Zing System works by fermenting food waste. Suppliers recommend that you have two systems: one bucket gets filled while the second is allowed to ferment. This ensures continuity of processing your food waste. Also remember that you need to bury the waste and empty the bins regularly to avoid smell. Bokashi can take all organic waste, including cooked and raw meat and dairy products.
The Bokashi Compost-Zing Systems are available in either 10 litre or 15 litre sizes and retail between $40 and $49.95 for each system. Each system is supplied with a bag of Compost-Zing activator and full instructions.
You can get more supplies of Compost-Zing from the stockists listed below. These cost between $8 each and under normal conditions are sufficient for up to ten weeks (about 12 centsa day).
You can buy the Bokashi Compost-Zing System from six stockists in the greater Wellington region.
- Wairarapa: Wairarapa Organics Inc,
c/- Esther Dijkstra,
PO Box 34, Carterton,
p 06 379 5622,
email esther.dijkstra@wise.net.nz
- Kapiti Coast: David Johnston
39 SH 1 Otaki,
p 06 364 6101,
email lao@ihug.co.nz
- Wellington: Neville Chun,
7 Balgownie Grove, Lower Hutt,
p 04 9770262,
email neville@zeniths.co.nz
Commonsense Organics,
260 Wakefield Street, Wellington,
p 04 3843314
Lifestyle Organics,
220 Jackson Street, Petone
p 04 9397804
Botanic Gardens Shop,
Wellington Botanic Gardens
p 04 4735747
Worm bins
Another alternative for composting organic waste is a worm farm. Worms are fussy eaters so not everything can be composted, but once you’re set up, they’re self-regulating.
Suppliers
Kiwi Earthworm Distributors
P O Box 13
Matakana 1241
pat@nznet.gen.nz
Phone 0800 539 676
Costs: from $35 (two-tray system) to $65 (four-tray system), worms $25 for 250gms. Plus courier charge for delivery to your door ($6.50 in the Wellington region, rural delivery an extra $3.50).
Pickwick worms
51 Taylors Road, RD 1, Otaki,
Kapiti Coast.
Phone 06 364 5088
Approximately $160 plus freight
Worms R us
Phone 09 292 7759
Approximately $140 plus freight