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[Bali life] Learning from my Ogakuzu compost after three weeks



I have been making Ogakuzu compost for almost three weeks now. I have a big compost bin in our house, big enough for three large fridges, so I have been doing this Ogakuzu composting just for fun. Unlike the compost I usually use, I do it inside the house (although Bali we don't have walls, so it's mostly outside), so this compost is like a pet. In fact, when I feed it with rubbish, it becomes hot, and I feel it's alive. If it doesn't get enough water, it can lose its energy.


After 3 weeks of feeding, I noticed something. If I put only vegetables, it doesn't have much energy. Some said that 300-400 grams is the right amount to put in, but the amount and the size of the waste I put are random, so that why it may not be stable. When it was too dry, I give water on it. I thought it would not be so dry because it is rainy season in Bali, but it seems to need more water than I thought.


The Ogakuzu has turned black in some parts and looks like compost, but it is not as mature as the compost we use at home. There is no foul smell and no insects at all. The tote bag I use has a zip, and there are no gaps at either end of the zip, so as long as the waste gets into the bag before they lay their eggs, there seems to be no chance of bugs getting in. However, as maggots and other larvae are the animals that dispose of our food waste, the absence of such insects may be the reason for the slow decomposition.


The paper bag inside is surprisingly fragile, and I think it will break when I take the compost out of the tote bag after the compost is ready. So it might be better to put a net bag inside the tote bag next time. I will continue to do this without overthinking.






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