The secret is a bucket of microbe bugs in their kitchen using EM Bokashi — a product made from grain husks which have been fermented with effective micro-organisms (EM).

Layers of food scraps are mixed with handfuls of EM Bokashi and squashed together. They are squashed because the EM bokashi works best without air.

The moisture in the food scraps activates the micro-organisms which then ferment the kitchen organics quickly and with very little smell. The strongest odour is a kind of a pickling-type smell.

Once the bucket is full the contents are left to ferment for 10 to 14 days before being buried in the garden.

People who have tried the system are surprised that, after 10 days fermenting, the kitchen scraps look no different. Although they expected it to break down, it looks basically the same as when they put it into the bucket.

Once mixed with garden soil and buried, the fermented scraps break down completely within two to three weeks. Garden worms love it.

An EM Bucket Composting System costs $14 and is available from most Service Centres and the landscaping yards at the Parkhouse and Bromley Refuse Stations.

To find out more, contact Gill or Chris at Garden City Composting, ph 941 7516 or 941 7512. Other services include tours of the Bromley Refuse Station and Composting site, Waste Water and Treatment Works, Landfill and Water Pumping Stations. Tours are available Monday to Friday for groups of at least 10 people. Certain conditions apply. For information about tours, phone Chris on 941 7512.