Terramation

Yes. Although it involves additional expense, you can have your loved one’s remains transported to a provider in a state where it is legal. Additional expenses include charges by both the shipping and receiving providers, as well as actual transport charges. Following the reduction process, the compost can be donated, or any portion of it can be shipped back to the family. 

Yes, natural organic reduction is considered environmentally friendly. There is no casket or outer burial container used, nor does embalming take place. Natural organic reduction also has a smaller carbon footprint than cremation. 

Yes, natural organic reduction is considered safe. The process takes place in controlled facilities that follow strict guidelines and regulations to ensure dignity, hygiene, and proper handling of the deceased. These facilities prioritize safety measures to prevent the spread of pathogens and ensure a respectful handling of the remains.

After the natural organic reduction process is complete, the remaining organic matter, similar to compost, can be used for various purposes. It can be returned to the family, donated for conservation initiatives, or utilized for land restoration projects. It can be used in the same ways any other soil or compost is used.

The level of involvement or witnessing opportunities during the process may vary depending on the facility and provider you work with. It is not uncommon for providers to welcome family for the “laying in” of their loved one, where the deceased is placed into the vessel in which the organic reduction occurs. This typically involves the deceased person wrapped in a shroud of natural fibers, with loved ones invited to place flowers, drawings, letters, or other natural elements in the vessel with their loved one. Then, the vessel is sealed for the process to begin.

Some providers who enable shipping of the deceased to a place where organic reduction is legal, can also provide a ceremony similar to ‘laying in’ before transport takes place. 

The asnwer will vary depending on where the death takes place and where the deceased needs to be transported to. In general, embalming is not required for shipping, as long as the deceased is shipped in a specialized, leak-proof container.