Families who choose human composting often picture something quietly beautiful: a final act that returns a loved one to the living world. And then, once the soil arrives, a very practical question shows up at the kitchen table—sometimes whispered, sometimes asked with the blunt honesty of grief: can we use this in the vegetable garden?
If you’re asking, you’re not alone. The question usually isn’t just about tomatoes and basil. It’s about respect, safety, and whether this new form of disposition—sometimes called human composting, natural organic reduction, or even “terramation” in casual conversation—can be woven into the rhythms of home without creating worry. The most honest answer is that it depends on three things: your provider’s guidance, your local rules, and your own comfort level.
This guide walks through what families should know about safety and regulations, why some providers recommend using the soil for trees and ornamentals instead of food crops, and what best practices can reduce risk if you’re considering any kind of garden use. Along the way, we’ll also place human composting in the bigger picture of modern funeral planning—because many families are weighing multiple paths at once, including cremation and its many memorial options.
What “human composting soil” is, in plain language
Human composting is a managed, contained process that transforms a body into a soil-like material over time. Providers vary in exact methods and timelines, but the goal is consistent: create a stable, biologically active material that can support plant life. A helpful first step is to think of this soil less like bagged garden compost from a store and more like a special, regulated end-product that comes with rules—both formal and informal—about how it should be used.
For example, Recompose explains that each person’s process creates about one cubic yard of soil (roughly 1,000 pounds), and that soil tests indicate the material is appropriate for established shrubs, trees, houseplants, and flower gardens—while recommending that use on “tender annuals” be avoided. Recompose, also note practical handling guidance such as using the material as mulch and using lower concentrations around the roots of young plants.
That phrase—“tender annuals”—matters for vegetable gardens. Many vegetables are annuals, and many are “tender” in the sense that they’re sensitive to nutrient strength, salt levels, or compost that is stable but still maturing. Even before you get into laws or personal comfort, provider guidance alone often nudges families toward safer, simpler plantings like trees, shrubs, and ornamentals.
Safety first: what we know about pathogens, testing, and why providers give restrictions
When people worry about safety, they’re usually worried about pathogens, pharmaceuticals, or “is this really finished?” Those concerns are understandable—especially when the garden is a place where kids snack on cherry tomatoes or where you grow food for someone immunocompromised.
Providers address safety through a mix of process controls and testing. Recompose, for instance, describes how the process is designed to render pathogens inactive through sustained high temperatures and composting time, and that the resulting soil is tested against specific indicators. Based on Recompose, their process maintains temperatures above 131°F (55°C) for an extended period, and they test the finished material for pathogen indicators such as salmonella before soil is returned to families.
Even with strong process controls, many providers still give use restrictions or “best-use” recommendations. That isn’t always because the soil is unsafe. Often it’s because regulators and providers take a conservative approach with a new practice, and because food crops carry a different emotional weight than ornamentals. If a rose bush struggles, it’s sad. If a family worries they “did something wrong” with vegetables, that worry can lodge into grief and stay there.
So, when you see guidance that suggests trees, shrubs, and conservation plantings, it’s usually a blend of horticultural practicality, risk management, and compassion for how families feel afterward—not just biology.
Rules and permissions: why your provider and your state matter
Human composting is still new enough that the legal landscape is patchwork. One provider might be able to serve families nationwide by transporting a person to a state where the practice is authorized; another might only operate locally. And “what you can do with the soil” can be shaped by state statute, board of health rules, and provider policy all at once.
To understand how quickly the landscape is changing, it helps to look at where human composting is authorized. Recompose tracks a state-by-state legal status list and notes that human composting is legal in more than a dozen states, with additional states introducing legislation. They also explain an important, concrete example of how rules can work in practice: in Washington State, the law for scattering human composting soil is treated similarly to cremated remains—you need landowner permission, and scattering in navigable waterways is permitted.
That last point matters for gardens because a “vegetable garden” is usually private property. If you’re using the soil on land you own, permission is straightforward. If you’re considering a shared garden plot, community garden, rented property, or a family farm with multiple stakeholders, it becomes a conversation. And if a provider agreement restricts certain uses, that contract may be more limiting than state law.
One more rule-adjacent issue comes up for families who grow food under organic certification standards. USDA organic regulations prohibit the use of “sewage sludge” in organic production. The regulation is spelled out in 7 CFR 205.105. Human composting soil is not the same thing as municipal biosolids—but if you’re certified organic, selling produce, or operating under a strict standard, it’s wise to talk with your certifier or local extension office before applying any unusual soil amendment to production beds.
So… can you use human composting soil in a vegetable garden?
Here is the compassionate, practical truth: many families can, but many families choose not to. And for those who choose not to, it isn’t because they’ve failed the “eco” test. It’s because they’re doing what grieving people do when something matters—they pick the option that lets them sleep at night.
Provider guidance is your first checkpoint. If your provider recommends avoiding tender annuals (which can include many vegetables), take that guidance seriously. As stated by Recompose, their soil tests indicate suitability for established shrubs, trees, houseplants, and flower gardens, with a recommendation to avoid tender annuals. That doesn’t mean “never,” but it suggests that “a vegetable bed full of annual crops” is not the most straightforward use.
Your second checkpoint is household context. Who eats from this garden? Are there small children who pull carrots straight from the soil? Is anyone in the household medically vulnerable? Do you have the emotional bandwidth to wonder, even briefly, if you made a risky choice? There’s no moral score attached to this decision—just the reality that grief is heavy enough without adding new anxiety.
Your third checkpoint is the kind of garden you mean. A “vegetable garden” can be a row of annual greens, or it can be a backyard food forest with fruit trees, berry shrubs, and perennial herbs. Perennials and woody plants often align more closely with provider recommendations than tender annuals do.
Best practices if you’re considering any edible-garden use
If you’re thinking, “We hear all that—but we still want some connection between this soil and the food we grow,” you can choose a cautious middle path. The goal is to honor your loved one while reducing exposure pathways and lowering uncertainty.
Choose plants that match provider guidance
Instead of mixing the soil directly into annual vegetable beds, consider using it for established shrubs and trees that produce food over time, such as fruit trees, berry bushes, or perennial herbs. This aligns more closely with the “trees and shrubs” guidance providers often give and can feel symbolically fitting: a lasting plant that returns every season.
Use it as a surface mulch rather than a deep soil amendment
Some guidance recommends using the soil as mulch and at lower concentrations around young roots. According to Recompose, their bioassay shows relative immaturity and they recommend mulch-style application and lower concentration around roots of young plants. In practice, families often find that a top-dress approach feels more contained and easier to manage than digging it through an entire bed.
Keep one area “memorial” and one area “food,” if that helps your peace of mind
Some families create a dedicated memorial zone—one raised bed for flowers, a ring of soil at the dripline of a tree, or a small grove—and keep the vegetable beds separate. That separation can reduce household anxiety while still letting the soil become part of the living landscape.
Ask your provider the questions that matter most
- Are there any restrictions in your policy or contract on using the soil for food crops?
- What testing is performed on the finished soil, and what indicators do you test for?
- Do you recommend waiting a certain amount of time before applying soil to new plantings?
- Do you recommend using it as mulch, mixing it with other compost, or applying at a certain ratio?
These questions aren’t pushy. They’re a form of care—both for the people who will live with the decision and for the person you’re honoring.
Practical alternatives families often choose instead of vegetable beds
When families decide that vegetables feel like a step too far, they often feel relieved—not disappointed—once they see the other options. The soil can still become part of something thriving, meaningful, and close to home.
- A memorial tree planting in a yard or family property
- Ornamental gardens: roses, perennials, native flowers, pollinator habitats
- Houseplants for people who live in apartments or move often
- Conservation plantings or land restoration programs, where available
These options tend to be low-anxiety and high-symbolism. They also fit well with the reality that a single person’s soil is a large volume. Recompose explained that the process can create about a cubic yard of soil—enough to support multiple plantings, not just a single pot.
Where cremation still fits: why families compare options and what to do next
Human composting doesn’t replace cremation for most families—it joins the list of choices people consider. And because families often want to understand the bigger landscape, it helps to know what’s happening nationally with cremation and memorial preferences.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025, and they also report that among people who prefer cremation, a significant share prefer to keep remains in an urn at home. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) similarly reports continued growth, noting a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024 and projections rising further in coming years.
Those numbers matter because they explain why so many families find themselves searching for answers like what to do with ashes, whether keeping ashes at home is okay, or how to plan a meaningful ceremony that doesn’t feel rushed. If cremation is part of your family’s conversation—whether for a person or a beloved pet—there are gentle, practical ways to choose memorials without turning grief into a shopping problem.
If you’re exploring cremation urns, Funeral.com offers a broad collection of cremation urns for ashes, including options that feel traditional, modern, or nature-inspired. If your family plans to share remains among siblings or keep a portion close, small cremation urns and keepsake urns can be a practical, tender solution—especially when not everyone grieves in the same way or lives in the same place.
For families honoring an animal companion, the same gentleness applies. pet urns and pet urns for ashes give you a secure, dignified home for remains, and there are many styles for different personalities and homes. If you want something that looks like a small sculpture or a quiet decor piece, pet cremation urns in figurine styles can feel especially fitting. And if multiple family members want a personal memento, pet keepsake cremation urns are designed for sharing.
Some people don’t want a vessel on a shelf at all—they want something they can carry, touch, or wear on hard days. That’s where cremation jewelry can be meaningful. Funeral.com’s collection of cremation jewelry includes pieces designed to hold a small portion of ashes, and the cremation necklaces collection can be a helpful place to start if you want a simple pendant rather than a larger keepsake.
If you’d rather read first and decide later, these guides can steady the process: how to choose a cremation urn, keeping ashes at home, and cremation jewelry 101. If your family is considering a water ceremony, Funeral.com’s guidance on water burial can help you understand what different biodegradable urn designs actually do in real conditions.
And because cost questions often arrive in the same breath as grief, it can help to read a calm explanation of how much does cremation cost before you’re forced into quick decisions. Funeral.com’s how much does cremation cost guide walks through common fees and what changes the total. If you’re comparing ecological choices across burial, cremation, and human composting, Funeral.com also explores the bigger picture in Energy Use and Carbon Footprint: Cremation vs Burial vs Human Composting.
A gentle way to decide: let “future you” have a vote
Whether you’re holding a box of soil from human composting or an urn from cremation, the decision you make is partly about today—and partly about who you’ll be six months from now, when the shock has softened and you’re living alongside the choice.
If using the soil in a vegetable garden feels comforting and aligned with your provider’s guidance, you can choose a cautious approach—favoring trees, shrubs, mulch-style application, and clear boundaries. If it feels uncertain, you can still create a living memorial without involving food crops at all. Either path can be loving. Either path can be wise.
And if you’re still in the middle of funeral planning, it may help to write down what matters most before you decide on the details: closeness, simplicity, environmental impact, tradition, cost, or creating a place your family can return to. When you lead with values, the “right” choice often becomes clearer—and it tends to stay clear, even as grief changes shape.
