Everything you need to know about body composting, aka natural organic reduction (NOR), is the topic of the inaugural Body Composting Conference: Rejoining the Cycle of Life Through Natural Organic Reduction. Being organized by The Natural Funeral, the conference is bringing together visionaries, innovators and movement makers in the death positive field for two days of networking, connection and education.
Mark your calendar and make your travel plans to Denver for the conference March 16-17, 2023. It’s right before the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival in Estes Park, Colorado March 17-19. Come for the conference, stick around for this wild and wacky celebration of all things dead and frozen!
Participating speakers include NOR pioneer Katrina Spade; Caitlin Doughty, bestselling author, funeral industry disruptor, and “Ask a Mortician” YouTube star; and yours truly, Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®. The full schedule of events and speakers follows.
The conference will take place in downtown Denver at the Sonesta Hotel, 1450 Glenarm Place, Denver, Colorado. The Sonesta Hotel is an eco-friendly property, with an emphasis on energy reduction and efficiency. Easily accessible by public transportation, hotel rooms and parking are available at a special discounted rate. To reserve a hotel room from the conference room block at the Sonesta Hotel in Denver, click here.
Conference Speakers
The growing list of confirmed presenters includes:
- Caitlin Doughty of The Order of the Good Death, beloved industry changemaker
- Katrina Spade of Recompose, renowned NOR pioneer
- Seth Viddal, Daniel Ziskin, PhD, and David Heckel of The Natural Funeral
- Lauren Carroll and Erin Merelli of The Deathwives
- Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, PhD of Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
- Gail Rubin of A Good Goodbye, The Doyenne of Death®
- Micah Truman and Katey Houston of Return Home
- Tom Harries and Haley Morris of Earth Funeral
- Emily Miller of Colorado Burial Preserve & Cremation Garden
- Eric Rooney of Half Moon Farm and ReGeneration Earth
- Elliot Rasenick of Bells Mountain
- Susan Nemcek of Willow Farm Contemplative Center
- Nicole Matarazzo of End of Life Pathways
- Ben Martin of Essential Ceremonies
And a panel of clients who have chosen NOR for their loved ones will also share their experiences.
The Body Composting Conference Schedule of Events
Thursday, March 16 – Conference Day 1
0900 – 0915 Welcome by Seth Viddal
0915 – 1015 Intro to NOR by Katrina Spade
1045 – 1145 Panel of NOR operators
1315 – 1400 Environmental impact of NOR by Dan Ziskin
1400 – 1430 The science of NOR by Dr. Lynne Carpenter-Boggs
1500 – 1600 Natural death care techniques by The Deathwives, Katey Houston, and Ray Green
1600 – 1645 Laying In demonstration by Nicole Matarazzo
1645 – 1700 Closing remarks
Thursday, March 16 – Special Event
1900 – 2100 In conversation with Caitlin Doughty, including her induction into The Natural Funeral Hall of Fame
Friday, March 17 – Conference Day 2
0900 – 1000 NOR terminology and messaging by Micah Truman
1030 – 1130 Advance planning for NOR by Gail Rubin and David Heckel
1300 – 1400 Panel of families who have chosen NOR
1400 – 1445 Panel of funeral homes offering NOR by Feldman Mortuary and The Natural Funeral
1515 – 1615 Land Stewardship Panel by Eric Rooney, Emily Miller, Elliot Rasenick, and Susan Nemcek
1615 – 1645 Laying Out demonstration by Ben Martin
1645 – 1700 Closing remarks and call to action
Purchase your ticket today for the Body Composting Conference here!