Posted on 02/17/2020 3:58:58 PM PST by southern rock
A US firm has given scientific details of its "human composting" process for environmentally friendly funerals. A pilot study on deceased volunteers showed that soft tissue broke down safely and completely within 30 days. The firm, Recompose, claims that its process saves more than a tonne of carbon, compared to cremation or traditional burial. It says that it will offer the world's first human composting service in Washington state from next February. Speaking exclusively to BBC News, Recompose's chief executive and founder, Katrina Spade, said that concerns about climate change had been a big factor in so many people expressing interest in the service.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
In Germany they offer forest funerals.
No embalming. No casket. Canvas bag by a tree in they woods.
What?
I very much appreciate...treasure,in fact...having a place to go to...a cemetery...where I can visit my Mom and Dad,tell them how things are going,ask them for guidance and support.And pray.If they were part of the topsoil that wouldn’t be possible.
I was going to ask about Jewish custom on this, because I remembered something about it from a friend’s death. Just a plain wooden coffin, no embalming.
I think that you can be composted in the ground if you choose a rural enough place - a lady recently died who had a YouTube cooking channel, and she and her husband were both buried that way.
I prefer cremation, when I’m done with this meat vehicle. It seems clean and very symbolic, recognizing that the *person* is not/never was the body.
How can Jewish burials do what you’re describing?
Here in the Phoenix area it’s against the law to even bury your dead cat in your yard! There’s all kinds of cemetery regulations here requiring that a coffin be sealed, placed in a concrete box that must also be sealed, etc.
It’s all about fear of contaminating the underground water table.
Specify in your will that you will not be embalmed and you are to be buried in a wood box only.
Same thing.
Yes. See, that’s what I’m talking about. That would be ideal. Beautiful and respectful. That’s why I was speculating there must be some public health legal issue in the US preventing that, otherwise why go through the complicated process described in the article.
And there is a slot in the back of the crypt in which your powdered remains are shoveled to make way for the next person. Thats why many of those crypts are family crypts.
And there is a slot in the back of the crypt in which your powdered remains are shoveled to make way for the next person. Thats why many of those crypts are family crypts.
“If they were part of the topsoil that wouldn’t be possible.”
It would be if they were in a pine box or canvas, 6ft under and in a known, marked spot.
Recently went to Israel. Noticed those buried had their feet facing Jerusalem. Is that correct?
I also asked our tour guide about the significance of stones placed on graves and the building of the Temple. Just fascinating.
I remember a scene in a movie which suggested that some of the aboriginal Americans practiced a form of this, and for varying reasons:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sky-burial
Cremation remains are sterile.
>>The only way to prevent that is to shoot you into space.
They wanted to do that in The Loved One so that they could make more money on the land than used as a cemetery.
I'm totally with you on that. I've made it clear to my family that if they embalm me and put me out for viewing I will haunt them for the rest of their days. A linen shroud and willow basket are just my style.
We learned a lot from my dad's service. He died during Holy Week, so his service had to be delayed. He was cremated, consistent with his wishes, and then we had the memorial service about a month after his death. That interval gave us all time to breathe and reflect. We had time to plan a service that truly paid tribute to him and one which he personally would have liked. I was glad that we didn't get into the clutches of one of these high-priced full service funeral parlors. We dealt with the crematory, the church, and the florist. Very personal and done to our taste.
FMCDH(BITS)
I thought the early days of the modern Los Vegas would have proved this concept 50+ years ago.
“We can burn her, bury her, or dump her.”
“Dump her?”
“In the Thames.”
(It just gets worse from there.)
According to one of my son’s (in the funeral biz) it depends on the heat levels of the crematorium. Some aren’t high enough to kill the bug.
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