Beware of Gardeners and Landscapers

I was just watching a programme on Crime Investigation and it was about a Gardener/Landscaper in Toronto ,Bruce McArthur, who chopped up people and put them in people's planters and gardens! He pleaded guilty to killing eight men and in February 2019 and given life.

 

So did the plants do well in that kind of compost.
I mean,is it a viable alternative to peat based stuff.

 

Well, it was bone and blood ...

 

More like blood, bone and guts I would think.

But probably ok with the organic brigade.

 

I believe that he made sure not to displace too much potting soil in those planters!

It was a bit of a scandal because our "Gay" district is pretty much 4 or so square blocks downtown Toronto and the community had sounded the alarm about missing men for a few years and the coppers did not listen.

He would have had access to lots of places to dispose of the remains. But I'm betting that he only hid the bits at homes where the people were not gardeners and didn't know one end of the shovel from another!

 

I knew you would have some insight into it Lori. It was a good documentary with actual live footage of him being interviewd.

 

Funny you should ask that! Have a look at this.....
If you can past the accents and the first few minutes, it's actually quite interesting!

 

Hardly.....it's not as though it's vegan, now is it?

 

My wife insisted on being buried naturally at a specially designated forestry where human remains are allowed to be buried amongst the natural landscape. The estate has complicated rules about no embalming fluids or synthetic clothing or anything artificial can be part of the remains. The casket can only be made of easily compostable material. The forestry carefully chooses natural places between existing trees to dig the graves. Visiting the grave is actually a walk in the woods, with trees and birds. The 'residents' become part of the natural landscape, composting the woodland. Serial killers aside, I think this is a great idea.

 

Ah..that's very forward-thinking of Wales. Does it apply to the rest of the UK, do you know?
According to the American Youtube clip, they'd only managed approval in (I think) 4 states. No doubt too many vested interests set to lose out! I suspect it would be the same story here in France. Undertaking is a huge, profitable business, so no doubt the Government would be lobbied to prevent anything that might harm it.

 

I'm no expert on it as I only researched a suitable place for my wife a number of years ago, but apparently there's over 250+ natural burial grounds in the UK. And yes, the local undertakers were not happy when I gave them the instructions on not using chemicals and other things they charge a lot for. They were especially unimpressed with the recycled cardboard casket!

 

Good for you, Frazzled! Well done for sticking to your guns and carrying out your wife's wishes. I tried to do something similar for my mother, according to her wishes, but was blocked every step of the way. It's sad when profits have priority over peoples' last wishes.

 

Just be sure not to compost any clowns as they can make your veg taste funny...

 

I think that Canada has widespread legal composting funerals available now - which can take a body and turn it into compost in 6 weeks or so. Massively better for the environment, not least because of the huge amounts of energy involved in cremation.

Weirdly, my old Dad - a very devout Catholic - was appalled when I told him, and said that it was disrespectful to the body. I just cannot understand why returning a body with a low energy impact, to nature, is any less respectful than either combusting it with a huge load of gas burnt, or getting the worms to do their job over years... I think it's a fantastic idea! But yes - the funeral industry is opposed in general in the Uk right now I understand.