Earth child
Home » Latest issue » Good, issue 11 » Earth childParenting is full of poignant moments. Good suggests ways to make some of those times even more significant
The placenta plays a vital role in nurturing an unborn child and, for many parents, an important symbolic role afterwards. Maori traditionally bury the whenua in the ground to recognise the relationship between the child and the earth and as a gift to Papa-Tu-a-nuku (Mother Earth). Today many new parents, regardless of cultural background, choose to bury their placenta in a pot or special place in the garden.
It’s potentially a very significant ritual. But what’s less special is bringing the placenta home in a shopping bag, plopping it out onto the dirt, or burying it in something plastic. Liesje Bradley, of Birth to Earth, came up with the idea of a biodegradable placenta capsule after witnessing family members struggle with unpacking and planting their placentas. “I wanted something that would remove the mess and yuck factor of planting the placenta,” she says. The Capceco, as the capsule is called, is a world first, designed and made in New Zealand. It’s made with GM-free cornstarch and recycled unbleached card printed with non-toxic vegetable inks. Once planted, the whole pack breaks down in six to eight weeks, leaving no toxic residues.
The pack also comes with a copper tag to mark the tree and a storybook explaining to your child how their placenta was planted under a tree. $39.95, www.birthtoearth.com
