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- Martha Stewart wants to be returned to the land on her estate
- How she cares for animals — and how she imagines her own resting place
- Green burial and human composting: the legal landscape
- She rejects traditional funerary options
- Martha’s projects and family life beyond this decision
- Why her choice resonates with a broader trend
Martha Stewart says she wants her final chapter to be written beneath the open sky of her farm. The 84-year-old lifestyle icon told a podcast audience she prefers a natural return to the land over a coffin or cremation and described how she already treats animals that die on her property.
Martha Stewart wants to be returned to the land on her estate
On a recent episode of the 50+ & Unfiltered podcast, Stewart outlined a wish that feels both practical and emblematic of her farm life. She said she expects to be placed in the same field where her animals are laid to rest.
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Stewart made clear she prefers a composting-style, natural burial on her own property. She argued that, since it happens on her land, it would not harm anyone and should be acceptable.
How she cares for animals — and how she imagines her own resting place
Pet cemetery routines on the farm
Stewart described the ritual she uses when a horse dies. The animal is wrapped in a clean white linen sheet and lowered into a deep grave in one of her fields.
She said the burial is careful and respectful, and she wants the same treatment for herself. The image she painted was pastoral and simple, not ceremonial.
Green burial and human composting: the legal landscape
Human composting, also called natural organic reduction, has moved from niche concept to legal option in parts of the U.S.
- Washington was the first state to legalize human composting in 2019.
- Since then, about 14 states have approved similar laws.
- States on the list include California, New York, New Jersey and Oregon.
Regulations differ by state. Rules govern how remains are handled, where final soil can be placed, and licensing for facilities or on-site processes.
She rejects traditional funerary options
Stewart dismissed the idea of standard coffins and formal funeral trappings. She said those options do not appeal to her and expressed a preference for a simpler, more direct return to the earth.
Her view is personal and practical: this is her property and her choice.
Martha’s projects and family life beyond this decision
Skincare ambitions
Stewart has not slowed down. She launched Elm Biosciences in September and teased a new chapter as a skincare entrepreneur on social media.
Posting an Instagram reel of herself stretching, she wrote about turning an idea into a brand with the help of online tools and partners.
Time with grandchildren
Family remains a central focus. Stewart frequently mentions her grandchildren, Jude, 14, and Truman, 13.
- She enjoys taking them to concerts and food outings.
- Stewart says they are discerning eaters who favor Japanese and other global cuisines.
- The children are the offspring of her only child, Alexis Stewart.
Why her choice resonates with a broader trend
Stewart’s preference aligns with growing interest in sustainable end-of-life options. For many, natural burial or composting feels like an ecological choice.
- Environmental benefit: reduced energy use compared with cremation.
- Land use: natural burials can return nutrients to soil.
- Personal control: some people want their remains handled on family land.
As laws evolve, more Americans are weighing alternatives that reflect values about the environment and legacy.
