Earth Funeral Can Turn Your Dead Body Into Soil
What people decide to do with their bodies at the end of their lives is a very personal decision. It’s wild, but ever since becoming a dad 8 years ago, I started to think about my mortality a little bit more. Honestly, I’m not certain what I’d like to do with my body after I leave. There’s something romantic about all the choices, if I’m being honest. I love the idea of being buried right beside the woman I love, but I also don’t hate the idea of my loved ones getting my ashes and spreading them around at my favorite places. Well, there’s a new option for folks in Las Vegas and it’s definitely something to ponder over. A new company called “Earth Funeral” is allowing you to turn your body into soil, allowing you to return back to the Earth after you die.
Earth Funeral Gives Nevadans Another Option
It’s a unique option that Nevadan have on the table. Earth Funeral is a green burial company that’s based in Washington, but they recently opened a facility in Las Vegas that offers the afterlife alternative. According to their website, the company says the process is more environmentally friendly, and cost-effective, than traditional burial or cremation services.
Earth Funeral calls the process, “Human Composting.” It became legal in Nevada following the passage of Assembly Bill 289. Washington state was the first to legalize it, but Nevada, and 10 other states have since followed suit, according to a report by the Las Vegas Review Journal.
The company says they can transform the human body into a nutrient-rich soil. The entire process takes around 45 days to complete. Afterwards, families can then choose how much of the soil they’d like to receive, so they can scatter or use to plant, and then Earth Funeral sends the remaining soil to local conservation sites where it’ll be used for land restoration purposes, like planting trees and such.
Earth Funeral Says Their Process Is Cheaper Than Other Options
Apparently, the process of “Human Composting” is not only more eco-friendly, but also cheaper than the more traditional options. The price to have your body turned into soil is $4,950, which is half the average price of a funeral in Nevada. Earth Funeral’s new state of the art facility is located near Harry Reid International Airport and can house 75 bodies at any given time.
5 Things You Should Skip Saying To An Expecting Mom
"Wow, you look..."
Whether they mean it or not, a bunch of the things people say about pregnant ladies seem to circle back to weight. Lots of women already feel a bit self-conscious about their appearance during pregnancy, so hearing constant reminders about how much they’ve changed isn’t exactly uplifting. Any comment, subtle or direct, that hints at weight gain can easily knock a woman’s confidence or even make her fret that something’s not right. Think classics like, “You’ve gotten so big/ small,” “Are you sure it’s not twins?” or “You look tired!” The only thing we want to hear is how great we look! The best things (and safest!) you can say to a pregnant woman are “You look beautiful,” and “Congratulations.”
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"Were you trying for a baby?"
The only one allowed to pop the question “Was this pregnancy planned?” is the woman’s provider. It’s a bit much if you ask that. By now, I’d hope I’ve mastered the whole birth control thing. Plus, I’m not keen on sharing whether this was all part of a master plan or a spontaneous turn of events. When I was hit with this question, I froze up for a second. Do I answer truthfully or do I make up some weird story? Either way, it made me feel SO incredibly uncomfortable. And to make it worse, this question did not come from a family member or a friend. Instead, maybe resist the temptation and stick to safer bets like “Congrats!” or “How thrilling!”
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"Is it a boy or a girl?"
Oh, the classic question that’s been quite the energy drain lately “Is it a boy or a girl?” Sometimes I just want to reply, “I’m really just hoping for a baby!” I get it that it’s the go-to question. And hey, I’m not saying you should never ask it. But some families are purposely keeping it a mystery, and after explaining it for the umpteenth time, it can get a bit old. Plus, for families dealing with more serious issues, like health concerns for the baby, the gender question isn’t exactly a top priority. A more on-point question might be, “Are you guys finding out the gender?” It shows you’re tuned in to the situation and gives mom-to-be the chance to share or simply say, “Nope!”
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Comparing Pregnancies
“When I was pregnant…” Hold up right there. It’s like I’m the sole astronaut on a mission to Pregnancy Planet, discovering uncharted terrain. Pass on the stories of your “little” weight gain or epic hemorrhoids. And don’t you dare drop the “I hope your birth goes better than mine” bomb, followed by a traumatic labor story. Please, spare the pregnant woman (especially a first-timer) the horror show. While we’re at it, let’s add “Oh, just wait.” Sure, keep attempting to warn pregnant women of the “impending doom” of raising a child.
Here’s the deal, if she asks, spill the beans. If not, zip it. It’s that easy. Hold back on those unsolicited pregnancy tales. Bad stories might stir up worries she didn’t even know were possible. And trust me, she’s probably got enough on her plate already! Even the good stuff should stay on mute unless she asks. If she’s gearing up for a tricky delivery, hearing about your picture-perfect birth might be more pain than gain.
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Unsolicited Advice
“You really shouldn’t eat/drink/wear/do that when you’re pregnant” or any unsolicited advice for that matter. Unless she asks, it is never a good idea to offer a pregnant woman parenting advice. You may not know the circumstances of that family and pregnancy. I’m working with a wonderful medical staff who I’m sure will let me know what I need and need not to do. This is right up there with “Sleep now because you will never sleep again.” Okay, I’ll keep that in mind when the baby is sleeping in their stroller while we’re perusing the grocery store. I’m sure to stop dead in my tracks and take a little “nappy nap.” Lastly, I can’t forget “Enjoy your life while you still can.” I’m sorry I had no idea that life suddenly stops “lifing” once the baby is here. In fact, I’ve been hearing this plenty now, before the baby’s arrival. Believe it or not, concerts and festivals are not only ADA-friendly but also pregnant folk-friendly. Obviously, know your limits and ask your doctor if you have any concerns but for the most part, fetus and I have already had many firsts together.
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