Feeding The Need: Making It Visible

by The Sustainability Steward

On October 18^th, I attended the Feeding the Need: Making It Visible Luncheon sponsored by the Seven Loaves Community of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano.  Because the Seven Loaves Community food pantry is a recipient of the produce from the Plano Community Garden, I wanted to attend to learn more about the plight of the homeless and hungry in Collin County.

The guest speaker was Texas Senator Florence Shapiro from District 8, the district that includes PCG, and she gave a very powerful speech about the growth of the homeless in our community.  What makes this even more alarming is that the zip code of St. Andrew and the Plano Community Garden, 75093, is the third wealthiest zip code in the eastern half of the DFW Metroplex. 

Senator Shapiro shared with us how the homeless population has increased over 200% in the past three years in Collin County, and that an unbelieveable 14% of the citizens now in our county are food insecure.  In fact, 60% of the homeless interviewed are employed, though under-employed, and the availability of food has become the largest need now among those in poverty in our area.  She ended her speech by sharing with us the Eight Levels of Charity as described by the great philosopher, Maimonides.  Maimonides taught that by sharing one’s talents and gifts with others in order to strengthen them so they no longer are a burden on others, one is exhibiting the greatest level of charity.  Senator Shapiro then applauded the Plano community for its charity and, more importantly, by “teaching others to fish”, providing a means to those around us to help pull themselves out of poverty and hunger.

The Plano Community Garden is one way to help alleviate hunger in our area.  By adopting and agreeing to care for a plot in the PCG, one agrees to maintain a garden plot year round and provide half of one’s grown produce to the area food pantries in Plano, including the Seven Loaves pantry operated by St. Andrew United Methodist.  All water, mulch and compost in the PCG is provided at no charge to the gardener by the city of Plano, and, more importantly, one receives the satisfaction of helping to alleviate hunger in the area.  If interested in learning more about the garden and the opportunities that it offers, please log on to the URL below and find out more:

http://www.plano.gov/DEPARTMENTS/ENVIRONMENTAL%20SERVICES/EDUCATION/FACILITIES/Pages/PlanoCommunityGarden.aspx

The Sustainability Steward

Bring on the Bokashi!!

In my continued effort to be more green, I've been composting using the Bokashi method for almost two years now. Bokashi is a Japanese term that means "fermented organic matter". It is a method of intensive composting that normally uses an anaerobic (without air) inoculation process to produce the compost. Once a starter culture is made, it can be re-used. Bokashi is commonly made with only molasses, water, microorganisms called "effective microorganisms" or "EM", and wheat bran. It has traditionally been used to increase the microbial diversity and activity in soils and to supply nutrients to plants.

The Process

In home composting applications, kitchen waste is placed into a container which is sealed with an air tight lid. These scraps are then inoculated with a Bokashi EM mix. The user continues to place alternating layers of food scraps and Bokashi EM until the container is full. Once the bucket is full to capacity, the waste can be buried. Here's the REALLY COOL part that separates it from traditional composting - you can put a reasonable amount of dairy and meat products in it (yes, I said MEAT). The liquid, known as Bokashi Juice, can be used as plant food, or can be poured down the drain. This is good (I've heard) for households with septic systems.

The food waste does not break down or decompose while it's in the bucket, however. Much of it will remain and it will have a "pickled" smell. The breakdown of waste will occur after it has been transferred to the soil. Burying Bokashi compost in a garden supplies plants with a nourishing food source and conditions the soil with the microbes it has in it. Bokashi compost scraps can also be mixed into a regular/traditional compost pile instead of transferring to soil.

Getting It Started

You can find the specially-designed bins for Bokashi composting online, but it will cost you $50-75 to score one. I went the DIY route and made one out of two 2-gallon paint/storage buckets, available at most home centers ($5-10). You can also make your own Bokashi EM bran "mix", but in the interest of time I just purchased some online. So here's your list of stuff to get 'er started:

1. Two 2-gallon paint/storage buckets with lids (preferably with a rubber seal on them)

2. Bokashi mix (I would recommend starting out with at least a month's supply)

3. Drill & drill bit

4. Object to push the organic matter down into the container (i.e., a salad plate, potato masher, etc.)

5. Couple of sheets of plastic wrap

6. The organic goodies you'll be putting in your bucket

Procedure

1. Drill a series of holes (1/4" - 3/8") in the bottom of ONE of the buckets.

2. Place this bucket inside of the other bucket. The inside area between the two creates the needed space for any juice that may drain out.

3. Add a little bit of organic matter (2-3") into the bucket.

4. Shake a small amount of Bokashi (half a cup or a small handful is fine) on top of the organic matter, trying to coat most of the surfaces. If you wish to add a little bit of water, do it in the form of a spray bottle (in other words, not much).

5. Repeat this "sandwiching" process until the bucket is full.

6. Press the contents down firmly using a plate or other flat object. Remember this process works best with NO air present.

7. Take the plastic wrap/sheet and cover the top of the contents, making sure to overlap it over the edges. This is why the paint bucket with sealed lid is so effective. You need to create an almost airtight seal.

8. You're done... for now. The material will start to ferment and decompose; however, much of the final breaking-down will happen once it's been put in the ground. Keep it inside your house in a convenient, yet out-of-the-way location for at least 2-3 weeks.

9. Dig a hole in your garden bed, at least a few inches down, and dump in the material. Then cover it back up. 

I would wait at least 2-3 weeks before planting anything in that location. Trust me, your plants will LOVE it!

yourownvictorygarden

More Information & Supplies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokashi_composting

http://bokashi.com.au/index.html

http://www.cityfarmer.org/bokashi.html

http://www.bokashicycle.com/