I've been getting very interested in working with BSFL to rapidly decompose my inedible food leftovers. I understand that a liquid is produced during the composting process, but I am having trouble in my internet searches findings out what to do with that liquid. I see reference here and there to it being diluted to some ratio and used as a fertilizer or a compost tea (depending upon the source). However, I haven't found any good data concerning that composition of the liquid and its most useful applications. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Mike
From my experience, black soldier flies do not produce a liquid waste. If the food scraps is very wet, they will turn into a sticky sludge. If the moisture level is right, they produce very fine granular frass that some commercial BSFL farms sell directly as fertilizer.
it sounds like the liquid that comes out of the bokashi barrel when the scraps are very wet (flies regularly invade mine through the drainage holes, I don't mind, they all work together). It can be diluted and used as compost tea, but it smells super funky (and my neighbors complain). I just let it drain near plants that seem to need a boost, it attracts lots of worms.
Tereza Okava wrote:it sounds like the liquid that comes out of the bokashi barrel when the scraps are very wet (flies regularly invade mine through the drainage holes, I don't mind, they all work together). It can be diluted and used as compost tea, but it smells super funky (and my neighbors complain). I just let it drain near plants that seem to need a boost, it attracts lots of worms.
Okay, interesting. I'll give it a shot. As a last resort, I can always just dump it by my bananas. They'll take anything you can throw at them.
Just a note, although BSFL are said to not stink, I have has them invade buckets of compost and the scent was horrible, as bad or worse than anything I've ever smelled.
For context, I was a service pumber/drain technician for several years.
William Bronson wrote: Just a note, although BSFL are said to not stink, I have has them invade buckets of compost and the scent was horrible, as bad or worse than anything I've ever smelled.
For context, I was a service pumber/drain technician for several years.
Thanks, and this was consistent with my experience as well. Can anyone who BSFL composts speak to this? I assumed that maybe the smell that I experienced and the sludgyness of the compost was due to the fact that there was no drainage (they invaded my tumbler when it was too heavy on green materials).
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