Earth friendly death - the circle of life

I'm not sure which would be the best forum to ask this question in, but this seems like as good a one as any (and heck, if need be, it can be moved).

I believe in the idea of the circle of life, things die, so that new things can live.. when a plant dies, it returns to the earth and helps to give nutreants to other plants. animals kill and eat other animals.. heck, even the dropping of animals can be used to help new plants grow, etc... it's all part of the eco system.

When I die (and don't worry, i'm not planning on it being anytime soon), I want to give back to the planet that has given me life. But I don't know what the best way of doing that is.

i.e. what I mean is which is going to be better for the planet (from both the POV of causing less poloution, and letting my body return to the earth), being burried, or being cremated.

What do you know about it? and do you feel the same? (i.e. like the idea of returning to the planet that gave you life).

Thank you.

 

I personally am getting cremated. If I have to be burried, it would be outside a coffin so that my body can return to the Earth. There is already a limited amount of burrial space on earth, and I'd rather not take up more unnecessary room.

 

When I die I would want to be returned to the Earth.
Not cremated, and not burried in a coffin.
Both ways, the nutrients my body can give won't be returned to my Mother Earth.

 

So you're saying that the best way is to be burried without a coffin? what about the idea of a cardboard coffin?

 

Now that's a good idea, but why bother with the cardboard?
I'd rather rest in the Earth.

 

I can see what you're saying, and I think that maybe I might prefer to just be in the earth, but even if only for the burual, for the sake of the people that are going to send you off, it would be better to be put into a biodegrable(sp) box? like a cardboard box, you know? it'll soon enough be eaten away, and you'll be in the ground...

 

Good idea, man.
I think for the sake of others, I'd like to be put into something like that.
Good point, brother.

 

I personally am getting cremated. SO i can return to mother earth and not take up more unnecessary room.

 

But, if you were cremated, the nutrients and what not from your body that the Earth could have used, would be gone....

 

Not trying to convince you, just express my opinion...

 

I would like to be cremated and spilled from a high place so the wind can take the little particles wherever it wants.
But I belive in afterlife, so there are other things that I think about when I think about death.

 

What afterlife do you believe in, if you don't mind me asking...?

 

i read somewhere about a project their doing in tennessee researching the purposes of corpses, you can volunteer your body to them for some cash, im not sure who pays who though...

 

When my nan died, it was her wish that her body be donated to medical science... I don't know exactly what they means, or what parts of her body they used, etc... but I guess that if I was sure to be benefitting the world in some way, then I might be interested in doing something like that...

 

I don't mind. I belive in such afterlife that people describe in near death experiences. I don't feel a part of any world religion, It's just a personal thing to me.

 

i'm sure its a worthy cause, i think its kinda strange to be so uptight about your body when your dead, but then again a lot of people think im kinda strange too...

 

Aye, this is what I believe in as well, but only before reincarnation...

 

i think wen i die, IF i die (i have super powers btw) i wanna donate my body to science. might aswell help out while ur dead seeing as i havnt done much for the planet whilst living! i believe that sum ppl return to the planet after theyve passed away but i dont think i will, i think im living it now. In my past life i was something else... *ponders*

 

The project in Tennessee is actually a University research facility. They do a lot of forensic research regarding how bodies decompose in different environments (i.e. submerged in water, covered in leaves, tied to a tree, etc.) It's actually pretty interesting, and smelly from what I've heard.

Here's a link to an Earth Friendly Death FAQ that might help.
http://www.funerals.org/faq/eco.htm

Here's another link from Mother Earth News
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1279/is_2003_April-May/ai_99375756/pg_2

Hope those help!!!

Gina.

 

Thx for the links Gina, they look like they should be very helpful, i'll check them out.