What is terramation
Terramation—also known as natural organic reduction—is a gentle, nature-guided process in which the human body is allowed to return to the earth through decomposition, just as it has throughout history.
Once your loved one passes and comes into our care, they are placed in a secure vessel filled with natural materials such as:
wood chips
straw
alfalfa
wildflowers
These materials surround the body and create a warm, aerated environment where beneficial microbes begin their natural work.
There are no chemicals, no embalming, and no flames.
Just nature, time, and gentle renewal.
Over the next several weeks, naturally-occurring microbial activity helps break the body down into compost—much like the forest floor transforms fallen leaves into life-giving nourishment.
During this time, the vessel is monitored for moisture and oxygen. The process is respectful, quiet, and fully enclosed.
At the end of this cycle, the body has transformed into nutrient-rich, life-giving compost.
Nothing harmful remains. No DNA remains. Only clean, fertile compost/soil—an elemental return to the natural world.
Once terramation is complete, the compost is prepared for your family. This final compost is clean, safe, and full of nutrients.
Families often choose to use this compost to:
nourish flower beds
enrich home gardens
plant memorial trees
restore family land
contribute to forest or land restoration projects
All are extraordinary ways for one life to nurture many others.
Whatever you choose, this soil becomes a symbol of renewal, connection, and the enduring beauty of your loved one’s story.
Why terramation
Terramation offers a life-giving alternative to both casket burial and cremation, both of which take a heavy toll on the earth.
Traditional burials take up space and rely on steel, concrete, hardwood, and embalming chemicals that remain in the ground indefinitely. Cremation involves incinerating the body at nearly 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, consuming large amounts of energy and releasing greenhouse gases into the air. The process is not only environmentally costly but also physically harsh.
Terramation, by contrast, allows the body to return gently and naturally to the earth, creating clean, nutrient-rich soil that can nourish gardens, restore forests, and support new life. Instead of leaving pollution behind, terramation allows your loved one’s last act on earth to be one of giving back.
Who we are
We are deeply-rooted Tennesseans shaped by service, community, and a deep respect for the natural world. Our experience spans the funeral industry, nonprofit leadership, and small-business entrepreneurship, and our work has always been guided by faith, compassion, and a desire to care for both people and creation.
As eco-minded business owners, we believe in finding solutions that honor life while helping restore the earth we all share. Dust to Dust was born from this commitment—to offer families a gentle, meaningful alternative that reflects our values and contributes to a healthier Tennessee for generations to come.
