this post was submitted on 08 May 2025
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chapotraphouse
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Arent humans bodies usually not good improvement matters for soil quality due to the stomach acids or something? I know it was something, since "tree burials" have become very popular in my country.
the most significant contaminant is going to be probably some shit like heavy metal accumulation, because humans live a long time and can't excrete them out easily. but unless you're talking about like a shitload of people who all had like crazy lead exposure, it probably isn't something to worry about unless you want to use them to fertilize a space for a shitload of leafy greens to eat.
like I wouldn't plant something right into a dead body and expect it to thrive, because all of that complex tissue needs to be decomposed and broken down into plant-available fertility. but decomposition processes can be accelerated through the introduction of free air flow (available oxygen to keep the process aerobic) and an ideal temperature range for thermophilic microbial metabolic processes which I something like 135-160°F (40-60°C).
so you need a big soil thermometer and either a lot of stamina/strong back, or a front end loader to "turn" the pile when it gets too hot or too cool after you've let it cook for a few weeks to get going. the microbes supply the heat. it'll be a lot slower in truly arid climates.
there are calculators for composting various plant materials and animal carcasses. just exchange fascist for swine carcasses. the mature weights and general composition ratios are about the same.
nature recycles everything* it makes!
(* eventually, lignin I'm looking at you)