Ideal Bite

So that's my question, when I got the Bite this morning about eco-coffins. Is cremation more eco-friendly? I don't want to be put into the ground, thus making that ground unusable for anything. In my will, I ask to be cremated and scattered on a garden. (I know some ashes don't decompose well or help soil, but I figure I'll scatter in the wind mostly anyway.) Any thoughts on whether cremation is the green way to go?

i suppose my biggest concern is the legality of some of these options. i know in some states, unless it's a religious preference (like being jewish), you HAVE to be embalmed. i'm going for a cremation myself, and let them have a bitchin' party, too. i'm irish, it's traditional!

Hey Guys, I don't know if this is the right forum for voicing this opinion, given that this is the "everywhere" blog, and I have a comment about today's LA Bite. However, I can't seem to find anywhere else to place my comment, so here goes: What were you thinking? I've never been one of the people who thought of Ideal Bite as "selling out" for talking about green products. There are only so many "DIY" tips out there that you can send out via email, you know? But pimping a place that sells $200 perfume is ridiculous! Yeah, LA is known for being home to the über rich and famous, but the average Jane on the street isn't that person, and doesn't have that kind of money to spend; especially in today's economy! When typing up future tips, please be mindful of what's realistically useful to the majority of your readers--not *just* what's "cool". I'd rather read about another worm-farming workshop than where to waste my money on expensive stuff to make me smell better. I have a cheaper tip for ya'll: take a shower! (But to make it green, run the H2O for less than five minutes.)

Do the VERY BEST thing for the planet and the community of humans! Donate your body to do whatever it can to help another person live or see or put skin on a burn victim. Tell your health proxies that when there is no more hope for you...please let your body make hope for someone else.

Donate to a med school, to your local hospital, or to the NIH. Put a sticker on your license. Make it clear to your family physician.

...and put it in your will, too. Along with the suggestion that those who miss you throw that party to celebrate your life and the lives you are saving!

I have "unsubscribed" 5 xs to quit getting these damn e-mails!!!! And, yet, everyday it's right here in my inbox. Have some respect......Get me OFF THE LIST.

First things first: Make sure you have a recocable trust, not a "will" per se ( talk to your lawyer about this, or read up on it yourself, there can be a HUGE difference ). Also, if your so inclined, make sure to have provisions in said trust on what to do should you become incapacitated and unable to make clear decisions re: your health care ( ie. "pull the plug on me if X" or "Don't leave me on life sustaining machines if X" ). Second, again if your so inclined, make sure there is some provision for donating your organs or body parts in this revocable trust. Okay, now what I'd really like to discuss is what I call bottom life efficiency in regards to "remains disposal". Embalming and burying in metal or concrete is expensive, wasteful and downright toxic for the planet, as well as being a huge waste of energy. Cremation seems much more "clean", except, to me at least, I worry about the amount of energy it takes to "fire me up". PERSONALLY I like the idea of getting back into the food web as quickly as possible and, if I'm not mistaken, that means burial at sea. A burial at sea, if done correctly, pretty much assures that the vast majority of your remains gets back in the food web faster than any other method ( and it's kind of romantic too, no? ). I really really like this idea but I have some concerns. I guess I'm hoping to hear some feedback on 1) The legality of such an endeavor ( actually I am not terribly concerned about this but...) 2) the COST, which I am afraid would be the most limiting or prohibitive factor, esp. if one doesn't reside near a large body of water, and 3) carbon footprint compared to say cremation. Any thoughts? I guess it's more likely that a "green" burial is more eco friendly and that is probably what I will stipulate in my revocable trust, but I love the idea that my "leftover" could be stuffed in a lobster pot and dumped in the ocean to be returned to this great experiment of life we humans call Earth. Cheers and thanks for your consideration(s)!

As they say at a funeral ashes to ashes and dust to dust. It is clear that nature has intended that our bodies be reunited with the earth. All organisms that have lived, have died and returned to the soil...only to be recycled into new life. Constant microbial activity in the soil breaks everything down. Nature creates no waste. Everything is recycled. In keeping with your personal values, a natural burial site for you, family, even pets, promotes growth of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, in turn bringing birds and other wildlife to the area. Water is not wasted, nor are pesticides and herbicides used in attempts to control nature. Instead, a green cemetery allows nature take it's course. Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers in your loved one's honor promotes habitat restoration. To encourage land preservation, a green cemetery grants a conservation easement for the burial site.(www.greenburial.org) Here is a website for you to check out more on this article, www.greenburial.org, this should answer any questions you will have on this matter. We at karmafarmonline.com love to find green information and help out people of similar interest whenever we can. Have a grateful day!!!! Green Girls www.karmafarmonline.com

I request that anyone calling themselves "green" go to organdonornetwork.org and choose which organization you'd like to register with to help others live after you no longer are living. Then, the rest of "you" can go to research and medical schools for educating other living beings in ways of creating even better quality of life for future generations. Any dead body is a piece of meat, basically. We're no different organically than any other animal; why waste land, time, money in burying it? Have a party while you're alive celebrating your decision,at the same time informing friends and family of your desires----AND request that big bash for after your demise as well!!! Great idea, Irish or not!!!

Hey guys...you can share more of your tips on www.earthnex.com

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