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As Seen In The Charlotte Observer: NC targeted for expansion by company that turns human remains into compost
The Charlotte Observer
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July 22, 2026
For one Raleigh family, choosing Earth Funeral came down to something simple: a peaceful return to the earth.
The Charlotte Observer, in a feature by reporter Chase Jordan, tells the story of Janet Batiansila, who chose Earth Funeral for her late husband, Walter, over cremation or traditional burial.
"I just think this gives you so many more options," she said. "It's much more of a peaceful process. There's no burning. I just can't imagine the appeal of cremation if people knew there was another option that is just more comforting." Her family later spread a portion of the resulting soil across several national parks, and let another portion drift down a Louisiana bayou in a lit, biodegradable candle container.
Co-founder Tom Harries traced the idea back to something older than any single company. "It used to be that you'd have a family plot, and you would bury grandma in the backyard...and you'd scatter some wildflowers on top, and every season when the wildflowers would bloom, you'd say, 'Oh, there's grandma pushing up the daisies, right?'" he said. "And so there is this return to that, a return to the earth concept in this process as well."
Over approximately 30 to 45 days, a body goes into a high tech vessel with organic mulch, wood chips and wildflowers. Naturally occurring microbes do the rest, breaking it down at the molecular level to create natural organic reduction.
Families can take home their soil to pot, plant, or share, while the rest can be donated to one of Earth Funeral's conservation projects. When using soil in this way, families are recommended to follow all local laws and regulations as these vary by location.Â
North Carolina families don't have to wait for new legislation to access soil transformation. Earth Funeral is available to North Carolina families facing an immediate need or imminent loss, with potential plans to bring the option even closer to home over time.
Return to nature through soil transformation
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Takeaways
- A Peaceful Alternative: Raleigh's Janet Batiansila chose Earth Funeral for her husband, calling it a far more comforting option than cremation.
- The Process, Simply: In roughly 30 to 45 days, a body becomes nutrient-rich soil inside a vessel of organic mulch, wood chips and wildflowers.
- A Return to Tradition: Co-founder Tom Harries frames soil transformation as an updated version of the old family-plot tradition.
- The Soil Goes to Work: Families can take home their soil to pot, plant, or share, while the rest can be donated to one of Earth Funeral's conservation projects.
Read the article on The Charlotte Observer
"I just think this gives you so many more options. It's much more of a peaceful process."
