New York State Governor Kathy Hokull signed legislation on Saturday legalizing what is called natural organic reduction, or popularly known in the United States as Human fertilizationThus, New York became the sixth state in the country to follow this method of burial.
And the Associated Press explains that this process is done in a way where the body of the deceased is placed in a reusable container with plant materials such as wood chips, alfalfa and straw. This organic blend creates the perfect habitat for naturally occurring microbes to do their job quickly and efficiently, breaking down the body quickly and efficiently in about a month.
The end result is a heaped up area of soil, equivalent to approximately 36 sacks, which can be used to plant trees or enrich conservation land, forests and gardens.
The agency points out that for urban areas like New York, where land is limited, it could be considered a very attractive alternative to burial.
Washington state was the first state to legalize human fertilization in 2019, followed by Colorado and Oregon in 2021, then Vermont and California in 2022.
Michelle Minter, director of Greensprings Nature Cemetery Preserve in central New York, said the facility would aggressively consider using that method, noting that it was more in line with what they were doing. The 130-acre natural cemetery, nestled among protected forest lands, offers a natural, green burial site where the body can be placed in a biodegradable container and in a cemetery where it can decompose completely.
Minter said they should do and support everything they can to keep people away from concrete siding, fancy boxes and taxidermy.
