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Why did two women in their 30s risk it all to enter the funeral space?

👆This is us, Amanda and Lauren. It started as a tale of unfortunate events. After losing several loved ones in quick succession, we found ourselves searching for a memorial that felt right—something personal, beautiful, and that gave back to the earth. Simple, right?

Like most Canadians, our families chose cremation. But what we discovered shocked us: cremation ashes are actually harmful to plants, with a pH similar to bleach and off-the-chart levels of sodium and calcium. To top it off, there were no science-backed solutions available in all of Canada.

So we changed that.

🪴Working with world-leading scientists and innovators, we offer a patented soil product that transforms cremated remains into plant-friendly, organic earth. Today, our Memorial Planting Kits are available at funeral homes across #Ontario, and cemeteries across
#Canada are rolling out entire gardens with our product.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a better way to remember those we love, we’d be honoured to have you follow along. Together, we can make a greener ending. 🌿

📹 Earlier this summer, we filmed a special video with @maticvisuals to showcase our Memorial Planting Kits — a meaningful way for families to create living tributes that honour their loved ones.

🪴 These kits make it easy to plant a memorial at home or in nature, blending tradition with personal remembrance. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate life, nurture new growth, and keep memories thriving in the natural world.

💚 Ask your local funeral home to stock AWAKE, and let’s make living memorials an option for families nationwide-wide.

Can a memorial actually offset the carbon footprint of cremation? 🌲

With the right tree, planted the right way — yes. A mature memorial tree starts absorbing CO₂ right away, and can fully offset the emissions of a cremation in as little as 5.5 years.

The catch: maturity matters. A seed or tiny sapling will take decades to reach that point. An established tree starts doing that work from day one.

It’s one of the reasons we designed Ashes to Earth™ to work with mature trees and larger plantings — not just seedlings.

We did a full breakdown on the blog if you’re curious about the numbers, thinking about your own legacy, or supporting a family who cares about their environmental footprint.

🌲 Link in bio to read more.

Photo by @daringwanderer

The most overlooked part of scattering ashes? The soil.

Most people don’t realize that cremation ashes are highly alkaline — closer to bleach than compost. And standard compost can’t fix this. The result? The place you chose with so much care can end up struggling because of the ashes themselves. Stressed plants, more maintenance, and living memorials that often don’t survive.

Ashes to Earth™ was created specifically to solve this. It converts cremated remains into healthy earth, so the place you choose is nourished rather than harmed.🌷

💙 Thinking about a scattering for someone you love? Visit the link in our bio to explore Ashes to Earth™ options — for scattering at home, in a garden, or at a cemetery near you.

Canada’s cremation rate just hit 76%, and it’s still climbing. 🌱

For cemeteries, that’s more than a statistic. It’s a shift in what families are asking for, and in how cemeteries need to operate to stay relevant and financially sustainable.

One of the most practical responses is scattering gardens—something our team specializes in. Lower barrier to entry than traditional plots, renewable inventory with the right soil science, and deeply meaningful for the families who use them.

Cemeteries are community anchors. We’d love to help yours stay that way.

Know someone on a cemetery board, or involved in your local cemetery? This might be worth passing along. 🌱

Photo of the beautiful @woodlawnmemorialparkguelph

“What if I’m not good with plants?”

Honestly? You don’t have to be.

One of the simplest Ashes to Earth™ memorial options is spreading remains at the base of an existing tree, or outdoor space that already means something to your family. No planting experience needed.

There are even easy options for indoor plants, like a ZZ plant or Peperomia ‘Hope’, that are forgiving, beautiful, and low-maintenance.

(And remember, if your plant doesn’t thrive, memorial soil can always be carefully transplanted with a new plant.)

A living memorial doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to feel right for your family. 🌿

Our Seedling Partners are officially up and running. 🌱

A dedicated network of Ontario funeral homes now have Ashes to Earth™ kits on their shelves, ready for families whenever the time feels right.

Is there one near you? Find the full list at the link in our bio. 🌿

Acrylic stands by @knoxaccessoriescanada
Poems by @victoriabutlerpoetry
Plants from @springwater_garden_center

Boxes manufactured in Waterloo, ON.

To all the moms, missing your mom 🌷

There’s no right way to do this day. You can celebrate her. You can grieve her. You can let your own family celebrate you, and feel her absence in the same breath. It can all be true at once.

And if you’re carrying today for your own family while quietly carrying her too — we see you.

If she’s been on your mind lately, and you’ve been thinking about a way to keep her close... a plant on the windowsill, a tree in the backyard, a garden corner that feels like hers — there’s no rush. There’s no timeline for this. Only yours.

Whenever you’re ready, we’re here. 💙

To all the moms, missing your mom 🌷

There’s no right way to do this day. You can celebrate her. You can grieve her. You can let your own family celebrate you, and feel her absence in the same breath. It can all be true at once.

And if you’re carrying today for your own family while quietly carrying her too — we see you.

If she’s been on your mind lately, and you’ve been thinking about a way to keep her close... a plant on the windowsill, a tree in the backyard, a garden corner that feels like hers — there’s no rush. There’s no timeline for this. Only yours.

Whenever you’re ready, we’re here. 💙

What would you plant for her? 🌸

"We've been talking about finally doing something with mom's ashes."

We hear this more than you know. And the next question is simple but significant: What would be meaningful?

A hydrangea that made her smile every spring. The maple tree from your childhood yard. Something that grows and changes with the seasons, the way she did.

If that conversation has been happening in your family, you're not alone. And there's no rush. 🌿

A place to visit. A garden that grows. A memorial that changes with the seasons.

Scattering gardens are one of the most meaningful — and most overlooked — options for families looking for something rooted in nature.

Some cemeteries offer them, and they may be closer than you think.

Check our link in our bio to find a partner near you, or send us a message and we’ll help you figure out what’s available. 🫶 🌿

This video features the scattering garden at the Stayner Union Cemetery in Clearview Township.

Myth: You can scatter ashes anywhere in the garden and plants will thrive.

Fact: Cremated remains have extremely high pH, sodium, and salt levels that are actually toxic to most plants. Without the right preparation, more than half of plants won’t survive.

It’s not common knowledge, and it’s not your fault if you didn’t know.

Ashes to Earth™ Memorial Planting Kits use a patented soil blend that converts remains into healthy, plant-ready earth. So the living memorial your family imagines actually has the roots to grow.

Want the list of our recommended plants? Send us a DM 🌱

Myth: You can scatter ashes anywhere in the garden and plants will thrive.

Fact: Cremated remains have extremely high pH, sodium, and salt levels that are actually toxic to most plants. Without the right preparation, more than half of plants won’t survive.

It’s not common knowledge, and it’s not your fault if you didn’t know.

Ashes to Earth™ Memorial Planting Kits use a patented soil blend that converts remains into healthy, plant-ready earth. So the living memorial your family imagines actually has the roots to grow.

Want the list of our recommended plants? Send us a DM 🌱

“Where do we purchase a memorial planting kit?”

We hear this question often, and the answer is: at your local funeral home.

Our memorial planting kits are available through funeral homes, who prepare them for planting and walk you through your options — gently, clearly, and at your own pace.

If you’re wondering about memorial planting, scattering, or creating something living with cremated remains, your funeral home can help you.

One family member who chose memorial planting shared:

“It explained everything clearly and helped me make that big decision about what to do with the ashes… with grace and ease.”

If you’d like support exploring what’s possible, your funeral home is there to help — when you’re ready.

💚 Want to find a funeral home in your area that offers Ashes to Earth™ memorial planting? Send us a message and we’ll connect you.

#GreenBurial #MemorialPlanting #GriefJourney #EcoMemorial #AshestoEarth

“Where do we purchase a memorial planting kit?”

We hear this question often, and the answer is: at your local funeral home.

Our memorial planting kits are available through funeral homes, who prepare them for planting and walk you through your options — gently, clearly, and at your own pace.

If you’re wondering about memorial planting, scattering, or creating something living with cremated remains, your funeral home can help you.

One family member who chose memorial planting shared:

“It explained everything clearly and helped me make that big decision about what to do with the ashes… with grace and ease.”

If you’d like support exploring what’s possible, your funeral home is there to help — when you’re ready.

💚 Want to find a funeral home in your area that offers Ashes to Earth™ memorial planting? Send us a message and we’ll connect you.

#GreenBurial #MemorialPlanting #GriefJourney #EcoMemorial #AshestoEarth