Green-Wood Cemetery to Offer Composting Option for a More Sustainable Death Experience
In an effort to reduce its environmental footprint, Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn is set to introduce a new service that allows people to choose a more eco-friendly way to pass away. Starting in 2027, the nearly 200-year-old cemetery will begin offering human composting, also known as "terramation," which converts deceased bodies into nutrient-rich soil.
The process involves an unembalmed body being placed in a specialized casket that controls humidity and ventilation, with organic materials such as clover, wood chips, and straw added to the mix. After 40 days, the entire pile turns into a 200-gallon batch of fertile soil, which can be used for tree planting or added to the cemetery grounds.
According to Green-Wood Cemetery President Meera Joshi, people are increasingly interested in sustainable ways of dealing with death, and this new service is part of a broader effort to reduce the cemetery's environmental impact. "It's like the natural cycle of nature," Joshi said. "We're going back to earth."
The process is not only more environmentally friendly but also has the potential to provide additional space for burials at Green-Wood, which is expected to run out of space for new graves in the near future.
While the cost of the service has yet to be announced, it's reportedly significantly cheaper than traditional burial options. In contrast, a traditional burial at Green-Wood costs $21,000, while a mausoleum can cost up to $50,000.
For those interested in exploring this option, they can put in an inquiry on the cemetery's website. The new service is seen as a step towards creating a more sustainable death experience that not only benefits the environment but also honors the deceased and their loved ones.
In an effort to reduce its environmental footprint, Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn is set to introduce a new service that allows people to choose a more eco-friendly way to pass away. Starting in 2027, the nearly 200-year-old cemetery will begin offering human composting, also known as "terramation," which converts deceased bodies into nutrient-rich soil.
The process involves an unembalmed body being placed in a specialized casket that controls humidity and ventilation, with organic materials such as clover, wood chips, and straw added to the mix. After 40 days, the entire pile turns into a 200-gallon batch of fertile soil, which can be used for tree planting or added to the cemetery grounds.
According to Green-Wood Cemetery President Meera Joshi, people are increasingly interested in sustainable ways of dealing with death, and this new service is part of a broader effort to reduce the cemetery's environmental impact. "It's like the natural cycle of nature," Joshi said. "We're going back to earth."
The process is not only more environmentally friendly but also has the potential to provide additional space for burials at Green-Wood, which is expected to run out of space for new graves in the near future.
While the cost of the service has yet to be announced, it's reportedly significantly cheaper than traditional burial options. In contrast, a traditional burial at Green-Wood costs $21,000, while a mausoleum can cost up to $50,000.
For those interested in exploring this option, they can put in an inquiry on the cemetery's website. The new service is seen as a step towards creating a more sustainable death experience that not only benefits the environment but also honors the deceased and their loved ones.
... think about it, our planet's already drowning in dead stuff, so why not just turn us into fertilizer? Plus, it's like, we're all just gonna end up as dirt anyway, right? 
It's kinda fitting that we'd come full circle like that. And let's be real, $21,000 for a traditional burial is just crazy 
... I'd pay to become compost if it meant saving my family some cash 
? And it's not just about the planet, it's also about respecting our parents' wishes if they'd be all about this whole sustainability thing 
... Plus, can you imagine using soil from your own funeral as fertilizer for a tree that's gonna outlive you? It's like nature's cycle of life and death and rebirth... or something 
! Composting after death sounds like such a natural way to cycle back into the earth, you know? It's all about reducing waste and living in harmony with nature, right? 
And I have to say, the fact that it's cheaper than traditional burial options is a huge bonus - not everyone can afford $21,000 for a grave 
. It's great to see cemeteries like Green-Wood taking steps towards sustainability and creating a more eco-friendly death experience 
.
. I mean, think about it - our bodies are just gonna decompose anyway, right? So why not just speed up the process and create something useful out of it? It's like a full-circle thing - we're taking care of our bodies while they're alive, now we're going to take care of the planet after we're gone 
. It's all about finding ways to honor the deceased in a way that feels natural and sustainable.
. I mean, think about it - we're talking about taking human remains and breaking them down into soil... isn't that just, like, another way of dealing with death? And what's wrong with a traditional burial, anyway? It's been done for centuries! Plus, have you seen the price tag on some of these eco-friendly options? $21,000? That's more than my car payment 
. Not saying it can't be done right, but I'm just not convinced...
. And can you imagine the conversations you could have with your family about what you want to do when it's time to go? "Honey, I want my body to become a tree" vs "Dad, I don't know, can we just get a mausoleum?" 
. It's like, we should be proud of how our bodies will become part of the earth again after we're gone 
Human composting sounds like such a cool way to reduce waste and go green after we're gone 
.
what a game changer! finally, we can reduce our carbon footprint at the end of life 
plus, it's cheaper than those pricey mausoleums 
) about sustainable death options 
we should all be thinkin about how our actions affect the planet, even when it comes to the big things like death 
teramation sounds like a pretty rad way to go out (no pun intended) 
its also crazy that the cost is gonna be cheaper than traditional burials, who knew you could save some cash by gettin composted 
.
But if this composting option is cheaper and still eco-friendly, I think it's worth considering. And can you imagine using soil made from your own body to plant a tree? It's like leaving a piece of yourself behind 
.