My downstairs neighbor saw my bokashi bucket and asked if I was brewing beer

I was hauling my bucket down to the basement last Tuesday when my neighbor Mike stopped me. He pointed at the spigot and said "oh nice, you making mead?" Idk why but that moment made me realize how weird apartment composting looks to people who don't do it. Like we're out here fermenting eggshells and coffee grounds in 5-gallon buckets. He thought I had a tiny brewery setup. Now I wonder if anyone else has gotten mistaken for something else. What's the weirdest thing someone asked about your setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor.mary1mo ago

12 times my neighbor's kids have asked me if I'm "making potions" in my kitchen. It's not that deep honestly - people just see a bucket with a hose and their brain fills in the blank. Most folks think you're either brewing alcohol or cooking up some kind of science project. I'd say just tell him it's for making dirt and move on, it's really not worth explaining to every curious neighbor.

the_sage1mo ago

Making dirt" is genuinely the perfect response because it's technically true but weird enough that nobody asks followup questions. Kids especially lose interest fast when the answer isn't mysterious lol.