Let Your Love Grow is the only product on the market that addresses the two major issues associated with cremated ashes: high pH and high sodium (salt). These two aspects make for a harmful and most likely lethal combination to plant growth. Cremated ashes have an extremely high pH that inhibits plant growth. This high pH makes essential nutrients unavailable for the plant to use, and, therefore, it does not get the necessary nutrition to grow. Lowering the pH to an optimum range will release beneficial nutrients making them available to the plant allowing it to thrive. Regular soil and potting soil do not have the buffering capacity to significantly lower the pH. The other limiting factor with regard to cremated ashes is the inherent excessive sodium (salt) content. Cremated ashes have an excess of sodium causing deficiencies in essential nutrients, primarily potassium. Let Your Love Grow is a specially formulated organic planting mixture that will lower the pH while safely diluting the harmful sodium (salt) of cremated ashes. Let Your Love Grow is the essential ingredient for healthy remembrance plantings.

Yes. People have historically assumed cremated ashes will nourish the surrounding soil, but this is not the case. LYLG has worked with some of the top independent scientists and laboratories in the field of Forensic Taphonomy, Anthropology, Entomology, and Soil Science, to confirm that the pH and sodium levels in cremated ash is far too high to provide any nutritional benefit for plant life. However, we've found an eco-responsible solution. Let Your Love Grow is the only product we've found that corrects the problem with scattering. However, there's a catch: For LYLG to neutralize the pH, alkaline, and sodium levels of ashes, you must mix the medium and the ashes and let sit for a minimum of 90 days. This way, the proprietary bacteria in the medium can get to work to accelerate the process. Then, you 'good to go' with a loving ritual to return your loved one's ashes to nature.

Absolutly. Pet ashes are just as toxic as human ashes. This is the result of the intense heat created by the creamation machine. We have various sized kits avalable just for pets which come in retern bags (not the canister). Give us a call and we can help you pick out a size and place the order.

In the funeral industry, 'ashes' are known as 'cremains,' a portmanteau, combining the words “cremated and remains.” It is the bone matter that remains after the organic material is incinerated. The bone matter is carefully collected out of the machine and it goes into another machine that pulverizes the bone matter into what looks like ashes. The above photo is human cremains. And pets cremains look the same. They typically have a relatively uniform, but coarse texture. The color is usually a pasty white but can be gray at times. The word “ashes” is typically used instead of “cremains”. But contrary to common belief, cremains are not ashes at all. For the most part, they are dry calcium phosphates together with some other minerals, including potassium and sodium, which in simpler terms means bone matter. After the process is finished, the crematory puts the ashes in a plastic bag and in a plastic or tin container for delivery back to the family. The average weight of the box an adult human cremaines is about five pounds. Many families choose to transfer the remains from the temporary container into a special urn or divide into other urns or boxes until disposition.

Yes. Everything is carefully spelled out in detail. The canisters come with a 1/2 cup scoop for mixing proportions. All you need is a container like a bucket and a garden trowel to do the mixing. It couldn't be easier and we're here for you every step of the way. If you live in the Greater Washington, DC area, Inremember will help you if you need help. And if you are using a funeral home director, we can send the product directly to the funeral home and have them do the mix and retern to you.

Yes, you can after you've returned the mixed ashes and medium back to the canister. The canister is 100% organic and biodegradable. It is laid on its side like the above photo. Just make the hole a little longer and broader of the canister. And as deep as you want but not less than 2" from the surface of the ground. If you're planting a tree or bush on top of it, you'll want to dig a hole deeper than the root ball. Place the canister on its side, fill in some soil, and place the plant's rootball on top. And finish planting as recommended by your horticulturist or planting instructions.

Absolutely. Direct burial of the mixed remains is the preferred method. It's the method that the National Cathedral uses with our product for their All Souls Garden in Washington, DC. No urns are permitted. https://cathedral.org/interment/. Our product is the only medium used with direct inground internment at the Cathedral. A hole is dug directly into the Earth that can accommodate both the mixed ashes and medium. At this point, the family and clergy can participate in pouring the remains into the hole for final resting rites, prayers, and rememberances.

Great question. And a question that isn't always simple to answer. About half of the people who choose cremation wish to have their ashes scattered. The appeal of scattering ashes is to return to nature what nature created. There is something romantic about the idea of scattering cremated ashes. But there are some things to think about, such as religious restrictions on scattering, for example, Catholics prohibit ashes scattering. And then there's the problem with concentrated amounts of cremated ashes, which can be extremely harmful to plant life. The idea to fulfill a final wish and compete a journey by scatting ashes over a favorite location like the ocean, a river, around the base of a favorite tree or shrub or golf course, can do more harm to nature than most people realize. Many golf courses and public areas will no longer allow the scattering of ashes to occur on their grounds due to the fact that the ashes will not breakdown naturally to become one with nature. Even though the notion of scattering ashes is very appealing, the reality can be quite different. If scattering ashes is the only option for you, then be conscientious and ensure that any plant life that will come in contact with the scattered ashes is protected from the harmful effects. The safest and best method for scattering is to combine the Let Your Love Grow organic mix with the ashes and let it sit for at least 90 days prior to scattering. By allowing the LYLG bacteria to jump to start the neutralization process, it takes about three months to let our LYLG mixture reach normal pH and sodium levels. During that waiting period, you and your family can plan for a memorial gathering and design new rituals that are meaningful to both you and your lost loved one. Please refer to directions when you place your order. And please keep in mind that the Federal Clean Water Act requires that cremated remains be scattered at least three nautical miles from land. ... The Clean Water Act also governs scattering in inland waters such as rivers or lakes. For inland water burial, you may be legally required to obtain a permit from the state agency that manages the waterway.

Absolutely. Our small kits are perfect for apartment dwellers or home renters who know that they'll be moving one day. Many families also split up their loved one's ashes and shared between siblings and family members. Perhaps they have keepsake urn on a mantel or have interned keeping a little box reserved. Everyone is different in how they want to honor the memory of their loved ones. Also, any plant will do great with this all-natural and organic medium. If you're not a master green thumb, perhaps you should stick with easy to grow plants as living memorials. Roses, for example, are challenging, even for a master gardener.

Great question. Biodegradable urns do exactly what they promise: they break down into the earth over time. However, the ashes inside will remain in their current, toxic state. Their high pH and sodium content will cause plant roots to grow horizontally and avoid the area forever. The above photo shows ashes buried in the ground in a biodegradable urn: Sixteen months after burial, the urn has completely dissolved; however, the ashes are left in concentration and will remain in this same state for years, as will the plastic urn. Plant roots will turn away from this clump of salty rock. Let Your Love Grow mixes with cremated ash to restore nature’s balance. Our organic mixture naturally lowers the pH level and dilutes the sodium, allowing the ashes to release their nutrients directly into the environments. Even if you plan to use a biodegradable urn, we recommend using Let your Love Grow so that you can bury with peace of mind.