Green-Wood Cemetery is set to revolutionize death with its latest venture: composting corpses into nutrient-rich dirt. The historic Brooklyn graveyard has partnered with German-based funeral company Meine Erde to introduce "natural organic reduction," a sustainable alternative to traditional burial or cremation.
The process, dubbed "terramation," involves enclosing an unembalmed body in a high-tech casket that accelerates decomposition. Organic materials like clover and alfalfa are added to the casket, before it's left to break down into a 200-gallon batch of fertile soil after 40 days.
According to Green-Wood Cemetery President Meera Joshi, this eco-friendly approach "is basically the same process as when a tree falls in the woods and slowly becomes earth over time." The resulting compost cannot leave the cemetery grounds due to New York state law, but can be used for tree planting or added to the soil.
The decision to adopt terramation comes after a growing demand from people seeking sustainable ways to say goodbye. "People are more interested in sustainable ways of going through that process," Joshi said. The service is expected to cost between $5,000 and $7,000, significantly cheaper than traditional burials or mausoleums.
In an era where environmental concerns dominate the conversation around death, terramation offers a novel solution with minimal waste and maximum benefits for the planet. By returning bodies to nature, Green-Wood Cemetery aims to create a more circular and sustainable way of coping with mortality.
The process, dubbed "terramation," involves enclosing an unembalmed body in a high-tech casket that accelerates decomposition. Organic materials like clover and alfalfa are added to the casket, before it's left to break down into a 200-gallon batch of fertile soil after 40 days.
According to Green-Wood Cemetery President Meera Joshi, this eco-friendly approach "is basically the same process as when a tree falls in the woods and slowly becomes earth over time." The resulting compost cannot leave the cemetery grounds due to New York state law, but can be used for tree planting or added to the soil.
The decision to adopt terramation comes after a growing demand from people seeking sustainable ways to say goodbye. "People are more interested in sustainable ways of going through that process," Joshi said. The service is expected to cost between $5,000 and $7,000, significantly cheaper than traditional burials or mausoleums.
In an era where environmental concerns dominate the conversation around death, terramation offers a novel solution with minimal waste and maximum benefits for the planet. By returning bodies to nature, Green-Wood Cemetery aims to create a more circular and sustainable way of coping with mortality.
! i've always been fascinated by death and what happens after we're gone. this terramation thing sounds like a game changer - who needs a fancy funeral when you can just turn into dirt? 
it's amazing that green wood cemetery is leading the way on this one. i love how they're thinking outside the box (or coffin, haha) and creating something so sustainable. $5k to $7k might seem steep, but think about all the waste we avoid - it's a small price to pay for a greener future 
! I mean, think about it - our ancestors are basically being transformed into nutrient-rich soil that helps trees grow... it's like the ultimate full circle 
! Meera Joshi says it's like a tree falling in the woods, slowly becoming earth... I say it's like nature's ultimate recycling program 
!
. On one hand, I love the eco-friendly vibes it's bringing – who wouldn't want to be carbon-neutral even in death? It's like our bodies are finally being given a chance to do their part for Mother Nature 
. But on the other hand, there's something weirdly surreal about turning someone into fertilizer 
. I mean, we're basically taking a human being and breaking them down into nutrient-rich dirt – it's like they never existed at all 
.
I don't know if I'm ready to say goodbye to humanity in such a... permanent way. Still, I guess it's all about progress and finding new ways to deal with mortality 
. Maybe this is the future of death – who knows? 
! Like, who wouldn't want their body turned into nutrient-rich dirt after they're gone? It's like the ultimate form of sustainability, you know? No more harming the environment for our final rest... it's all about giving back to nature. And think about it, if we can turn dead bodies into compost, we should be able to do something similar with our trash and waste! 
I think this is a pretty cool idea! I mean, who doesn't want to help reduce waste after we're gone? It's like our bodies are just going back to where they came from - the earth! 
. can you imagine the soil at Green-Wood Cemetery being like, teeming with life and nutrients? 
. But with terramation, it's like we're being forced (in a good way?) to think about what happens after we're gone in a whole new light. It's not just about the planet; it's about our relationship with the natural world.
. Plus, think of all the organic fertilizer and soil they'll be producing – that's basically free marketing