Kenkashi:
Small Life Doing
Big Things

The microbes that surround us reconfigure the world through decomposition, breaking down organic matter and releasing nutrients that feed the plants that feed us.

Kenkashi incorporates beneficial bacteria and myccorhizal fungi to deliver a microbe-rich compound to the soil through compost acceleration and direct application. The unique, peaty structure of the kenaf substrate harbors the microbes for longer than liquids and also improves the texture and water retention of the soil. Learn more

Probiotics
For Your Soil

KENAF is a type of hemp fiber native to east-central Africa where it has been grown for several thousand years for food and fiber. It grows very fast, and thanks to the recent Farm Bill it is now legal in the United States. Kenaf has a very porous structure which absorbs up to 60% of it’s volume in liquid, making it an ideal substrate for fermented microbial populations and an excellent soil additive.

KENKASHI is kenaf 1 inoculated with microbes for use in the bokashi 2 method of composting and as a soil additive. It is a probiotic for soil and plants. Just as your gut biome is more efficient with a healthy microbial population because you digest food better and obtain more of the nutrients from your food, soil and plants benefit from a lively, healthy microbiome. Unlike traditional composting which relies on aerobic decomposition in the compost pile, KENKASHI composting breaks down the waste material once it’s in the ground.

BOKASHI composting has been practiced in Korea and Japan for centuries. It is an anaerobic process that relies on inoculated rice or wheat bran to ferment kitchen waste, including meat and dairy, into a safe soil builder and nutrient-rich tea for your plants. Using kenaf as the substrate increases the density of the microbes, and gives them a longer residence time.

Probiotics
For Your Soil

KENKASHI is the ideal substrate for absorption of bacteria, odor, and liquid.

Product Applications

The unique characteristics of KENKASHI allow for a variety of applications, all relating to the treatment of organic material.

Kenkashi
For Kitchen

By sprinkling KENKASHI into your scrap bucket, fermentation bacteria excludes the putrefaction bacteria, and prepares the waste for direct application to soil or your compost pile.

KENKASHI
For Soil

Bacteria stimulate fungal activity in soil, and the addition of myccorhizal fungi to KENKASAHI allows for rapid establishment of the fungal relationships so essential to healthy soil and healthy plant growth. Ideal for container gardening and high value plants.

Kenkashi
For Compost

Apply as an accelerant to a standard compost pile, water the KENKASHI and cover with organic matter.

WE WANT TO SEE HOW YOU USE KENKASHI!

We are still discovering new ways to use KENKASHI. We have used it in kitty litter to reduce odors, applied it to damp, smelly rugs to soak up odors and moisture; put it into outhouse and composting toilets, put it into chicken houses… etc. We’d love to hear from you about any new applications you have tried.

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Kenkashi
How To Use

Kenkashi for Kitchen

Kenkashi for Compost

Kenkashi for Soil

1. Home Composting K
- Kitchen waste using bokashi method
- Compost accelerant in a traditional compost pile
2. Soil Amendment For: S
- Small gardens
- Houseplants
- Greenhouses
3. Inoculent System For: C
- Septic Systems
- Camping toilets
4. Fertilizer Additive: C
- Stimulates breakdown and absorption of nutrients in the application of animal manure, composted leaves or any nutrient rich fertilizer.
5. Seed Starter: S
- Add to potting soil when starting seeds.

Frequently
Asked Questions

What makes the microbes more or less active?

Temperature and moisture are the biggest determinants of bacterial activity. If it is below 40 degrees or above 90 degrees the bacteria will either go dormant or die. The kenkashi is activated by contact with water and will continue to be effective as long as the temperature is within that range and the soil is moist. The fact that the kenaf holds water so well helps to maintain a suitable moisture level without constant watering.

How is this different from compost tea?

There is a more controlled bacterial population in the KENKASHI than in compost tea. Also, the kenaf holds the bacteria for longer for slower and more lasting release of the microbes without danger of evaporation.

Is Kenkashi a fertilizer?

No, it is not a fertilizer. It should be applied in combination with fertilizer or plant food. It breaks down the nutrients for the plants. That’s why it is particularly well suited to the Bokashi composting method, because the kitchen scraps provide the food that the bacteria need.

Why do I need to add microbes into the soil when there are already microbes occurring naturally?

There are already microbes in the soil, but increasing the microbial population directly onto fertilizer or organic waste of any kind accelerates the digestion and decomposition.

Are the microbes more effective in urban or contained environments?

Yes, they are essential in any kind of stressed environment because bacterial life in those environments is not constantly renewed by natural decomposition cycles in the same way as they are in a more natural setting.

Do I have to continually apply microbes or do they eventually maintain themselves in a dynamic community?

Depending on the general health of the environment, the microbes may not be as necessary after a while, but it depends on a wide variety of factors such as rainfall, air quality, organic matter in the soil.

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Kenkashi:
Small Life Doing
Big Things

Small Life Doing
Big Things

Probiotics
For Your Soil

Probiotics
For Your Soil

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