I don't think the bodies will mind. I know mine won't when I'm gone. Sure some particularly squeemish family members might have an issue with it but as long as it's in the deceased's will, and they entrusted the right person as executor of estate, it shouldn't be a problem.

If it's legal by the time my clock is up I'd like a "burial" where they just throw my body into a forest and let nature take its course, but that one's probably gonna take a lot longer to be legal because of the worry that like, a coyote will drag an arm or something into a populated area. Previously my plan was to have my ashes pressed into a vinyl record of my music and distributed among friends and family but now this is a pretty appealing prospect.

Anyone interested in eco-death is probably well aware of this youtube channel but if not you should check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWo2-LHwGMM

The mental health of grieving loved ones seems like a reasonable thing to consider when selecting how handle one's remains.

My loved ones love me and know what I want. I can't speak for anyone else.

I didn’t even consider that as a possible interpretation. I thought of the hook as a crank to turn the cylinder. But now you have me questioning which is correct?

This earlier article is less ambiguous,

> Over the next 30 days, naturally-occurring microbes—and a few turnings with a tool similar to a dough hook—break the body down.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/93wmd5/the-first-us-funeral-...

That's pretty interesting. Does leave me with a different opinion on the service. Not sure if good/bad, just different.

Edit: after a few minutes of thought, I definitely like this less. Imagining my body like a pair of shoes banging around in the dryer or torn to shreds is not a great thought. In a way it's irrational. I don't think of cremation as my body in an inferno even thought that's what it is. I've always liked the idea of just having myself tossed in a hole and a tree planted over me. I've done this with my late dogs and it's always a joy to revisit the tree even after (especially after) years past. Gives me a feeling they are there still. It's odd but such is life, and death.

It sure ruins the illusion of "being at peace". Laying there and just slowly fading away? Peaceful. Getting stirred up so you break down faster? Ick.

I'll probably get over it but I had a similar visceral reaction.

I personally pictured something similar to the dough hook attachment on my stand mixer

Yes, that is not great marketing copy.

But I suspect that if people knew what "embalming" means, they'd be squeamish about that as well.

...

I was present for a cremation sale where the funeral director explained that they fire the body, then collect any metals (titanium screws etc) and sell them for scrap.

This bothered me, but I can't say (still to this day) whether it was because it seemed way too graphic for the average bereaved family member, or if I was just offended that the crematorium thought it was OK to sell other peoples' property.

I doubt this helps put your concerns to rest, but some composting toilets use a manually cranked stirrer to mix the fecal matter with the existing compost materials.

See Nature's Head, for instance.

Could be worse. Check out this hog composting:

https://youtu.be/U9kw0A9_oCM