We made the decision to prearrange our end-of-life care to help our family at that critical time. For us, the idea of terramation, sometimes referred to as human composting, was the most natural and gentle way to go. Once we made a visit to Return Home, the choice was easy. The staff was kind, compassionate, and professional, all with a sense of moderation that made discussions comfortable. We signed our prearrangement with confidence we took a step that will make things easier for our family. Little did we know we would need to make funeral arrangements a son of ours before our own time came. Our phone call to Return Home was answered immediately, and Director of Family Care, Brie Smith, took care of the logistical tasks, then worked with us to set up a memorial service for the family that we conducted in a lovely space on site. Following the memorial service, we made visits to our son as he was undergoing his terramation journey. We sat with him and admired the decorations and pictures so lovingly placed by the family during the service. Now, he has returned to our home and continues to be a part of our lives in our garden. Thank you Return Home for the great care of our dear son, and the kind attention you paid to our needs. Everyone we encoutered at Return Home on our visits treated us with the same considerate manner we experienced with Brie. We now have first-hand knowledge of what our own family will experience when they work with Return Home on our behalf. We could not be more pleased. read more

We did a preplanning terramation call with Mandy yesterday; she was AMAZING! She provided us a full and clear overview of the process, answered all of our questions and was just easy to vibe with. We haven't finalized with them yet (pending continued discussion with family) however I'm 99.9% sure this is the path we will use for both my hubby and myself. read more

Let me preface this review: I've experienced death quite a bit. Both my grandfathers passed (Alzheimer's, age), my father (lung cancer), then my baby niece (Leigh's Disease). And just over a year ago, my wife (pancreatic cancer). I've been to quite a few arrangement meetings for deathcare. Nothing has compared to the care received at Return Home. I know what typical funeral homes look like: Nondescript, their interiors as pale and lifeless as the corpses they host for a time. I know what typical funeral homes feel like: Sterile. Cold. Transactional. Like you're a guest in a house you'll never visit again, though strangely you are leaving behind your loved one in their care. Enter Return Home. In October 2022, when it was determined she was not going to get better, my wife and I discussed what to do with her body...a discussion neither of us really wanted to have but was necessary. In the essence of practicality, she said, "Just do the cheapest thing and cremate me." I responded, "Or we could turn you into soil and plant trees with you!" I explained the concept of Terramation, and with a weakened smile she said "I'm not opposed." She always loved trees and nature. She died two months later, five days before Christmas. In California (in 2022) Terramation was not yet legal (coming 2027!) but coordinating out-of-state was an option. I worked with Katey Houston, Return Home Services Manager, to coordinate death care for my Jen. Katey was accessible, caring, respectful, and informative and made the process as smooth as could be during the most difficult time in my life. At all times, I knew what was happening and what was to be expected. I had a very clear understanding of where things were at in the terramation process and felt comfortable calling or emailing at any point for updates. The best part of the whole process was my decision to travel to Washington and pick up Jen's soil and take it home with me. Often times, people do not know or understand what their rights are with their loved ones' remains. I was thrilled that not only could I pick up (or have delivered, for a greater expense due to shipping policies) her remains, but had the opportunity to tour the facility. Entering Return Home felt like, well, returning home. The habitat inside the facility felt vibrant, organic, authentic. The interior décor was surprisingly lush and beautiful with plants and backdrops of foliage. Any questions I asked were answered, and seeing/knowing where Jen had been cared for was extremely meaningful and reassuring. The presentation of her soil awaiting my arrival, in burlap bags with handmade tags, felt sacred and ritualistic. While packing my wife's remains in suitcases to bring home to San Diego, Return Home's CEO, Micah Truman, happened to arrive onsite. He immediately knew who I was, who I was taking home, and offered to help me with packing and weighing my bags to distribute accordingly to avoid additional airline fees due to weight. He was personable, professional, caring, and clearly passionate about his line of work. Months later, he called me personally to check in on me, and to ask for feedback about my experience. That meant a lot and though it's taken me a while, I wanted to write a review to express how very valuable and exceptional the experience was. read more

See all

I couldn't think of a more wonderful place to take care of my loved one. The staff are gentle and respectful and help create something that truly honours a life well lived. terramation allows me to have soil back that I can use to continue the cycle of life. Return Home's facility is beautiful and inviting and they allow visitors. read more

My daughter is the youngest person to be terramated so far. Needless to say, it has been the most painful devastating time in our lives. I wanted to honor her passion for the protection of the environment, and I knew immediately that burial and cremation were not for her. We found this place after doing some research regarding other options, carbon free options, gentle to the environment, gentle for my daughter. They do much more than that though. They helped us in so many ways, with the entire process. I remember walking into the place, noticing that the appearance was somewhat industrial, but the energy, is not. It is warm, safe and calm. It is because of the people. They are genuinely caring and supportive. I couldn't have asked for better support during such a painful time. The people there, especially Micah and Katy, have gone above and beyond for my family and we feel like my daughter's passage has been handled so gently and with such love for all involved. I was able to bathe and prepare her myself, this is something I never thought I would ever have to do in a million years. We were given so much respect and compassion. I was able to perform a sacred blessing before she was laid in and fix her hair and makeup myself. The fact that I was able to do this myself, is everything to me. This kind of care helps us in ways they probably don't even know. It takes two months for the transformation to be complete, for the first month you get to visit, so we have been going there often, having lunch, playing music, singing to her, bringing our (her) puppy to visit her, and her pod is covered in photos, flowers, lights, notes and love. They are totally flexible about how you spend your visits. Her gift to the earth, her soil, will be ready just in time for her life celebration. Among all the pain, the thought that her beautiful energy is transforming into living soil, is more beautiful than any other option could have been. She will be living in flowers, trees, plants, and she will also return to the ocean, and earth. The gratitude I feel for this place is too huge for this review. I know exactly how I want to leave this place, when it is my time I will follow my daughter's footsteps and I will return home here too. read more

My wife and I heard about Return Home on social media and we saw them at a booth while at Pride. Between our several visits to their Auburn location with friends and family we learned so much. We really loved being able to choose in being environmentally responsible when we pass and knowing that our remains are properly handled to provide sustainability vs waste. We didn't like the idea of using land or creating excessive pollution from chemicals and greenhouse gas for this purpose and got ourselves all signed up! Jake was super helpful and very earnest, someone that was trusted and transparent through the whole orientation and administrative process. Micah was great for us to meet and get to know, he is so interesting and charismatic, a real architect of his never ending pursuit of super high quality standards, systems and quality control steps he oversaw into the development of this fascinating facility. Every detail was carefully thought out, It's obvious that he cares so deeply for the service they provide, the way things are done and upholding the dignity of each person from start to finish. They also care deeply for their staff, and are aware of the stress involved in this line of work. The culture displayed from top down was clearly caring and supportive. We truly believe in Return Home's dignified terramation process, which allows more time for loved ones to visit the vessel, to decorate it, to have gatherings, to grieve and process things over many weeks. A stark comparison to traditional funeral service providers that take only a few days for burial and cremation services. To add - Then to get a few bags of soil from the remains of your loved one when finished is amazing too, a true revelation. The monthly costs were also in line and totally manageable for us. Great for my wife and I to have the assurances of knowing things are all set up before anything happens, to relieve our daughters and families challenges after we pass. Highly recommended! read more

Thank you for making human composting possible!

Return Home helped me when I needed it most. They quickly answered my phone call and were so kind and courteous. Katey, the client services director, followed up with me promptly, with empathy and lots of useful information. When I decided to change directions to a different option they didn't offer, she was once again extremely kind and considerate and even offered to help me with some personal tasks. I would highly recommend Return Home for those looking into terramation given their level of caring, consideration and professionalism. read more

With the pressure of funeral homes and relatives calling me to make a decision on what to do with my mama's body, I looked up eco-friendly burial options and called Return Home as a shot in the dark. I had dealt with so many careless and insensitive funeral home directors, my expectations were tragically low, but from the moment I came into contact with Katey, I felt some of the first relief and trust to surrender into this monumental transition. Katey followed up with me immediately, through phone call and text, breaking the professional stoicism which had become a pattern with other death-related companies/services. From the jump, I felt like Katey was truly invested in helping me and finding out what I needed & how to help me accomplish the vision I had for returning my mama to the earth. This care extended beyond payment to support us through this physical transition from start to finish... Throughout every single step of the process, Katey was helpful and responsive, going above and beyond to respond to late night questions/concerns, and making herself completely accessible to me and my family while my mamas body was in her care. When it came time to set my mamas vessel, I told Katey that my mama loved brightly colored flowers, and that morning she went specially to pick up a vibrant arrangement to lay on top of her remains; an image which brought my heart a sense of joy amidst the immense pain of loss. She also placed my mama's vessel next to a child's, sharing with me that whenever she received a child she would lay them next to someone who she knew would take good care of them. The amount of reverence, awareness, and intention given to this process was above and beyond anything I had experienced or would expect from a typical funeral home/crematory. Katey assisted me from start to finish; personally picking up my mama's body from the airport (a stark comparison to the funeral home of origin- who initially had my mamas body, charged me triple rates to hire a third party transportation service to the airport, and were extremely difficult to contact). She provided more service at a fraction of the cost. It felt clear that her intention and mission extended beyond sole financial gain, to truly support and comfort those who are in mourning, making it as easeful as possible. This was one of the first comforts I was able to receive throughout those initial waves of grief. My mama and I used to talk about reincarnating as redwood trees, and other natural wonders. Return Home enabled us to fulfill this vision; mixing the mulch of my mama's remains with potting soil, we planted a redwood tree and dozens of flowers across our garden (which she spent so much time and love on while she was here). Returning her to a place she loved so dearly, to grow anew, was a beautiful tribute which I can rest easy knowing she would have loved. My dad, younger brother, and I spent an entire week planting and releasing together in reverence and deep awareness of the cyclical nature of existence. Additionally, we made over 100 small pouches in biodegradable/plantable seedling bags, filled with mama's mulch, soil, and wildflower seeds- which we gave out at her celebration of life- to be planted by the hands of many who loved her, in the places and spaces they love most, providing physical pillars of her love, and reminding us of her joy. She loved to visit people's favorite forests, nature spots, and gardens- these pouches enable her to do so, to grow roots, and to enrich this earth beyond her life. I tested these baggies and whether they were opened or planted whole, they are a great success and I currently have dozens of seedling pots sprouting a myriad of mystery flowers, fertilized by my mama, to be returned to our great mother. While nothing about this experience has been comfortable, Return Home allowed us to create immense beauty of our pain. And rather than seeing my mama as a plastic bag of ashes or a hedge stone in the ground; she is in the flowers and trees which surround me, lain across the gardens of our loved ones and sprinkled throughout fairy forests, rooted by the physical manifestation of bright blossoms and foliage, and accessible through my connection with nature itself. After all was said and done, I received a follow up call from the CEO of Return Home, Micah. I was elated to be able to tell him about all that we had created through their services, and we ended up talking for a long while about death itself, both in avid agreement about the misinformation most receive concerning human remains, and the disconnection from a hands-on approach to death taught by our society. We aim to challenge this, to find a better way, and Return Home is doing exactly that. I recommend this process and this company to all who are ready to find another way, a gentler way, more in tune with nature itself.. completing the cycle of life by returning home. read more

I am not ready to leave this great place. I probably have a good a good 30 to 40 years left according to my calculations. I heard of this place initially on the local news back in late April/ early May of 2021. Apparently I'm one of the first few to sign up. I recently got a chance to tour the facility. I wasn't expecting the emotions to hit me on the way out. But they were really good tears. Don't let the industrial park location stop you from choosing this type of service. The people that are currently running it are very compassionate for those loved ones we lost and those that are living. Brianna S. Who we met with is very knowledgeable and no questions are off the table and are taken seriously. Currently you will be able to tour their facility. On my tour. I was able to see the cleansing room. Where the person is throughly cleansed with care and love. The family can watch if chooses. Also they can watch the person carefully laid in their own personal pod with a constant flow of fresh clean oxygen. A lot cleaner than we breathe. Also there is constant soothing music the living and temporary residents get to hear. The family is allowed to decorate the outside. And after the process is done. The mementos are returned. Currently they are allowing the family back to visit the ones they lost. And there is limited services available like a service. But they are working on improving he environment to make it warmer for those of us visiting the facility. You should definitely consider this as an option for the passing of our loved ones read more