San Joaquin River Conservancy objects to human compost spread at Sumner Peck ranch

A dispute has erupted over allegations that human compost was approved for use on publicly owned land along the San Joaquin River.

The San Joaquin River Conservancy, a public entity separate from the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust, said it learned that a company called Earth Funerals had been granted permission by the Parkway Trust to spread human compost into the soil at the Sumner Peck Ranch near Solitary Cellars.

The Conservancy said the land is culturally significant and environmentally sensitive, and that incorporating human compost into the soil is contrary to state law.

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The Conservancy said it requested that the activity be stopped immediately, but that the executive director of the Parkway Trust refused.

Fresno County Supervisor and San Joaquin River Conservancy board member Garry Bredefeld said he was “shocked” by what he described as the Trust’s decision.

“As a Fresno County Supervisor and Board Member of the San Joaquin River Conservancy, I am shocked to find out that the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust (separate entity from the Conservancy) would be using a company called Earth Funerals to spread human compost into soil at Sumner Peck Ranch near Solitary Cellars. The stupidity is breathtaking,” Bredefeld said. “This public land is culturally significant and environmentally sensitive.”

I personally will not allow this insanity to be hidden from the public; they have every right to know this is how their tax dollars are being wasted.

Bredefeld said, “I have spoken with Fresno County Counsel today and they have immediately sent a Cease & Desist letter to the Trust and everyone involved in this outrageous decision to spread ‘human compost’ on publicly-owned lands.”

A news conference is planned for Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Fresno County Hall of Records in downtown Fresno.