“All go to one place; all are of the dust, and to dust all return.” — Ecclesiastes 3:20.
That was true, at least until the Civil War era. Then a desire to preserve bodies led to a new way of dealing with the dead: toxic embalming, water-tight coffins and concrete vaults. For many of us who try to live simple, low-impact lives, our deaths present a dilemma. We can’t go simply or sustainably into whatever comes next.
But there is another way. Imagine breaking down quickly, wrapped only in a shroud or in a biodegradable casket, eighteen inches under the soil, your nutrients being taken up by a tree. Michael Furniss, soil scientist and green burial enthusiast, is working to make that a reality in Humboldt. Michael joins the show to discuss the green burial movement, the science behind natural burial, and efforts to create a conservation burial ground in Humboldt.
For more, check out Sacred Family Groves.
Listen to this episode here from the Lost Coast Outpost (where you can also read a transcript), Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Buzzsprout.
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The EcoNews Report is a weekly, half-hour environmental news/chat program broadcasted on KHUM Community Radio (104.3-104.7 FM) every Saturday at 10am PST. Hear from host and EPIC Executive Director Tom Wheeler, and esteemed guests. Browse past shows from EPIC's archives, listen or read transcripts on the Lost Coast Outpost, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Buzzsprout.
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