Even if you believe in some higher being, Jannah or Heaven, you still have to do something with your body when you die. One of the most sustainable and giving things you can do - with people and pets, is to get cremated and turn your ashes into a plant. No more flinging ashes out to sea to become bird or fish food. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It's just the part about the wind blowing Grandma's ashes back in your face that doesn't really do it for me. Even as it's one excellent way of having Grandma's warmth wrapped around you for one more moment.
There is another option and it's one I love because it not only puts your ashes to good use, but it allows you to live on and remain useful to family, friends and community. (And for planet savers, it adds oxygen, sequesters carbon dioxide and helps to decrease the planet's ambient temperature.)
The option is to turn yourself or your loved one into a tree. Spainard, Gerard Moline tells the story of when he was a young child and was in the garden planting flowers and vegetables with his grandmother, she discovered a dead bird. She instinctively took the bird, buried it in a hole and planted some wildflower seeds on top – thus giving it new life.
Gerard carried the story with him for years and eventually turned it into the world’s first biodegradable urn - introducing the idea of planting a tree with person or pet remains obtained after cremation. Fast forward 20 years and Bios Urns are now sold around the world. And loved ones are sprouting - in Memorial Parks, gardens, and plant pots in homes.
Bios Urn is made from coconut shell, compacted peat and cellulose, without harmful chemicals or glue so it will easily compost without leaving anything harmful behind.
You can plant seeds with the urn and grow the tree from seed or you can choose to plant a seedling, young sprout or sapling.
The urn has two separate sections: a bottom section for the ashes, and the top section where you plant your seeds or seedling. The urn is made with a special growth medium to help the plant grow. When the urn is buried, the seedling grows in the top section and its roots grow down through the ashes, as the Bios Urn bio-degrades.
With some simple care, your seedling will grow into a healthy living memorial to our loved one. With a little imagination, you can create a multi generational memorial by using plants that self seed. Or creating a hedge of pets and family members over time.
There are heaps of planting tips and FAQs on the Bios Urn website and it's best to read them before you get planting.
As the Bios Urn has no expiry date, you can use your Bios Urn whenever you are ready, using recent or old ashes. This could be important if you you are waiting for an anniversary or you need to plant in a particular season.