r/DeathPositive

The green burial boom is here — a huge "human composting" site just opened outside D.C., bringing a fast-growing, eco-friendly death care option close to home.

Why it matters: Maryland legalized human composting two years ago, paving the way for Earth Funeral to open one of the world's largest facilities in Howard County — giving East Coast families access to a process that often required transporting loved ones across the country.

The big picture: Human composting — formally known as "natural organic reduction" — transforms corpses into nutrient-rich soil using natural materials, airflow and controlled decomposition.

• Born in Washington state about a decade ago, it's gaining traction as an alternative to burial and cremation.

In short: One of Australia's largest natural burial grounds has opened on the NSW far south coast. Since December 2025, six bodies have been interred at Walawaani Way, with 93 plots so far sold.

What's next? The Australian Cemetery and Cremetoria Association says the number of natural burials is rising, but remains small compared to cremation and traditional methods.

A 92-year-old man has begun a 40-mile (64km) static cycle to raise money for the hospice that cared for his "true love".

Ken Johnson's wife Kate spent her final days at St Richard's Hospice, in April last year, after being diagnosed with mesothelioma - a rare cancer that develops in the thin tissue lining the lungs or abdomen.

The pair, from Broadway in Worcestershire, met in 1951 while working in the Royal Air Force in Germany. Soon after they were married and remained so for 72 years.

"It may take him a few weeks doing a few miles each day, but this challenge will give him a sense of purpose by fundraising to help others and as a thank you for looking after Mum," their son Simon said.

To clarify I'm not suicidal or anything like that. Its just for the last several years I've struggled with having a purpose in life now that I'm and 28 with no job no goals but I've recently come to terms with death. Its gonna happen to us all one day and if it happens to me tomorrow by nature God or whatever I'm at peace with it. I'm thankful to be almost 30 and still here and don't know what the future holds but as long as I make each day count and make it better than the last its worth being alive until its time. And im sorry if this isn't the right flair or group to talk about this.

I want to set up DNR and advanced directive that will keep EMTs and hospitals from providing or using any any live-saving procedures or equipment on me if I am incapacitated.

Can someone walk me through this process that will be legally valid in Florida. Ideally I’d like some type of bracelet of lanyard that covers both the DNR and living will (that I have one and where to find it, can I store it digitally on my phone, etc?) so it will not be missed by any first responders or hospital staff.

I’m in Florida.

Thanks.

"I thought the ceremony, at my mother’s cottage, would pass without a hitch. I don’t think she’d have been impressed by what followed …

If you’re looking for sound, practical advice on what happens when an elderly parent dies – the so-called “sadmin” – then you shouldn’t come to me because all the bits that went OK, my sister did, and all the bits that went unaccountably awry were when I got involved. If, however, you are looking for advice on the ceremony of ash-scattering, then I have loads, all of it learned five to 10 minutes after it would have been good to know."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/05/the-day-had-come-to-scatter-my-mums-ashes-what-could-possibly-go-wrong