We’ve written regularly about how taking transit instead of driving solo is better for the environment. But don’t stop there! There are other small lifestyle changes you can make that help improve the environment — and one such change is to compost your food waste, at home or even in your office.

When you compost, you reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills and landfill emissions. And for those of you with backyards, access to community gardens and/or balcony plants, composting means you’ll always have free fertilizer to help maintain soil quality.

Yes, I know — you hear the word compost and think ‘gross, smelly, rotting food.’ But there are ways to compost that makes the process easy and stink-free. Just ask Sustainable Little Tokyo’s Bokashi Club.

The Bokashi Club meets every other month in Little Tokyo. During the free workshop, you can learn about the Okinawan tradition of Bokashi, an anaerobic process that uses a special additive to ferment kitchen waste — including meat and dairy — into a healthy soil and nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants. And for $2, you can take home a bag of Bokashi to help you get started.

The club’s next meeting is on Saturday, May 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Zenshuji Soto Mission. Zenshuji is just a short walk from the Gold Line Little Tokyo/Arts District Station. Exit the station toward 1st Street, then walk two blocks west on 1st St. Turn right on Hewitt Street and walk another three minutes and you’re there!

So if you’ve always been curious about composting but weren’t sure where to start…check out Bokashi Club! The club members are extremely friendly and will definitely make you feel welcome.