Instructions at the Birth
1. Tell your lead maternity carer you wish to keep your placenta
2. Take your Birth to Earth kit with you to your place of birth
3. Your lead maternity carer will pack your placenta into one of the corn starch bags and tie the top of it into a knot.
4. This is then placed into the second corn starch bag which is also tied at the top into a knot.
5. Place the double bagged placenta into the card board capsule and fold down the ends.
6. Carry home the capsule in the convenient carry bag.
7. Within 12 hours plant the capsule directly into the ground or store in your freezer for planting at a later date.
Instructions for planting your tree
We recommend that you follow the instructions that came with your tree, the following is general instructions that may assist you…
Choose a tree that is suitable for your location. Ask at your local garden centre’s or just look around to see what is thriving.
A tree planted in late summer early autumn will usually do well as it has the winter to establish it roots while there is plenty of water around. However, planting can be done at any time of the year as long as the plants are watered well through dry periods.
Prepare the soil by weeding, watering and if necessary add compost. Weeds will compete for nutrients and ground space slowing the growth of your tree.
Soak your tree's root ball in a bucket of water as this will lessen the shock of being planted and if your soil is of poor quality adding compost will allow the tree to get established and grow sturdier in the compost.
Make sure your hole for planting in is deep enough by digging the planting hole twice the width and 20 centimetres or 8 inches deeper than the trees root ball or bucket/pot.
There should be a good 20 centimetres or 8 inches between the placenta capsule and your tree’s roots.
Remove plant from its container and run a sharp knife down the root ball in several places to encourage new roots. Make sure also that the tree roots don’t stick up above the soil as this allows in disease and will impact on the tree taking hold.
Once planted keep watering your tree to get it settled into its new home.
Sometimes it is necessary to plant the placenta and tree into a pot so that these can move with you. You will need to purchase a suitable outdoor pot for this purpose. We recommend a large ceramic pot 400 centimetres in diameter and a minimum of 600 centimetres high.
