Let's talk about human composting | Katrina Spade | TEDxOrcasIsland

[@cader1557]

This is the way I have always wanted to be transformed. This is natural. I am of the earth and want to be with it always.

[@zalphero618]

It's 2019 and Seattle is legalizing it. We the first state to do it. Very informative video.

[@Michaelroni-n-cheese]

Ended up being wrong, lol. Washington was the first. Just a friendly update!

[@ygjhtuggy5320]

@@Michaelroni-n-cheese قق

[@steviespringsteen6660]

What a world we live in. Our bodies cannot go back to earth as nature intended. We need to pay for everything.

[@vendiagramz]

I'm just gonna say it. I have a HUGE crush on her

[@clarasarria9397]

+1

[@pyrocat14]

Right? Me too. ❤️

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

I thought that was a guy.

[@mysaria7641]

she’s half the reason i chose this video 😍😍

[@siiiriously3226]

right?! :D I´m like... yes, please, unite me with the soil and lay me to my last rest. :D

[@lalanakawabu]

I"m so sold on this process, thanks Katrina! Loved your presentation and relaxed manner. Blessings!

[@amandadouglass3622]

I'm reading Caitlin Doughty's book "From here to Eternity," and I was so fascinated by this idea mentioned in one of the chapters that I had to look it up!! This project is ingenious and as a student, I wish I could take part in something like this. An excellent ecological solution to death and an important educational experience, I love the stress on transparency!!

[@yagofloresta1561]

Thank you!!

[@mnjamangurokhundu3361]

beautifully delivered. had the same idea several months ago when I told my clise ones that I wanted an oak tree to grow from my dead body. Was more an ego thing but you miss have explained it in a more respectful, humble and meaningful way. You got a fan in Tanzania.

[@WickedGoodies]

I love the idea of returning to the earth from whence we came, of contributing my body to the topsoil. It just makes so much sense. Sign me up!

[@siiiriously3226]

YES PLEASE! this is so great, the impact this method will have, on reconnecting us, literally but also mentally and spirituallwith the cycle of life is brilliant!

[@thomasmcneill18]

Incredible! Makes sense!

[@KevinP32270]

FREAKING EPIC!!!

[@wilde1581]

I am just thinking about my own family over here in the UK ..from my dear grandfather who died in 1967 when I was 5 weeks old ,to even my aunt who passed away last year aged 93..NOT one of our family have been buried ,each and everyone cremated and most have their ashes sprinkled on a mountain top in Snowdonia north Wales..I'd def like to be composted ,it makes total sense.

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Wilde there is not enough space unfortunately

[@rabidlittlehipppy6237]

Ethical, ecological, space saving, intelligent and a perfect way to leave a legacy when we die. Your talk was delivered with so much respect too. Thank you and hope this idea goes global and soon.

[@OldMovieRob]

Although the idea of being turned into a bag of Miracle-Gro does have some ironic appeal to me personally (my garden would have the final victory over me! lol) my question would be: what happens to all of the junk and chemicals consumed by the human body over the years? Metal in the teeth, mercury from eating tuna fish, drugs in the bloodstream, etc?

[@areemetz07]

It gets sifted out! I don't know what happens after that, but I imagine it could be donated or properly disposed of.

[@sailormoonadventures2510]

It gets neutralized…all meds and chemicals….

[@jem117]

Katrina Spade.. I want to work for you and then with you. I love your vision.

[@Lyricidal0X]

I am really proud of this person. Good job Katrina.

[@adamfarish4201]

Way to keep it light - while staying the course and speaking the truth! Brilliant talk...!

[@tamsinthai]

Here in Thailand they just shove you in the temple oven. After you're burned, they hand the bones to the nearest relative which are then kept in a box in their home. Funny story, there was one Western guy who was too tall for the crematorium and had to be pushed bit by bit into the oven. When he was done, his bones were handed to his wife in a Tesco carrier bag. Makes me laugh when they say they want their ashes scattered over the Andaman sea, they don't grind them. So flinging them off some cliff top narrowly missing a soi dog then :D

[@anushnabhattacharya7210]

In Tai folk religions including Tai Ahom religion, burial is favoured. Hinduism and Buddhism also allow burial. Also, Mekong river basin is mainly dependent on agriculture. So my opinion is that cremation should be replaced by human composting to preserve cultural identity, make land reusable and more fertile, reduce pollution, increase forest cover, fight against climate change and make landscapes more beautiful. Therefore, human composting should be legalized in Thailand and Laos.

[@womynstar]

Go for it, Katrina! -- and of course, all of people (scientists or otherwise) that are involved in the Urban Death Project. I am so glad that Canada is playing a part in this research, and hope that humyn composting will be an option when it is time for my final disposition.

[@youngomniverse35]

Everyone is talking about how this is revolutionary. The concept of dust to dust is quite literally the way Muslims get buried. They arent used to specifically compost plants, but they do however have the benefit of occupying less space, being relatively cheap and environmentally friendly. The concept isn't exactly new.

[@hakanari7855]

This was the comment I was hoping to find. Nothing about this is revolutionary. It's being practised long before islam. Turkic tribes buried their deads in "kurgan" (meaning sacred protected place). If the deceased was an important person there was a makeshift hill made from wood and stone over it. Sometimes, very rarely, they used bury some decorations and jewellery with. No box, no cement, nothing else. For some other regions, they buried the deads in large pots made of from earth.

[@youngomniverse35]

@@hakanari7855 Yes, but the Islamic way is completely renewable and cheap compared to using pots and rocks. The Islamic way involved wrapping a person in a cotton sheet or some for of cloth and burning them in a grave. Wood is placed above the allow air to circulate to enable decomposition. The wood rots, the body and cloth rots and in a few years you can use the spot again. Its believed that this originates from the time of the Prophet Adam.

[@catswithhats0989]

This is such a wonderful take on what happens after we die. I don't see the need for some sort of extravagant funeral, who does that benefit in the end? Just let my body do just a little more good before I'm gone.

[@veganseattlegal]

Brilliant and beautiful! I deeply hope I am able to become one with Mother Earth. Thank you Katrina and everyone involved in this important, sacred and revolutionary project.

[@bluegypsydoll]

Such a beautiful idea to be made reality! I like that the bones also decompose into nature. 9months you say to totally return to the earth, when it also took 9months to get here✌plus the science makes so much sense❤ THANK YOU! Please come to build in Sacramento California, i welcome you!

[@Chironimo100]

@@the_eerie_faerie_tales 9 month for a big cow and just 1 month for a human corpse :)

[@misandry1736]

@@the_eerie_faerie_tales She said just a few weeks. Not 9 months, Just saying.

[@BlackHearthguard]

@@misandry1736 She does say 9 months for a cow, just saying. 5:50

[@bonnieofee5688]

This is exactly what I've been hoping to find. What a wonderful way to honor the earth and become part of it again.

[@chuckmclaughlin9490]

You mention the use of water during the process. How much water would be needed to complete the decomposition of one body and where would this water come from? As to a facility, it would of course be a finite space, so a limited number of bodies would be decomposing at one time within that space. and for how long before space is made available for others? Could the heat created by the process be utilized for othere purposes? These question arei not to be construed as criticism but rather as a serious attempt to understand how these matters would be worked out.

[@cristianacevedo178]

So smart

[@claudelebel49]

The animation brought team to my eyes.

[@kathyharwood9593]

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Since we are really started as made from the earth!!!

[@shenphenlhamo]

Thank you Katrina, I'm so glad I was one of your sponsorsA fun, insightful and knowledge filled talk

[@anushnabhattacharya7210]

Human composting burial is more alternative to cemetery burial and cremation. Human composting is eco-friendly, non-corrosive, cruelty-free, animal friendly, Chinese-friendly, Thai-friendly, Cambodian-friendly, Korean-friendly, Christian-friendly, Muslim-friendly, tribal friendly and cancer friendly, makes soil more fertile and land reusable, combats caste discrimination, ageism, deforestation and pollution, reduces farmer suicides, maintains cultural identity and saves forests, minerals, water bodies, electricity and energy. Corpse composting is also applicable for pet animals and wild animals. We human beings are not products of ashes. We human beings are offsprings of Mother Earth. Thanks for realizing.

[@alidee5119]

I just love what your doing !!! blessings to you. Your amazing!!! thank you

[@TSquared2001]

Maryland is now on board

[@torinvlietstra114]

Anyone else can't wait to become soil?

[@CrankyAsF]

Sign me up! Come on California, let's approve it.

[@TheSingingCelebrant]

I've not seen anywhere, that you mention how Formaldehyde in the body is treated in the process please

[@iokneafsey8039]

YAY!

[@lindsayarmstrong845]

This is so amazing, I am 100% behind this, I want this in the UK.

[@markbean1417]

Does anyone else find it mildly comic that this woman's last name is Spade?

[@oldsagerat]

As much as I love the concept of human composting, it's not that easy. I grew up on a small farm with a compost bin behind the barn. All organic materials went into the bin. Lawn grass clippings and garden waste was all put in. Also small livestock that we raised were BURIED deep into the pile. It took a proper mix of vegetative materials both coarse and fine mixed together to make a wonderful rich compost for the garden. It also took up to two years for an animal the size of a road killed cat or dog to fully decompose. That was being buried more than a foot in a hot compost pile. In my experience, it would take at least two years in a hot pile of organic material to decompose a human body. A handful of wood chips won't do it. That doesn't begin to deal with bones and teeth. Not without the smell of decomposition. There needs to be more research and experiments to find out exactly how long it will take. I hope they can pursue it.

[@eugenio1542]

You mention South Africa. Would love to join the business as a retiree to be involved somewhere, obtain license etc. ? Please help.

[@AkiSakamotti]

I'm japanese but I want it to be legalized in Japan in the future. I think this is the best way & what I want for myself & we should think/talk about.

[@thepoochprofessor2683]

Have you ever participated in kotsuage? I am fascinated by the idea and ritual of it and I want to know more. Is it common in Japan?

[@anushnabhattacharya7210]

Exactly, human composting helps to reverse global warming. Cremation is the main culprit of global warming and destroys beauty of landscapes and cultural identity. So, cremation should be replaced by human composting. Human composting should be legalized globally including Asia.

[@robynlandry840]

Wonderful idea - so creative and lovely. Sign me up in Boulder, CO!

[@mightyseagoat6874]

Noooo, I dont want to be a lemon tree.... though I want to eat the lemon meringue pie and be turned into a guava tree, a blueberry bush... and a watermelon 🌱

[@rajeshkalra2851]

I hope the clerics / priests of all religions come forward to support this, saving nature and our planet, doing away with all unnecessary rituals and just praying for the departed soul

[@youngomniverse35]

The Muslim way of burial is similar to this

[@anushnabhattacharya7210]

Human composting helps to reverse global warming. Cremation is the main culprit of global warming. So, cremation should be replaced by human composting. I want it legalized in India

[@kenfan5666]

Is this process legal in NY or Boston?

[@lbennhtx6072]

This just makes sense. Keep up the good work!

[@adamantive7430]

Excellent presentation Katrina, keep it up!

[@Floyd-q1l]

I hope this becomes available on Guam before I die. Sign me up also.

[@chilipez2934]

She mentioned that it uses an accelerated method, when compared to nature. I imagine that high density population centers would have trouble keeping up to demand. It couldn't possibly be a mere few-day process.

[@THEgenART]

Soooooo… I’ve had the instructions in my will to bury me in non-airtight wooden box, to avoid any processing of my corpse, and to allow the energy from my body to be re-assimilated into the environment through natural processes.

[@mueckenhoeffer]

Great idea, and I support it. What you don't address is how to wean people off the need for "immortality" by having a grave and headstone.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

This is what I've always wanted!! So glad to see it being promoted here in the west. Hope it becomes legal soon.

[@cristianacevedo178]

Oooh queen

[@crashbobsquarepants7323]

Genius.Thats the very way I want to shipped out.Hope idiots don't get involved with red tape and objections.

[@michaelweston7748]

Let the Dead deal with the Dead

[@sophiakoyama2928]

im gonna die??

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Noooooo

[@whispyriewillow6021]

Don't worry that's the plan for us all like it or not.

[@misandry1736]

How much does it cost? If the state would pay for it , I would go for it. If not, I have chosen to donate my body to science. Not really comfy with that....don't really know what they will do with my body...no family.

[@sskyle227]

I always liked the idea of having been composted and have some good marijuana grown from the soil. You could get a friend stoned from beyond! Lol

[@computerman84]

What a great idea! Let's turn grandpa into a bowl of compost and grow some tomatoes on him since we're all gonna die anyway! Whats next, eating people when there is food shortage and people need protein? Insanity at its finest...

[@leafface5890]

Why is this taking so long?? I hope it will be ready when I die 😤

[@patrickfreeman8816]

I wonder how the corpse, 2' of woodchips, water + a gentle breeze would smell for the first three months. Not denigrating the concept, I'm openly curious.

[@martinfreeman6491]

Thought. Take bodies to one place dump and let compost. Mkae it simply. Far to complex

[@MrAtdhfkm]

LikeFac: use California Red Worm (Eisenia andrei))))

[@kuwaitypoweryibadar9552]

هوا رجال مرا والله للحين ماعرفت

[@thomaservin1669]

I like it! But it's not in the bobble!

[@Lizzy514]

So what? If I don't use pine for casket does she suggest someone will get a house? And then she goes on to describe carbon over the body and lest I am mistaken, carbon is a fossil byproduct. Ash that people become is what? Carbon.

[@aknightthatsaysnee5259]

As a full fledged, God fearing, Jesus is Lord, cover to cover Bible thumping servant of Jesus, all I have to say is: Sign me up, too! God commands us to be good stewards.

[@otaciliodonizetedealmeidaa2454]

Do po viemos ao po voltaremos .Esta e a palavra Q O GRANDE O EU SOU DISSE. ELE E O ALFA O HOMEGA O PRIMEIRO E O ULTIMO. LEIA AS ESCRITURAS E SEJA SALVA. AMÉM Leia primeiro corintios csp 3 vers 13 ao 17

[@kuwaitypoweryibadar9552]

صوت نثيه والمشيه ذكر

[@Dianasoasis]

So we are eating crops grown with human remains? 🤔 idk how I feel about that.

[@garyrector7394]

Truer?

[@Petrhrabal]

This is sick and inhumane to stock corpses in a swamp inside a monofunctional designed building. Most architects are usually twisted in a wierd manipulatory way.

[@Tippitiwitch]

More sick and twisted it's continuing to take land to bury people or didn't you understand how we're polluting the earth even after we die? It seems you weren't paying attention at school either, the word is 'weird', e before i.

[@Petrhrabal]

@@Tippitiwitch And where is some piety in there? Communal stockpile of corpses... That pollution is more than minor and overly ablated. Some topics are artificial. Hm, it's easy to pick on little typos, right?

[@mysaria7641]

inhumane?? they’re *corpses*, and no one is getting hurt, be it animal, plant, or human. This is how everything on this planet decomposes, just accelerated a bit (which would also happen naturally in countless places across the planet) You people are extremely weird to me, incredible how someone can be so culturally and religiously brainwashed to the point they think what nature has done for thousands of years and will continue to do till the end of time is “sick” and “inhumane”.

[@fishoutofwater-flop-flopfl7171]

not inhumane when what's left over is just it just a rotting corpse. At least this way were actually doing something for the earth rater then draining it of it's life to feed our own. Simply giving back of what's giving to you.

[@nguyenphuongtuyet467]

imagine we're standing on the land that's made up of others' bodies😣😣 enough horror😂😂 anyway it's really an effective and creative way of death care

[@anushnabhattacharya7210]

Exactly, human composting should be legalized in Southeast Asia to maintain cultural identity, make land more fertile and increase forest cover.

[@JayRandomOfficial]

Is that a man woman or it?

[@sujanaimade456]

You are psikopat

[@prettyprudent5779]

People will eventually find a way to corrupt the process.

[@austinallen6950]

Prions

[@ancient_t]

What's up with the laughing? by the way you are a boy

[@timothyricketts8288]

Is this speaker a man or super weird woman,or both...

[@robyn2014]

does it matter?

[@lindsayarmstrong845]

Rude

[@otaciliodonizetedealmeidaa2454]

Primeiro a corintios capitulo 3 versiculo 13 ao 17 biblia.

[@Kanal_Dom28]

awful

[@tammywhatever8602]

PLEASE leave climate change out of this... I get it! I really do. Climate change is a myth, so please don't spoil my beliefs about composting!! I compost at home, with a garden bigger than the typical Arizonian. I can totally be on board about composting people. NOT animals, however, because they were put on this earth to eat. Good luck to you, to spread the BASIC necessities of composting MAGIC. :)

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

Climate change is not a myth and animals were not "put here" for anything.

[@MethuselahWinter]

Nobody put us here and climate change isn’t a myth: - a student studying environmental science (which includes climate science)

[@coolerking7427]

I think it's sick. No respect.

[@2009jadeorchid]

I find the promoters of this idea to be extremely arrogant~ This also makes it impossible to conduct a second autopsy , leaves families with no grave or ashes to take home , bury or scatter , and if they think they`re going to get soil back to plant a tree it won`t happen ~ This will be mass production to be trucked all over the country~ Their emotions are raging , they become enraged when someone wants traditional burial ~ I have had bad experiences with them ~

[@aknightthatsaysnee5259]

As a full fledged, God fearing, Jesus is Lord, cover to cover Bible thumping servant of Jesus, all I have to say is: Sign me up, too! God commands us to be good stewards.

[@musicedward]

Genesis says from dust we came from and dust we will return to so I think human composting is very biblical!