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24 February—Human composting “is the ultimate way to honor the Earth,” according to Connecticut State Representative Christine Palm. That’s why she and fellow Democratic Representative Amy Morrin Bello have proposed legislation “to allow for the disposal of dead human bodies through natural organic reduction.” They’ve introduced separate bills with the same statement of purpose but no details as yet.

As I wrote yesterday, human composting, natural organic reduction, green burial, or terramation as it’s coming to be known, seems like a good idea. In fact, it’s a great idea and could be a great practice, the most economical and ecological way to go when you go, an excellent, “environmentally responsible alternative to burial and cremation.” Just dig a hole, throw in the corpse—perhaps with some bacteria and fungi to enhance and accelerate the composting process (and add some sentimental stuff, if you like)—back-fill the hole, tamp down the dirt, and let nature take its course.

Nah, that’d be too easy. Throw-in-the-hole can be done, mind you, even in Connecticut, where you don’t need a box unless the state-approved necropolis requires one. So why, you wonder, is legislation necessary to permit terramation? Easy. In that process, the enhanced corporeal decomposition occurs in an above-ground box. It’s also capitalism and politics in action.

As things stand now, you’re not allowed to do terramation yourself. In the few states where it already is legal (including California, Vermont, and New York), here’s how it’s done by the pros:

First, the cadaver is washed. I have no idea why, except that most religions insist on it Then it’s wrapped in a decomposable shroud and covered with wood chips, straw, and other plant material. The shroud probably serves only an aesthetic purpose. Mourners are encouraged to put flowers on the shroud, but only real ones.

Then the body is placed in a bioreactor, a non-biodegradable, reusable container that keeps it warm and moist (kind of like when it was alive), with constant airflow to ensure maximally efficient aerobic decomposition. For the same reason, the decadescent remains are rotated, as is done with any good compost heap.

The plant material and the corpse itself evidently provide all the microbes necessary to break down the body, including most of the bone matter, into about a cubic yard of rich, sweet, loamy soil in a month or two. Now that really is impressive, even if some recalcitrant bone fragments will need to be ground down. My non-terramated Norway maple leaves take much longer.

Implants and other non-organic additions to the body are removed from the bioreactor and recycled. Waste not, want not.

The soil can then be used like any other soil. If it’s as rich as claimed, it should be good for flower and vegetable gardens. Proponents of terramation like the idea of planting memorial gardens in the decedents. Better yet, imagine pulling delicious carrots, radishes, and potatoes out of a loved one. And an urnful on the mantel wouldn’t be amiss, just like ashes.

The catch is that terramation isn’t cheap. $3,000 (for a no-frills job) to $7,000 (for something more conventional) for a yard of terramated soil does seem rather pricey when you consider that you can get a yard of screened topsoil for well under $50. But considering the pretty neutral 6 to 7 pH as well as fond memories, it’s perfect dirt.

A $799 no-frills cremation and a convenient urnful of memories, on the other hand, is a great buy without question, but it leaves you with exceptionally alkaline (pH up around 12) ashes which aren’t much good for fertilizer unless you have very, very acidic soil. But they’re great in an urn.

Despite opposition from virtually all religions and lots of Republicans, then—if not because of it—terramation is an undeniably attractive way to dispose of human remains. Since most soil is dirt cheap, however, direct cremation gives you better bang for the buck. But if you can negotiate state and municipal bureaucracy, you simply can’t beat the economy and, frankly, the devotion to a loved one of digging a hole and doing it yourself . . .