Martha Stewart has never been shy about doing things her own way, and that mindset apparently extends all the way to her final wishes.
During a recent conversation on the 50+ & Unfiltered podcast, the lifestyle icon shared that she doesn’t want a traditional burial or cremation when she dies.
Instead, Martha Stewart said she hopes to be returned to the earth through composting—ideally on the same land where she has lived and worked for years.
Stewart, who is now 84, explained that the idea is rooted in what she already does on her sprawling farm in Katonah, New York, known as Purdy Creek. The property is home to horses, gardens, and a range of animals, and it also includes a pet cemetery. When animals pass away, Stewart said they are laid to rest naturally on the land.
“When one of my horses dies, we dig a giant hole really deep in one of my fields,” Stewart said on the podcast. The horse is wrapped in a clean white linen cloth and buried carefully. “I want to go there,” she added, making it clear she envisions a similar end-of-life process for herself.
The topic of legality also came up, and Stewart didn’t sound particularly worried about it. “It’s not going to hurt anyone,” she said. “It’s my property.”
While the image may sound unconventional to some, human composting—also known as natural organic reduction—is now legal in New York. The state approved the practice in late 2022, joining a growing number of states that allow bodies to be transformed into soil through a controlled process using organic materials over several weeks. Although New York doesn’t yet have dedicated facilities operating within the state, the option is legally recognized.
Stewart made it clear that she has zero interest in more traditional options. “These coffin things and all that stuff? No way,” she said during the podcast, dismissing both burial and cremation.
The comments align with Stewart’s long-standing connection to land, sustainability, and hands-on farm life. Although she maintains other residences—including past homes in the Hamptons, Connecticut, and Maine—her Katonah farm remains her primary base, where she spends her days gardening, riding horses, and managing the property.