AWAKE

07/10/2024

🌟 New Partner Spotlight 🌟 We love seeing what's possible with our LYLG soil. At Eternal Root Living Memorial, Angela helps families across Ontario create custom memorial gardens right at home 🌸🏠. As a palliative care nurse of many years, her expertise in both grief support and gardening gives families a uniquely holistic healing experience.

🌱Congratulations Angela!

🌟 Introducing Angela, the heart and soul behind Eternal Root. 🌿

Meet Angela, a dreamer and visionary with deep roots in our beloved community. Born and raised as a small-town local girl, Angela's journey has been defined by her passion for caring. With over 20 years of experience as a personal support worker and a registered practical nurse specializing in palliative and hospice care, she's been privileged to walk alongside families during their most tender moments. 💖

Having intimately experienced loss and grief, Angela knows firsthand the significance of honouring our loved ones and preserving their memories. 🕊️ After losing her father in 2018, Angela sought solace in the garden of her family home, where she envisioned creating a loving tribute for him. Her dream was to incorporate some of his cremated ashes into the garden, but she encountered the challenge of cremated ashes killing plant life due to their high acidity. After extensive research and dedication, she has finally discovered a way to offer living memorials specifically designed to allow cremated ashes to nourish and support the growth of living plant life, nurturing both our hearts and the environment.

Driven by her passion, Angela ensures that every cherished memory is celebrated, honoured, and kept alive as our hearts heal. Join us on this journey of compassion and remembrance as we create living memorials that pay tribute to the beautiful lives of those we hold dear, including our beloved pets. Together, let's weave stories of love, resilience, and everlasting legacy. 💫

Don't forget to hit that follow button to stay connected and inspired on this heartfelt journey. Let's honour, celebrate, and heal together. 🌸

06/18/2024

This made our hearts truly SING 💞.

🌱Being trusted with a pet's memorial garden is an incredible honour. So for a family to choose our planting kits for *three* of their precious furry ones... makes our hearts so full.

Thanks to our partners at Heart With Wings: for sharing this beautiful note, and giving fur families an eco-friendly memorial option! 🌷

Last week, we had the honour of helping a precious angel cross the rainbow bridge in the comfort of her home. We were able to provide a way for her family to cherish their memories by growing new life from her cremains with AWAKE soil. This family was blessed to have shared their lives with 2 other fur babies previously who they honoured with a private cremation; knowing AWAKE soil now exists, they also purchased kits for their other angels to honour them the same way 🤍

Give new life to the cremains of your precious angel. AWAKE soil can be mixed with cremains and planted in your favourite spot–outside or with a potted plant. Once mixed, their natural nutrients become bioavailable to the ecosystem—so they can give back to the environment, and nourish new life. .pets

06/10/2024

🌟 NEW PODCAST 🎙️ Join our Founders, Amanda and Lauren, on the Good Neighbour Podcast with Jeff and Sean! We share stories of life, death, and leaving the planet better. This was an awesome conversation, and we're so proud to represent this community as we grow across Canada!

👉 Stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3M1sBDJjMU

06/10/2024

Had a great time meeting podcast host Jeff Gartner for a discussion on end-of-life choices and how we're helping Canada's cemeteries go green! 🌱🪦

🌿🍃 Lauren and Amanda recently sat down for a fascinating chat with Jeff about a topic that touches us all - our final resting place. But this isn't your usual cemetery talk; they dove deep into how AWAKE is revolutionizing the way we think about cemeteries in Canada with sustainability at the forefront! 🇨🇦

With their cutting-edge soil science and eco-smart designs, AWAKE turns ashes to earth, creating resting places that are not only beautiful but also kinder to our planet. 🌱 Their latest initiative? Transforming municipal cemeteries with memorial scattering gardens that shrink the burial footprint by up to an astounding 99%.

And guess what? It's not just good for the earth; it’s also more budget-friendly for families looking for meaningful farewells. 🕊️💚

Stay tuned as Jeff and Sean weigh in on the discussion too! It's time to rethink how we honor those who have passed in a way that cherishes both their memory and the environment.

For more info on this sustainable transition from death back to earth, visit ➡️ www.awakeashes.com

See the whole podcast on the Good Neighbour Podcast with Jeff and Sean YouTube channel here: 👉👉👉 https://youtu.be/A3M1sBDJjMU
ashes Midhurst Neighbours - Best Version Media Ardagh Bluffs Living - Best Version Media Good Neighbour Podcast with Jeff and Sean AWAKE

05/30/2024

PART 2: Writing a memorial speech 🖋️

Let's face it, public speaking is challenging on a regular day. So sharing your inner thoughts to a room of family, friends, and strangers while grieving.. can feel impossible 🫣

But before you turn to ChatGPT, here's tips 3 and 4 from our latest blog on writing a memorial speech—also known as a eulogy (🔗 link in bio).

3️⃣ Set the tone. We'll be honest, it's going to be emotional to write this. And that's totally natural. Try incorporating some of your happier moments to balance the scales. Maybe they refused to eat yellow jujubes. Or always wore Hawaiian shirts over vacation (even at Christmas). Mixing seriousness and humour allows guests to grieve while giving them permission to celebrate a life well lived.

4️⃣ Review, revise, rehearse. Your first draft is almost never your last. Read through and decide what to keep and what to cut. When in doubt, we suggest erring on the shorter side (about 5 to 10 minutes). Practice it out loud, then leave it for a full day before reviewing and rehearsing again.

All four tips are in our blog (🔗 link in bio).

🔗: awakeashes.com/blog
📷:

05/29/2024

✨PARTNER SPOTLIGHT✨ Heart With Wings Veterinary Hospice

🐕 As pet owners, the pain of losing a best friend hits deeply. So we are so proud (and definitely a bit tearful) to introduce the incredible team at . Families receiving their compassionate end-of-life care can now choose our Planting Kits for an eco-friendly memorial—returning their ashes to nature to nourish new life.

🌱 Growing up, Dr. Laura Coulter's family had a white Shepherd-mix named W***y. As a treasured family member for 17 years, it was difficult to watch his health decline until he was in chronic pain. W***y was always anxious at the vet’s, so when they made the painful decision to euthanize him their longtime veterinarian agreed to make a house call. When it was time, he drifted into sleep in his happy place—the back deck, overlooking the fields and neighbouring horse farm. 🌅

️‍🌈 When Laura became a Vet herself, she wanted to be that trusted person families could call on. So she founded . We are so warmed by these kind humans who help families through the hardest times of life.
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05/22/2024

PART 1: Writing a memorial speech 🖋️

Let's face it, public speaking is a challenge on a regular day. So sharing your inner thoughts to a room of family, friends, and strangers while grieving.. can feel impossible.

So before you turn to ChatGPT, here are our first two tips to stay authentic and be true who they were. Get the full run-down in our latest blog post (link in bio).

📄 1. Find your inspiration. Start with whatever makes you feel connected—a thought that keeps coming to mind, your favourite movie, recipe, or photo you both loved (or maybe just one of you loved!). Make some simple notes and let your thoughts flow.

📄 2. Just write. Forget about the formalities and start with something just for you. Use your own voice, like you're talking to a friend. Starting this way makes your final version more personal and less 'scripted'.

Stay tuned for Part 2, and get the full article on our blog (🔗 link in bio).

🔗: awakeashes.com/blog
📷:

05/21/2024

Hello, planting season🌷 Thinking of all our clients and families who started their memorial gardens this long weekend. Thank you for trusting us with your loved one's resting place. It is an incredible privilege to grow with you. 🌱🌼

04/16/2024

🌳Questions about tribute trees? After the spring sunshine this weekend, we're getting inquiries about what type of tribute tree to plant with a family member's ashes.

Choosing a tribute tree is a meaningful and important decision. For a tree that's as hardy, healthy, and prosperous as possible, we always recommend picking a native species that's adapted for your area. So how do you choose?

🪄A resource we love sharing with clients is The Tree Atlas. 🌟HINT: bookmark this post to review later! 🌟

🌳From the map, just tap your region. Zoom in and tap your city/town. You'll see a list of native trees with photos, growing tips, and even fun facts. Here is a peek at the lovely Alternate-Leaf Dogwood—which flowers 🌸 in spring, and attracts birds 🪺🕊️, rabbits🐇, butterflies🦋, and other animals 🦌.

👆 Bookmark this post to check your area. Search for "Ontario Tree Atlas" or visit www.ontario.ca/page/tree-atlas

04/12/2024

Podcast alert! Our Co-Founder, Amanda joined Community Futures Western Ontario to chat about changing mindsets and charting a new path as an in the end-of-life space.

Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CocgIwUfQwo

03/20/2024

Happy Spring Equinox friends 🌸🌙 Did you know the start of spring, also known as the Vernal Equinox, is actually determined astronomically? It's when the tilt of the Earth's axis is "balanced" with the Sun, giving us nearly equal hours of day and night—all over the world.

Just another reminder of our connection with the Earth, stars, and universe 🌎🌙✨

03/18/2024

Who loves a good startup story?🙋🏻‍♀️ When these husband-wife inventors, Bob and Annette, lost their pup Silke they decided to create a memorial garden where her ashes could nourish new life. As a long-time Funeral Director and Pharmacist they knew this would take some serious science. So they teamed up with scientists around the world to study, test, and test some more.

Twelve years later they still have the world's only patented product to turn ashes to earth.🌎 And we at AWAKE have the absolute pleasure of working with them to create eco-friendly memorial gardens here in Canada!🌷

Cheers to the power of love, Let your Love grow.

02/28/2024

🌷Leaving flowers for someone we've loved and lost is one of humanity's oldest recorded tributes.

🌷Descriptions of flowers at headstones and name plaques have been prominent in stories, letters and poems for hundreds of years ago. Remnants of flower fragments have even been found in ancient burial sites that date back thousands of years.

💐Our advice for choosing flowers? Pick whatever speaks to you. Any colours, fragrances, or types that spark emotion will always be the perfect choice.

02/21/2024

Visiting your future resting place and forever happy place. 🌷✨

02/19/2024

"Losing my cats felt impossible. They owned my heart, and their presence helped me survive the ups and downs of adolescence. Both of them are buried under the rose bush in my mother’s garden. Even after all these years, I expect to see Chloe curled up on the love seat, and Zoe licking her paws by the window. I like to think that’s where they are, I just can’t see them." 🐈‍⬛🐈

🐾Thank you to the talented writer Victoria Butler for sharing her memories of Zoe and Chloe.

02/12/2024

Hi friends, we've met so many new people on this journey that it's time for a re-introduction. So hello, and welcome to AWAKE. A 'wake' is a memorial event that is often part of a funeral. Where family and friends gather and visit the deceased. A 'wake' is also a substantial wave 🌊. A strong movement of water that marks change. And then 'awake' is the experience of being alive, alert, and aware of the universe around us.

At AWAKE we are all these things. We're a team of young-ish women who see life (and death) differently than the generations before us. Follow us as we create affordable, beautiful, and eco-friendly memorials that Canadians can be proud of.

02/07/2024

🤫 For many of us, discussing death is difficult. But the tough stuff in life can't be ignored forever. So how can we be ready (or as ready as possible) to face the inevitable?

🔍"Death positive" is essentially the belief that speaking openly about death and dying can help us have a better relationship with the end. It is a social and philosophical movement of advocates, academics, industry professionals, and individuals who are encouraging others to embrace their mortality.

🕊By accepting that our time here is limited, we can live more fully and feel more gratitude for the moments we get. And by celebrating the ones we’ve lost and the lessons they’ve left behind, we also give them a way to live on.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on death positivity. How do you keep the ones you've lost in your life? How do you embrace your own mortality? Share with us in comments below👇

02/05/2024

Dreaming of spring? 🌷Gardening is one of the few proven therapies for grief. If you're planning a memorial garden for someone you've lost, here are 3️⃣ DOs and DON'Ts to make it the best possible experience. As shared in Our Homes Magazine 2023.

📚DO your research. List any trees, flowers, or plants that remind you of them. Did they love a certain colour, herb, smell, or season? Check the historical meaning, latin name, or seasonal patterns for added significance. Or, get creative. A client's daughter told us she picked a willow tree for grandpa because it was “like a big hug”.

☀️DO double check growing conditions. Especially your property’s soil and sunlight. And remember, conditions are changing with today's climate. So how will they be in 10 years? Or 50 years? For easy care options, pick native species that are indigenous to the area.

🪴DON’T skip on a neutralising mix if you're scattering or spreading ashes. On their own, cremation ashes have the acidity of bleach (yikes!)—definitely not a recipe for healthy plants. For a memorial garden that thrives for years to come, use a specialized Planting Kit from our online shop. And if you're outside Canada, DM us for our international colleagues.

01/26/2024

🌟 Imagine navigating a world without sight or sound. In her 87 years on earth, Helen Keller found beauty in every moment. And one her most enduring legacies is the reminder that the best things in life are felt with the heart, and transcend the physical.

If you're contemplating life and death, remember that it's impact of our love and connections that truly endure. 🌈 💫

"What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us." - Helen Keller

12/31/2023

Where do you remember them?
Where will you be remembered?
🕊️

“Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.”
🌱Memorial bench for Anne Murphy-Turliuk at

12/19/2023

Great article on Toronto's designated scattering site at Prince of Wales Park, with tips from our friends at Eirene.

City of Toronto Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation

Every year, thousands of Canadians choose to have their remains scattered in a place of personal significance. Here are some things you should know.

12/05/2023

11/23/2023

Congratulations to our partners on officially launching yesterday! Epilog Canada is leading a new kind of end-of-life support, with empathy and environmental sustainability. 🌱🕊

Ps. Spy anything familiar? 👀 Our planting mix is used with every Epilog eco urn and ash scattering. For a truly earth-friendly ending. 🌎📖

Green Burial Society of Canada Green Burial Society Nova Scotia Green Burial Council Let your Love grow The Natural Burial Association Halifax Partnership Startup Canada

We’re on site as launches in Halifax Nova Scotia. Have you thought about green burial?

11/23/2023

So proud to be featured in Orillia Area CDC's 2023 video report! This team has helped us every step of the way with their resources and support. They are such a backbone to our small business community in Simcoe County!

11/21/2023

One of our favourites.

📖 Your Spirit, by Tram-Tiara T. Von Reichenbach

I know that no matter what
You will always be with me.
When life separates us
I’ll know it is only your soul
Saying goodbye to your body
But your spirit will be with me always.
When I see a bird chirping on a nearby branch
I will know it is you singing to me.
When a butterfly brushes gently by me so carefully
I will know it is you assuring me you are free from pain.
When the gentle fragrance of a flower catches my attention
I will know it is you reminding me
To appreciate the simple things in life.
When the sun shining through my window awakens me
I will feel the warmth of your love.
When I hear the rain pitter patter against my window sill
I will hear your words of wisdom
And will remember what you taught me so well
That without rain trees cannot grow
Without rain flowers cannot bloom
Without life’s challenges I cannot grow strong.
When I look out to the sea
I will think of your endless love for your family.
When I think of mountains, their majesty and magnificence
I will think of your courage...
No matter where I am
Your spirit will be beside me
For I know that no matter what
You will always be with me.

11/11/2023

𝐀 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫.🌹 To reflect. To feel. To connect. When so much of our world is in chaos, we dedicate today to those who've lived and died to get us here. To continue pushing for equality and peace.🕊️

Sometimes our work brings us to these brave folks' graves. We feel so honoured to help their resting places grow. 🪦🌷

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10/27/2023

Six years today since the final album.🎙 's sixth solo album was released posthumously, just after his death on October 18th 2017.

"Gord Downie could have been quiet, slipping away quietly without sharing his final days with us — and there would have been no judgement if he had. But instead he handed us a gift. He pushed the demons that must have been wreaking havoc with him aside and gave us his all, right down to the very last song."

🖊 Candace Sampson What She Said
🎵 The Tragically Hip Gord Downie
📷 The Canadian Press News

Downie Wenjack Fund Honouring Gord Downie

10/23/2023

Is anyone else officially into the Halloween movies? 🙋🏻‍♀️🎃

"Do you think he can still see us? Wherever he is?
"I don't know. Maybe."

- 𝙒𝙀 𝙃𝘼𝙑𝙀 𝘼 𝙂𝙃𝙊𝙎𝙏

🎥 Netflix
🎬 Jahi Diallo Winston Isabella Russo
👻 David Harbour Official

Netflix Addict

10/16/2023

There's something beautiful about a late bloomer. Someone who grows into their most vibrant colours, just as the rest of us in the garden start fading.

Marigolds have meant many things to many cultures over the centuries. They also take centre stage in multiple cultural celebrations this month—from decor to and ! So today we're spending appreciating their magic and all they represent. 🍂

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10/12/2023

Hello, Nova Scotia! 🌊🌲 We are SO excited to share that we've partnered with Canada’s newest natural burial ground in French Village, Nova Scotia. This 11-hectare "memorial conservation forest" will offer full-body green burials AND eco-friendly cremation interments, with AWAKE’s patented planting kits. 🌱

Get more about this project and it's incredible volunteers on our blog post: https://www.awakeashes.com/blog/stpaulsn

📷: CBC Nova Scotia