The concept of a moat to protect a piece of property is not a new one. In medieval times, a wide, deep trench was dug around the perimeter of a castles property and usually filled with water. This ditch or moat served as a unique natural defense system and deterred enemies from approaching the stronghold. This same concept can be applied to the modern garden. However, instead of using depth and water as the natural barrier, you use chickens.
Inflammation is your body’s natural protective response to an injury or illness and can help speed up healing and encourage your body to repair itself. This is referred to as acute inflammation and is a healthy, helpful process. However, chronic inflammation, when your body is continually inflamed and at a heightened state of emergency for an extended period, can be incredibly detrimental. Rather than protecting your body, inflammation has suddenly become the enemy and can lead to pain and a host of health issues.
If you live in a part of the country that regularly experiences temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the summer months, you have good cause to be concerned about your plants in the baking heat. Though plants do need the bright sun and usually thrive in the summer, the blistering intensity of a heat wave combined with less rainfall can often cause serious problems for your garden. Here are 5 ways to protect your garden this summer.
Pesticides are a bitter pill. Without them, our lawns and gardens could quickly become overrun by pests. When we use them, they pollute the soil and water and even the air we breathe.
Death is an inevitable part of life in this world. Birth and death are the two things that every single human being has in common, and while the mainstream has been accepting of advancements in alternative birthing options in recent years, such as home births and midwives, the view on death has not been so progressive. Until recently, cremation and traditional burial were the only options for funeral services and the processing of human remains. However, a new kind of revolutionary burial called “recomposition” is on the rise and is good news for earth and garden-lovers everywhere.
So what exactly is recomposition?
The bill signed on May 21 by Washinton State Gov. Jay Inslee, explains recomposition as a “contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil.” This process speeds of the process of converting dead bodies to soil in a respectful, controlled, aboveground setting and is often referred to as “human composting.” The bill passed on Tuesday, and legalizes human composting in Washington State starting May 1, 2020.
According to Katrina Spade, CEO of the human composting company, Recompose, “(The) body is covered in natural materials, like straw or wood chips, and over the course of about three to seven weeks, thanks to microbial activity, it breaks down into soil.”
The company advertises its services as a way to “support new life when we die” and is very focused on improving the environment and enriching the soil by supporting the natural cycle of decay and gently returning human remains to the earth.
Over the weeks that the body is being broken down into the soil, the family can visit the facility and will ultimately receive the earth that is created from their loved ones to use as they wish. This option is a way to return minerals and nutrients to the ground and is a viable alternative to burial.
Traditional burial in a cemetery can cause preservation chemicals from human remains, casket fumes, and varnishes to leech into the groundwater. Not to mention, this practice is only viable for so long before cemetery plots become overcrowded. Cremation releases harmful fossil fuels and carbon emissions into the environment, only contributing to the growing concerns of atmospheric pollution.
This environmentally friendly method of “natural organic reduction” is appealing to many who wish to see their body used to support the planet and create life through plants, after their death. The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Jamie Pedersen, states, “It’s about time…we allow some technology to be applied to this universal human experience … because we think that people should have the freedom to determine for themselves how they’d like their body to be disposed of.”
Pedersen has vocalized his support of this bill, claiming that “Researchers from Washington State University have found the process to be safe and less expensive and better for the environment than burial or cremation.” Compared to rising funeral costs that now average between $8,000 and $25,000, human composting is likely to cost around $5,500, making it an affordable way to go green even after you pass on from this world.
Safety and benefits of human compost
Aside from supporting the environment by avoiding traditional burial or cremation and abstaining from the use of chemicals, the product of human composting, just like regular compost can return vital nutrients to the soil.
Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, professor of soil science at WSU, performed a recent study with six human bodies that had been donated for the process to determine if the practice was a safe and viable way of handling remains. The study showed that the soil made from recomposition met and often exceeded state and federal safety requirements for pathogens and metals that could be dangerous to humans and nearby plants
Carpenter-Boggs asserts the success of the process goes to the to thermophilic microorganisms that quickly raised the temperature of the container, and the selection of carefully calibrated plant matter that gently decomposed the body.
The soil could safely be used in the garden to grow flowers, fruit, and vegetables, or anywhere you would place traditional compost. What better way for a garden-lover to spend their eternal rest?
What do you think about having your body turned into compost? Let us know in the comments below.
-Taylor Ramsey
The early mornings are my favorite time of day to visit my flower garden. The birds and bees are busy, and with the glistening of dew still on their leaves, a few of my favorite flowers awake to greet the sunrise. These include morning glories, gazing daisies, California poppies, and Venice mallow, to name a few. But, there are other times when the garden comes to life with afternoon or evening bloomers that showcase their colors and fragrances under the light of the moon.
Once you have the materials and a plan, you can build an herb spiral in an afternoon. This sturdy bed will last for years to come and is an excellent way to maximize space, save water, and keep your herbs close by. Follow these simple steps to create your own herb spiral today!
This innovative garden method is the urban gardener’s dream. It takes a long, space-monopolizing row bed and turns it into a compact, efficient spiral that utilizes vertical real estate and creates an ideal environment for many types of herbs. So what exactly is an herb spiral and why should you build one in your garden? Read on to find out!
Chia seeds are tiny black/white seeds of the plant Salvia hispanica belonging to the same family as mint and basil. They have a long history of cultivation in South America, where they were a staple food of ancient civilizations.
Passionflowers are the strikingly attractive blooms of plants belonging to the Passiflora genus. The flower got its name because early Christian missionaries to South America drew some parallels between its floral structures and the passion of Christ.
Keyhole gardens are a way of integrating several gardening chores for easy management. It includes growing vegetables, watering the beds, and composting garden waste, all at the same time. Pioneered in Africa, keyhole gardening is now a time-tested technique that saves time, space, and minimizes the effort required to maintain a productive garden.
Susan has been nurturing her gardening tips and advice for over 00 years, it’s fair to say she knows her beans. She’ll be sharing her knowledge from tried and tested methods.
Sign up for gardening advice
delivered straight to your inbox!
