Should I let my partner grow vegetables on my deceased dogs grave?

Question

My lovely old labrador died three years ago and we buried him in the garden. We're on water restrictions so the garden isn't very healthy at all except in this one spot where my old dog is buried and the weeds grow profusely. My partner came up with the idea of growing vegetables there. I do miss homegrown vegetables but I cant imagine eating anything which my old dog has fertilized. What do you all think of this?

Answer 1

Vegetables are annuals, and will die, and not be a very nice homage to your dog. Over my cats' graves I have planted perennial flowers. I, too, would be unable to eat anything grown over ANY grave, let alone a beloved pet...just too weird and sad for me.

If you have water restrictions, use the 'Jersey Well' method of watering, wherein you bury a 2-3 liter soda bottle that you have punched several holes in. Get some diapers or feminine napkins and rip out the inside material and place it in the soil around your plants and under the roots when you plant -- these items contain a 'gel' that absorbs moisture, thereby making it more available for roots (the same stuff is sold in garden centers and costs a fortune there). These two simple treatments will save 75%-80% of your watering requirements and put the moisture where it is needed -- to the roots so they grow down. Create little craters around your plants so any natural rains will run toward the plant, and not away. Watering plants from the top is a total waste of water, and can cause the roots to grow to the surface, damaging the plant and inviting disease and pests...and well, that's a whole 'nother litany. Also, put mulch around your plants to keep down moisture evaporation.

You might want to plant purple coneflower (echinacea) over your lab's grave -- beautiful flowers, attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees (all which are beneficial to your garden), and, is a natural medicine. They come back richer, and more beautiful every year. Add daisies, lavender, and bee balm -- all which are drought tolerant, and will enhance your veggie garden. No matter what you plant, look for "drought resistant" varieties.

Also, if you are saying your garden isn't 'healthy,' this is more a function of depleted, poor soil than water, so amend your garden with composted manure, peat (which will help hold moisture) and make sure it is dug to a depth of at least 12 inches (more if possible). Healthy soil = healthy plant, and healthy plants don't require as much watering in the long run.

OK -- easy way to kill weeds that are growing profusely over the grave -- lay down several sheets of newspaper, add a layer of compost, dried leaves, grass clippings, moss, then another layer, and another -- sort of like a lasagna, and in about two - three months weeds will be gone and you will have some super soil. Another option is to lay old carpeting over the area, and in about 6-8 months you will have workable weed-free dirt underneath.

Oh -- another option for planting, and this is something I do with potatoes, celery, peas....wait...I use this for most of my plants.... Get some large cardboard boxes, making sure the bottoms are closed but loose enough for worms to work their way in. Just plop the boxes on the ground, and remember the lasagna and Jersey Wells above -- do that inside the boxes, adding a layer or two of soil, continuing to add grass clippings, non-pernacous weeds, leaves, etc throughout the season. The moisture from the green material will go a long, long way in giving the roots moisture. After the growing season, you will have heaps of really, really good soil which you can work into the garden for next year.

Now that you are armed with all this exciting information...I think you might be able to sway your partner away from planting over your lab's grave.

Answer 2

I think it depends on how much you and your partner like growing your own veggies vs. how much it would bother YOU.

If you think you can stand it , your partner has a great idea. Mother nature needs to go full circle and I'd venture to say your not planning on burying anything else there anytime soon.

On the other hand, if you are adverse to above, you might wana think about making some above or partially above ground, wood veggies boxes. You could then fill them up with new good soil and let your pet RIP.

Answer 3

Sounds a little morbid, try some pretty flowers over the grave. Build a 4'x4' raised box for veggies and help conserve water that way.

Answer 4

Hell no! Why would he want to do that? As a Cree Indian, in our Cree language, your dog would be considered a second person, not an it. Would you grow vegetables on a deceased humans (first persons) grave?

Answer 5

It's perfectly natural. Everything that grows feeds on the remains of something else. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Answer 6

i would make shure to seeif anything is still in the ground first because when u pull up a potato u might find more than u wanty so other than that it should be heathly native americans usto use fish as firtlliser so it shoulf be fine

Answer 7

I think it would be kind of nice. A bit like organ donation or continuing the cycle of life.

Answer 8

if it were my dog....no. It's kinda like part of you dog is in your veggies now. Are you really gonna want to eat those? No...

Answer 9

After 3 years there is really nothing left to worry about. But I still would not do it.

Answer 10

Eww. That'd be creepy to think about. I'd say no.