Earth FAQ’s
If you don’t see the answer to your question, ask our Care Team.
General Questions
How is Earth Funeral different from other soil transformation facilities?
Founded in 2020, Earth Funeral has invested $15 million in research and development to perfect its Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) method. Earth Funeral’s approach is designed to optimize what happens in the natural world, accelerating the process to less than 45 days. Earth Funeral has a dedicated team of hardware, electrical, and software engineers on staff as well as one of the country’s leading compost scientists. The result is that Earth Funeral has designed a process that creates the ultimate set of conditions for NOR. To create these conditions, Earth Funeral has built customized vessels equipped with a proprietary sensor suite that monitors the environment inside the vessel. Earth Funeral also uses a proprietary blend of organic materials added to each NOR process to meet Washington State compliance regulatory requirements. Combined, the vessel, sensor suite, organic material, and processing equipment have helped solidify Earth Funeral as the leader in the industry.
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Where are the conservation lands where the soil goes and how is it maintained?
Earth Funeral has two conservation projects. Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula and California’s Sierra Riverlands.
Our inaugural conservation project is located on the iconic Olympic Peninsula and is reforesting a historically-logged parcel of land.
The Sierra Riverlands is situated along one of the most important waterways in California, we’re helping to restore a vital river ecosystem that provides habitats for local pollinators, songbirds, and Chinook salmon.
Is Earth a funeral home?
Yes, Earth is a licensed funeral home that specializes in soil transformation, also known as human composting or Natural Organic Reduction (NOR). We are licensed and regularly inspected, with a team of experienced local funeral directors. We have the exact same professional licenses as traditional funeral homes and are regularly inspected by state regulators. Our team consists of highly experienced local funeral directors.
How do I make arrangements with Earth?
Earth provides a comprehensive soil transformation package that includes everything that you need. You can make arrangements online, over the phone, or at one of our state-of-the-art facilities in Washington state or Nevada. You can make arrangements for a loved one who has just passed, a loved one who is expected to pass soon, or you can plan for the future - either for yourself or a loved one - with a prepaid funeral plan. We make funeral planning effortless. Our care team is available 24/7. Call us at (877) 327-4109.
To start, get an instant online soil transformation price.
Can I visit Earth in person?
Yes. Families can visit our facilities to make new arrangements and to collect their loved one's soil. You can also tour our facility virtually, online.
To schedule an in person or virtual appointment, please contact us at (877) 327-4109.
Is a funeral/memorial service included?
No, our soil transformation process takes place in the days immediately following the passing and without a funeral service beforehand. Many of our families choose to hold a memorial or celebration service at a later date. This can either be through a religious venue, another funeral home, or at a more personal venue, such as someone's house, a favorite restaurant or in nature.
With direct disposition (no viewing or service prior to the soil transformation), you're able to arrange a much more personalized service for your loved one, and without the cost and time-pressure of a traditional funeral home.
Learn more about how our process works here.
What areas do you serve?
Earth currently serves Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. We have facilities in Washington State and Nevada. We are expanding as laws allow. If you're outside these states, call (877) 327-4109 for help.
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Who do I contact if I have further questions?
Our care team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call us or text us at (877) 327-4109).
Soil Transformation
Is the soil transformation process safe for operators?
Similar to the other burial industries, soil transformation can pose workplace safety risks. That is why at Earth Funeral we ensure that the individuals entrusted to manage the soil transformation process are held to the highest standard.
Each soil transformation operator is required to undergo comprehensive training on Earth Funeral’s systems, safety protocols, and all applicable laws. All soil transformation operators must obtain a Reduction Facility Operator License from the Department of Licensing, and as of April 2024, upon its introduction, also pass the Cremation Association of North America’s training program.
What is soil transformation?
Soil transformation is a sustainable alternative to cremation, traditional burial and aquamation. Over a 45-day process, a body is gently transformed into nutrient rich soil.
To accomplish this, the body is placed in a vessel with a mix of organic materials to provide the right balance of nitrogen and carbon. Through the action of microbes and controlled conditions (like temperature, moisture, and oxygen), the remains break down naturally, similar to garden composting but under regulated, monitored conditions.
At the end of the process, the result is clean, safe, fertile soil that can be used to enrich gardens, forests, or conservation land. It's a climate-friendly option that uses less energy and produces fewer emissions than cremation or traditional burial.
A portion of the soil is returned to the family - to scatter or plant - and the remaining soil is sent to local conservation sites for land restoration projects, such as reforestation, soil rehabilitation, and restoring challenged ecosystems.
Soil transformation is sometimes referred to as human composting, and is legally called Natural Organic Reduction.
Who is eligible for soil transformation?
Most people are eligible. Exceptions include individuals with radioactive implants, prion disease, tuberculosis, Ebola, or those over 300 lbs.
Can someone who dies of COVID-19 undergo soil transformation?
Yes. The process heats to over 131°F for 72+ hours, which kills pathogens and viruses.
How does the soil transformation process work?
The Earth soil transformation process follows a four step process:
- The body is gently washed and wrapped in a biodegradable shroud.
- The body is placed in its own individual vessel on a layer of organic mulch, woodchips and wildflowers.
- Over a 45-day process, the vessel is meticulously monitored as the body is broken down on a molecular level by beneficial microbes.
- Each process produces an approximate cubic-yard of nutrient-rich soil. Families choose how much soil they'd like returned, and the remainder is used for land restoration.
Read more about the soil transformation process here.
What happens to implants, bones and teeth during the soil transformation process?
At the end of the process, we remove any inorganics from the soil (metal, implants, medical devices etc) and recycle them. We then reduce the bones to a fine powder and reincorporate it with the soil. This is the same process that is performed after cremation and uses similar equipment. Bones are biodegradable, the process is just very slow.
What is the science behind the soil transformation process?
The underlying science behind soil transformation is composting; balancing carbon and nitrogen, and optimizing temperature, moisture and oxygen levels. This creates perfect conditions for naturally occurring microbes to break the body down on a molecular level.
Our proprietary vessel technology creates and optimizes these conditions. Soil transformation is an accelerated natural process.
How long does soil transformation take?
The soil transformation process takes approximately 45 days. The exact length of the process depends on the size of the body, much like cremation or aquamation.
What vessel is used for soil transformation?
Earth Funeral’s proprietary vessels are a leader in innovation in the industry. They are a high-tech system designed for precision and sustainability. Equipped with advanced sensors and environmental controls, it carefully regulates temperature, moisture, and airflow to optimize natural decomposition. This smart technology ensures a safe, efficient process—setting a new standard in modern, climate-conscious funeral care.
You can see a picture of our vessel on our soil transformation page.
Can I use soil transformation for my pet?
Technically yes, and there's a long history of composting animals in agriculture. That said, Earth does not currently offer a pet composting service at this time.
Why is soil health important?
Healthy soil is paramount to a healthy ecosystem as it filters water, provides nutrients to plants and animals, sequesters carbon, reduces landslides and flooding, and helps regulate global temperatures.
By choosing soil transformation, you play an important role in restoring and maintaining soil health.
Are soil transformation and human composting the same thing?
Yes. Soil transformation is known by a number of names, some of which are more common than others. These include human composting, natural organic reduction, terramation and recomposition.
The Soil
What is the soil and how can I use it?
The soil transformation process produces a nutrient-rich soil that is ready to be returned to nature. You may choose to scatter it in places that are meaningful to you and your loved one, or you may use it to nourish a favorite house plant, tree, or flower garden. In either case, the minerals and nutrients will be reincorporated into the natural ecosystem, enabling new growth and regeneration. We recommend returning the soil to the earth within a couple of weeks of receipt.
How is the soil packaged?
Each portion of soil is contained within a 32 fl oz container. Each container is recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. The soil container is designed for the careful storage of your loved one's soil until you're able to scatter or plant it. The soil is organic material and is intended to be returned to nature; we recommend doing so within a couple of weeks from return.
Am I able to take the entirety of the soil?
Yes, but bear in mind that it’s an approximate cubic-yard of material and around 300 lbs (about a pickup truck full). We require that you provide an appropriate vehicle and collect it from our facility. We will help you load the soil.
How do I know the soil is safe?
As a licensed soil transformation facility (legally referred to as a natural organic reduction facility), we're subject to strict regulation regarding the quality of the soil we produce. In order to maintain our facility license, we're required to frequently prove the quality of our soil as per test methods developed by the US Composting Council, and other test criteria.
How do I know that it's my loved one's soil?
At Earth Funeral, maintaining a clear and secure chain of custody is one of our most important responsibilities—and we take it extremely seriously. From the moment your loved one enters our care to the final return of soil to your family, every step of the process is carefully documented, tracked, and verified by trained professionals.
Here’s how we ensure you receive only your loved one’s soil:
- Upon arrival at our facility, your loved one is assigned a metal ID tag with a unique identifier, which is attached to their ankle and remains with them throughout the entire process, as required by Washington law.
- This ID is also digitally recorded and tracked in our internal system, along with all case documentation.
- At every stage—from preparation to placement in the vessel, to final soil collection—our team performs multiple visual checks, and all documents travel securely with the individual.
- Once the transformation is complete, the vessel is emptied under the supervision of two trained staff members, who conduct a visual inspection to ensure all soil and bone fragments are collected.
The finished soil is placed into a clean, labeled container along with the original ID tag and documentation, stored securely, and logged in our system.
Soil Transformation Availability
Are your soil transformation facilities open to families?
Families can visit our facilities to make new arrangements and to collect their loved one's soil.
To schedule an appointment to make new arrangements at Earth | PNW in Washington, click here.
To schedule an appointment to make new arrangements at Earth | West Coast in Nevada, click here.‍
Soil collection hours are Monday through Friday, 12pm-4pm. We notify you when your soil is ready. If you live in a state we don’t currently service, please call us at (877) 327-4109 and we will work to accommodate you.
Where is soil transformation available?
Soil transformation (sometimes referred to as human composting and legally called natural organic reduction) is currently legal in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, Nevada, California, New York, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, and Maine. Several other states are working to legalize the process as it grows quickly in popularity.
If you're in a state that hasn't yet legalized natural organic reduction, you can still choose it, but the body will need to be transported out-of-state to the nearest state that does allow it (and that has an operating natural organic reduction facility). If this is of interest to you, please call us at (877) 327-4109 and we will work to accommodate you.
Is soil transformation legal in Washington and Oregon states?
Yes, in fact, Washington was the first state to legalize natural organic reduction (the formal legal name for soil transformation) in 2019! Oregon followed shortly thereafter.
Can I utilize Earth if I am out of state?
We offer services to families in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington states. If you live in a state we don't currently service, please call us at (877) 327-4109 and we will work to accommodate you.
When is Earth coming to my area?
While it is difficult to commit to any concrete timelines, we're working hard to bring soil transformation to a state near you. Our current service area includes Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington states. If you live in a state we don’t currently service, please call us at (877) 327-4109 and we will work to accommodate you.
Sign up to be the first to know when we launch in your area.
Can I combine body donation and soil transformation?
Yes, we honor both the wish to advance medical knowledge and create an environmental legacy. The possibility of soil transformation after body donation depends on the specific donation program's practices. Many body donation programs have established protocols, including embalming requirements. To pursue soil transformation after donation, you'll want to:
- Discuss with your chosen program whether embalming is required
- If embalming is part of their standard protocol, ask about opting out while still participating in the program
- Confirm you can specify soil transformation as your preferred care plan
We can assist with referrals and coordination.
Can I choose soil transformation if I'm an organ donor?
Yes, you can be both an organ donor and choose soil transformation. We regularly care for organ donors and deeply respect this generous choice to help others.
‍Here's what you should know:
- Organ donation happens at the hospital before the body comes into our care
- The donation process has no impact on soil transformation
- Our team works seamlessly with medical teams to coordinate care
- There are no additional costs or special considerations needed
- The soil transformation process remains the same for donors
By choosing both organ donation and soil transformation, you can make a lasting impact—by giving to others and giving back to nature.
Soil Transformation Difference
Why is soil transformation so environmentally friendly?
Soil transformation is a gentle, carbon-neutral alternative that avoids emissions and produces nutrient-dense soil that can revitalize ecosystems and sequester carbon. Providers like Earth use renewable energy to power their facilities, further reducing the environmental footprint.
How is soil transformation different from traditional burial?
Traditional burial practices can be resource-intensive involving embalming chemicals, non-reusable caskets, and an increasingly large cemetery footprint. Soil transformation avoids toxic embalming fluids, non-degradable materials, and resource-intensive production. Burial also uses land inefficiently.
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How is soil transformation different from cremation?
Cremation is a fossil fuel-driven process that releases significant carbon emissions and fine particles. One cremation typically emits about as much carbon as driving over 600 miles. Soil transformation uses no fossil fuels, emits no net COâ‚‚, and produces a positive environmental outcome through land restoration.
How is soil transformation different from green or natural burial?
It doesn’t require burial space and can be done indoors. While green burial is environmentally friendly, access is limited and burial isn’t allowed in many urban areas.
How is soil transformation different from water cremation/aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis)?
Aquamation (water cremation) uses less COâ‚‚ than cremation but requires large volumes of water (400 gallons/person) and disposal into the sewer system. Soil transformation uses far less water and produces usable soil.
Earth Package
What is included in the Earth Package?
Our soil transformation package includes everything you need depending upon the state that you’re in. All packages include the soil transformation process, the soil returned to your family, and access to the Earth Portal to guide you through the process.
Learn more about the Earth Package contents here.
What is the average cost of soil transformation?
The base cost of a soil transformation package is around $5,000. At Earth, our pricing is available instantly online and customized to your needs.
Get an instant online soil transformation quote.
Is soil transformation less expensive than cremation?
This really depends on the cremation provider that you use. Some providers will be significantly less expensive than soil transformation, and others will be significantly more expensive. There are many different options that affect the final price, and some providers offer a far better experience or additional services than others.
The soil transformation process itself uses premium quality natural materials, is a gentle 45-day process, and takes place in state-of-the-art modern facilities.
Does Earth provide certified death certificates?
If your loved one is in California, Nevada, Oregon or Washington, we can order death certificates on your behalf. Let us know how many you'd like, and we'll have them mailed directly to you. Death certificates typically take around two weeks to arrive from when they're ordered (we let you know as soon as we've ordered them).
You can also order death certificates yourself (which is typically quicker), either through an online service like VitalChek or by visiting the Vital Statistics Office in the County in which your loved one passed. If you aren't in one of the states listed above, your local funeral home will assist you with death certificates.
What are the different soil return options?
You can either collect the soil in person, or we can return it to any US postal address via USPS Priority Mail Express.
In-person collection hours are during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. We notify you when your soil is ready for collection.
USPS Priority Mail Express is the only legal method to send natural organic reduction soil in the US. It's fully trackable and requires a signature upon delivery.
Immediate Need Services (At-Need)
What are immediate need arrangements?
Immediate need arrangements, sometimes referred to as at-need funeral arrangements, are for families who have recently lost a loved one and need services immediately. Immediate need arrangements are typically for unexpected or sudden deaths, where no advance plans have been made.
Read more about our service.
What do I do when a loved one dies?
If you need our services immediately, please call our 24/7 care team at (877) 327-4109 or get an online quote to start our online arrangement process. You can make arrangements online or over the phone, and as soon as you've completed the arrangements, we'll bring your loved one into our care. Our care team is here to guide you through the process.
When do I pay for Earth's services?
For immediate need services you pay in full prior to services being rendered. You can do this online or over the phone, and we accept all major credit cards.
How do I complete the vital statistics?
Vital statistics are the information we collect from the next of kin in order to be able to register a loved one's death. We cannot legally move forward with the soil transformation process until this point. Earth handles the death registration process in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, including all communication with your loved one's physician or hospice team, and the county and state in which your loved one passed.
You provide us with your loved one's vital statistics by completing our online paperwork questionnaire and signing the electronic documents we generate for you. If you are outside California, Nevada, Oregon or Washington, your local funeral home will assist you with the death registration process.
Do I need a death certificate?
Certified copies of the death certificate are required by banks, government agencies, credit card and insurance companies, former employers and other organizations. We generally recommend ordering between 5-8 copies, which we can do on your behalf.
Imminent Need Services
What are imminent need arrangements?
Imminent need arrangements are for families who are expecting a loved one to pass in the next six months, often in the next few days or weeks.
When you make imminent need arrangements with Earth, you complete all the planning and legal paperwork ahead of time. We keep your credit card safely on file but do not charge it until you actually require our services.
Learn more about our imminent need soil transformation service.
What are the benefits of imminent need arrangements?
Imminent need funeral arrangements give you peace of mind and enable you to focus on spending final moments with your loved one. You won't have to worry about making funeral arrangements at the time of their passing.
What do I do when a loved one dies when I have made imminent need arrangements?
When your loved one dies and you're ready for us to bring them into our care, call our 24/7 care team at (877) 327-4109. We're typically there within 2 hours.
When do I pay for Earth's services?
You provide us with your credit card details at the time you make the imminent need arrangements, but we don't charge it until you require our services. We keep it safely on file until then.
How does Earth partner with hospice?
Earth partners with all types of hospices. Our funeral directors have extensive experience partnering with hospice nurses, doctors and social workers. Our imminent need service is built with hospice families in mind.
How far should I plan in advance for an imminent death?
We recommend that you make end-of-life plans as far in advance as possible; doing so gives you peace of mind and allows you to focus on your loved one and more important matters at hand.
Prepaid Services (Pre-Need)
What is a prepaid funeral?
A prepaid funeral, sometimes referred to as a pre-need funeral plan, is a funeral that has been planned and paid for ahead of death. Many individuals plan for their funeral decades ahead of their, or their spouse's death, for a multitude of reasons.
Earth Prepaid allows you to select soil transformation as your funeral choice, and pay for it now so that your family doesn't have to in the future.
Learn more about Earth Prepaid.
What are the benefits of prepaying for my funeral?
The benefits of prepaid funeral plans include:
- Choosing a funeral option that aligns with your beliefs and preferences;
- Paying for it now to save money (funeral costs have doubled over the past decade due to inflation and rising funeral costs)
- Easing the emotional and financial burden on family friends (you're making arrangements and prepaying ahead of time so they don't have to).
Many individuals and couples find that prepaying for their funeral gives them peace of mind, and it's generally recommended as part of end-of-life planning.
How do I know my money is safe?
We put your money into an insurance policy for safekeeping. We partner with Homesteaders who are the largest funeral insurance company in the US. Only when you require our services are the funds released to Earth. This means that if something were to happen to Earth, your money is always safe.
What happens if I move?
If you move within our service area, you will continue to be covered by your Earth Prepaid plan. If you move outside of our service area, we can transfer your plan to another funeral home of your choosing. Just let us know if you move and change your address.
We're also working hard to make our services available throughout the United States.
What happens if I die outside your service area or overseas?
If you purchase travel protection with your prepaid plan you will be fully covered anywhere in the world. Without travel protection, your family will have to pay domestic or international transport fees. We charge these at cost, but recommend purchasing travel protection to avoid large and unexpected transportation costs.
Can I cancel my prepaid plan?
All prepaid plans can be cancelled for a full refund within the first 30 days of purchase. To request a 30 day cancellation, or to cancel outside of the 30 day window, please contact Homesteaders at 800-477-3633 or by email at service@homesteaderslife.com. Their contact hours are Monday - Thursday 6am to 2pm, Friday 6am to 11am Pacific Time.
Can I transfer to another funeral home?
Yes. Your money is kept in an insurance policy and can be transferred at anytime.
What does my family do when they require Earth's services?
Your family simply calls our 24/7 care team at (877) 327-4109, and we'll guide them through the next steps.
Prepaid Payment Plans
How is the price calculated?
You have the choice to either pay the full package amount upfront, or to split the payment over 36 or 60 months depending upon your age. If you choose to pay upfront, it is the exact same price every time. If you choose to pay in installments, the price will depend on your age. It is ultimately more expensive to pay in installments due to the fact that in many instances, we will provide our services at no extra cost if you were to pass before paying off your payment plan in full (see below for more details).
What happens if I pass before I have paid off my payment plan?
If the cause of death was an accident, then we will provide your arrangements at no extra cost. If the cause of death was a natural cause/not an accident, then your family may be required to provide additional funds to cover the cost of our services. The level of additional funds required depends on the length of your payment plan and how far into it you are.
‍36 month payment plan: if you pass within the first 6 months of the policy, then your family will pay the cost of our services minus what you have paid already. If you pass in months 6 to 12 months of your policy, then your family will pay for half the cost of our services. If you pass after month 12 but prior to paying off your plan in full, we will provide our services at no additional cost to your family.‍
60 month payment plan: if you pass within the first 6 months of the policy, then your family will pay the cost of our services minus what you have paid already. If you pass in months 6 to 12 months of your policy, then your family will pay for two thirds of the cost of our services. If you pass in months 13 to 24, your family will pay a third of the cost of our services. If you pass after month 24 but prior to paying off your plan in full, we will provide our services at no additional cost to your family.
Can I pay off my payment plan early?
Yes, you can pay off your payment plan early at any time. Please contact Homesteaders directly at (800) 477-3633 or by email at service@homesteaderslife.com. Their contact hours are Monday - Thursday 6am to 2pm, Friday 6am to 11am Pacific Time.
When will my credit card be charged each month?
The date of your original purchase will be the date that your card is charged each month. For example, you purchase on July 17, your card will be charged on the 17th of each month. You will see FUNERAL*HOMESTEADERSL or HOMESTEADERSLIFE on your credit card statement.
What if I'm partially through a payment plan and I stop paying?
In most cases, you will still retain some level of benefit even if you stop making payments. To find out the exact amount of the reduced benefit, you can contact Homesteaders at (800) 477-3633 or by email at service@homesteaderslife.com.
In the event that your policy does lapse and is not reinstated, we can't guarantee that you will be able to receive the same price for our soil transformation services as when you initially purchased a prepaid plan.
What if my credit card on file expires?
If your card expires, we are still able to charge the account. You only need to update your credit card information if the account has been closed or the card has been reported stolen.
How do I change the credit card on file?
Please contact Homesteaders directly at (800) 477-3633 or by email at service@homesteaderslife.com to change your credit card. Their contact hours are Monday - Thursday 6am to 2pm, Friday 6am to 11am Pacific Time.
Reducing Environmental Impact
How does Earth soil transformation reduce carbon emissions?
It avoids fossil fuel use entirely, uses renewable electricity, and returns nutrients to the earth via the natural carbon cycle.
How do you offset carbon emissions from transportation?
At Earth, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact wherever possible, including the emissions associated with transportation. We offset these emissions by purchasing verified carbon credits and by optimizing our transit routes to minimize fuel use. This includes transportation from the place of passing to our facility, as well as the delivery of soil to our conservation land. As we expand and open new facilities across the country, we aim to further reduce the distance materials need to travel.
