Solastalgia and the Earth Eaters

https://masharu.nl/The-Living-Print

As part of the CURIOSOIL project I have come across Masha Ru whose work has centred around Earth Eating and interrogating soil perception, usage and viability. I wrote to them and asked whether they may have time to discuss compost based substrates, as this is something I wonder about going forward - the paper making may or may not be suitable as a substrate for larger works. I emailed them and will see what comes back.

"Decomposition during composting, whether physical or metaphorical, is a part of an alchemical transformation and magic. Composting as fire consumes the old to make way for renewal, overtime it detoxifies the Earth. This process can be smelly and attract flies.
Composting involves a period of darkness, essential for transformation. Similarly, humans need to embrace darkness in order to grow and optimise themselves.
It is time to plant and to sow in the darkness of the Earth. Just as a tree needs roots to survive, composting helps to establish these roots both physically and emotionally."
- Mbali Marais
writer, teacher and healer