the-modern-mortician-874979

Dust to Dust Green Burial

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:25:56 GMT

A Visit to Dust to Dust Green Burial Cemetery and Nature Reserve, Swansea, SC

I hadn't intended to visit South Carolina burial grounds on this trip to the East Coast. I was supposed to be exploring parts of western Georgia, but when those plans fell through, I did what I tend to do. Immediate pivot, I opened the map, followed a feeling, and planned to start driving north into South Carolina the next morning.

A few hours outside of Savannah, the landscape shifted into smaller roads, less traffic, and trees pressing in a little closer. By the time we reached Swansea, it felt like we had slipped into a different pace entirely. Fr from highways, sans the normal rush. Just road, trees, and curious intentions.

The Road In

Just outside of town, we turned toward Dust to Dust Green Burial Cemetery and Nature Preserve.

I’ve been down plenty of dirt roads in my life. Some of them questionable at best, but this one immediately stood out. It was maintained. Thoughtful. You could tell someone cared about not just the destination, but the experience of arriving. Either that, or I was lucky enough to arrive after a fresh install. Nevertheless, a pleasant surprise.

And then the trees opened.

A meadow appeared like it had been waiting for us, bordered by a simple white fence line. A modest entrance to note, nothing overdone and nothing trying too hard.

My road trip- sidekick and I pulled over, hopped out, and- of course- took a quick photo with the sign before heading in.

First Impressions

To the right, set back just enough, was a homestead. Next to it, a pasture with a few donkeys, just living their lives, completely unfazed by visitors arriving.

Directly across from that was the cemetery.

It isn't what most people think of when they hear that word.

It began as an open meadow, wide and breathable, and then slowly transitioned into a forest of established trees. Not a harsh divide. Not a sectioned-off feeling. Just a natural unfolding from one environment into another.

You could tell it was a burial ground, but nothing about it felt rigid or manufactured.

The Markers

There were no rows of identical stones. No cookie-cutter anything, every grave feels personal.

Some were marked with simple engraved flagstone, others were outlined softly in natural materials. Some were adorned with flora, others with small, meaningful objects like deer sheds, painted palm stones, pieces that clearly belonged to someone’s story.

There were trees, literal living and growing markers that give back.

I must have looked like a kid on Easter morning bouncing from grave to grave, pointing things out, narrating every little detail to my trip companion like I had just discovered something sacred.

Seeing It From Above

There weren’t designated walking paths, which I actually loved. It made the space feel open, intuitive, like you were meant to move through it naturally.

I set my drone on a stone bench and sent it up. From above, it all came together. The meadow, the forest, the flow between them.

I tried to capture it the best I could for the people who follow my work, for the ones who are curious about what this actually looks like when it’s done right, because this is what people need to see.

The Moment

After I packed everything up, I took one last walk. I sat on a log in the far southeast section of Dust to Dust Green Burial Preserve and I cried. Briefly. With joy, with astonishment, with gratitude.

Look at what they have accomplished, all around me. My dream. My visions. It is possible.

I sat for a few minutes, feeling the feeling. I heard an eagle cry out, and i smiled. The eagles back in Washington would love a place like this to protect.

-Melissa Meadow

CONTACT:

https://dusttodustcemetery.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dusttodustcemetery/

205 Nulty Xing, Swansea, SC, United States, 29160

1 803-200-1075

contact@dusttodustcemetery.com

Why I Left Varsity Tutors to Help Mortuary Students More Fairly

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 18:00:29 GMT

“Why I Left Varsity Tutors to Help Mortuary Students More Fairly”

For the past year, I’ve been tutoring mortuary science students through Varsity Tutors, specifically for the Arts and Sciences portions of the National Board Exam . Students were paying $100 an hour , yet I was only receiving $38 of that. That alone was frustrating, but what pushed me to make a change was what these students told me.

Every single student who ended up with me had already failed the NBE between 4 and 8 times .

Not once.
Not twice.
Four to eight attempts.

And do you know why they hired Varsity Tutors in the first place?
Because they were desperate. Because they felt broken. Because no one had been able to teach them the material in a way that made sense.

But here’s the part that shocked me the most:

Their first assigned tutor made them read from the textbook out loud for the entire session.

That was the “instruction.”
No breakdown.
No strategy.
No real teaching.

Just, “Read this chapter to me.”

No wonder they couldn’t pass.

When those students were reassigned to me, I tossed that approach out the window and actually taught them:

Clear breakdowns of the concepts
How the exam frames questions
Memory techniques
Topic patterns
Strategy for choosing answers even when unsure
Humor, storytelling, and real-world context
Full-length practice exams
Step-by-step rationales so they understood the “why” behind every answer

And here’s what happened:

Every one of my students passed — and all scored over 90%.

Not just passing.
Passing with excellence.
And passing after failing between four and eight times before getting to me.

Their confidence came back.
Their careers opened back up.
Their belief in themselves finally returned.

This is why I’m now offering tutoring directly, without the middleman.

My direct rate: $60/hour

You get:

A specialist who actually works in deathcare
A proven 100% success rate after tutoring
Arts and Sciences NBE prep
State law prep
Real explanations, not textbook reading
Humor, clarity, and confidence-building
Flexible scheduling
One-on-one support tailored to you

When you book directly, you pay less, and I can show up fully for you without a platform taking 60% of the income.

The National Board Exam is absolutely passable... you just need someone who knows how to teach it in a way that Finally. Makes. Sense.

If you’re ready to pass this exam and move forward in your career, I’m here and I’m ready.

Email me today.

Green Burial New Hampshire

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:13:45 GMT

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, the land itself tells a story of endurance, granite ledges, maple forests, and quiet fields that have held generations of families. It’s no surprise that many here are drawn to green burial, a practice that reflects the state’s independent spirit and deep respect for nature. Whether resting beneath sugar maples in autumn or beside a field of mountain laurel, natural burial connects people to the same landscape they cherished in life. It’s a simple, sincere return to the elements, free from chemicals, vaults, and excess, where the body nourishes the land, and the land, in turn, offers peace.

��Lotus and Lavender Natural Burial (in progress) - Portsmouth, NH

Nestled in the heart of New Hampshire’s Seacoast region, Lotus & Lavender Natural Burial is leading the charge toward a more peaceful, eco-conscious way of returning to the earth. As a 501(c)(13) nonprofit cemetery organization, they are dedicated to creating a true natural burial ground, one where the cycle of life continues uninterrupted, and the land remains protected for generations to come.

They’re cur rently looking for land to establish this sanctuary and are inviting the community to be part of this next step.

Here’s what they need to get started:
�� At least 3 acres in a rural or semi-rural setting
☀️ Mostly cleared land is ideal
�� Within 30 minutes of Portsmouth (preferred)
�� No wetlands within 100 ft

A gift, sale, or long-term lease of lan d to Lotus & Lavender comes with many benefits, including contributing to a legacy of conservation and community service. All discussions are confidential and handled with care.

If you or someone you know has land that might be a fit, reach out and help make New Hampshire’s next natural burial ground a reality. ��

��Oliverian Everlasting Burial Ground, - Benton Flatts, NH

White Mountain Conservation Burial has established Oliverian Everlasting Burial Ground , a conservation burial site located near the White Mountain National Forest.

The property includes meadow and woodland burial areas, trails along the Oliverian Brook, and a landscape rich with wildlife and native plants. Botanical surveys have already documented over 100 plant species and more than 150 bird species on the land.

This site reflects the growing movement of burial grounds that protect natural landscapes while offering environmentally conscious burial options.

ALTERNATIVE OPTION FOR CREMATED REMAINS:

��Life Forest - Hillsborough, NH

Life Forest in Hillsborough, New Hampshire i s a conservation burial ground designed specifically for the burial of cremated remains only . Their approach blends memorial space with long-term land protection, ensuring both families and the forest are cared for over time. This is where you can truly BE A TREE. Life Forest exemplifies conservation and memorialization coming together with intention and care.

How Burial Works at Life Forest (NH):
• Cremated remains only
• Burial sites are located within protected woodland

• Family can select a tree or other plant to mark the grave

• Biodegradable memorial practices
• Family-friendly remembrance space
• Long-term land conservation and habitat protection

If there isn’t a green burial ground nearby, many of New Hampshire’s small-town or church cemeteries are open to dialogue about becoming “hybrid.” Start by speaking with cemetery trustees or the town’s selectboard to ask if bylaws allow for vault waivers or biodegradable caskets. Offer to share examples from nearby states or from local conservation groups that have helped establish natural sections. New Hampshire’s strong tradition of local control means community support carries weight, gathering signatures or hosting an informational session can show genuine public interest. With respectful collaboration, even long-established cemeteries can evolve to honor both tradition and the environment that defines the Granite State.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Oklahoma

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:25:42 GMT

Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s story is one of land and legacy, a place where wide skies meet endless prairies, and where the rhythm of the seasons still shapes daily life. Beneath those skies, a quiet movement is taking root: one that honors both ancestors and the earth through natural burial . In a state defined by resilience and reverence for the land, it feels only right to return our bodies to the soil that sustained us, allowing the prairie to reclaim and renew itself with each passing season.

Green burial in Oklahoma reflects the region’s deep agricultural and Indigenous respect for the natural world, no vaults, no chemicals, no polished marble, just earth, wildflowers, and sky. At Green Haven Cemetery and a growing number of community sites, families are finding comfort in simplicity, participating in hand-lowerings, planting native grasses, and watching new life bloom where loss once lay heavy.

��Green Tree Burial Ground - Mead, OK

In the rolling countryside near Sand Springs, Green Tree Burial Ground is leading Oklahoma toward a more natural and sustainable future in deathcare. This peaceful 10-acre woodland sanctuary offers families a way to return to the earth simply and gracefully, no vaults, no embalming, and no harm to the land.

At Green Tree, graves are dug by hand, and only biodegradable shrouds or caskets are used. Families may take part in the burial, laying their loved one to rest amid native trees and wildflowers. There are no concrete markers or manicured lawns here, just the quiet presence of nature, thriving as it always has.

Every burial supports ongoing land stewardship. The cemetery’s founders are dedicated to preserving Oklahoma’s natural beauty and educating the public about the ecological benefits of green burial. Their mission is both simple and profound: to make every farewell an act of restoration.

Green Tree welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds. It’s a place for reflection, belonging, and connection, a reminder that in returning to the earth, we become part of something enduring and alive.

As one of Oklahoma’s first true natural burial grounds, Green Tree Burial Ground is setting a new standard, proving that even in the heartland, sustainability and remembrance can grow side by side.

��Green Haven Cemetery - Stillwater, OK

In the quiet countryside west of Stillwat er, Green Haven Cemetery offers Oklahomans a way to return to the earth naturally, in harmony with the land and free from modern interference. As one of Oklahoma’s few dedicated natural burial grounds, Green Haven allows the physical body to rejoin the soil without vaults, embalming, or heavy caskets.

At Green Haven, the body is placed directly into the ground in a biodegradable shroud, allowing for a complete and natural return to the earth. The landscape remains uncluttered by individual headstones or monuments, instead, a single Monolith Cenotaph stands at the cemetery’s entrance, where families can have their loved one’s names engraved.

The grounds are maintained as a native meadow, rich with wildflowers and native grasses, reflecting Oklahoma’s natural beauty. As a perpetual-care cemetery, Green Haven uses sustainable land stewardship methods to preserve the land’s integrity for generations to come.

While often called “green burial,” this practice is anything but new. Green Haven continues the oldest form of burial, one that honors both the dead and the living world. Here, families can choose a resting place that mirrors their values of simplicity, conservation, and respect for the environment.

For those who lived close to the land and want their final act to reflect that connection, Green Haven offers peace among open skies and prairie blooms, a burial that sustains life long after it ends.

��Chisolm Trail Burial Park - Enid, OK

��Woodland Memorial Park (Hybrid) - Sand Springs, OK

For those without a local green cemetery, progress begins with conversation and collaboration. Reach out to your town’s existing cemetery or churchyard and ask whether they would consider offering hybrid green burials, a simple section set aside where vaults are optional, embalming is discouraged, and biodegradable caskets or shrouds are welcome. Cemeteries are often willing to adapt once they understand that natural burial is legal in every state and can reduce maintenance costs over time. Share information from the Green Burial Council or examples of nearby cemeteries that have already made the shift.

Oklahoma’s land has always carried stories of return, from the dust that rose and settled again to the seeds that found new ground. Green burial is just another chapter in that story, a way for Oklahomans to rest, not apart from the land, but as part of it. ��

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Missouri

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:21:47 GMT

Missouri

Missouri’s rolling hills, oak forests, and winding rivers have long reflected the rhythm of renewal. Here, green burial feels like a homecoming, simple, grounded, and full of meaning. Families across the state are rediscovering that death care can be both traditional and natural, honoring loved ones without the need for embalming, vaults, or excess. From the Ozark highlands to the fertile plains of the north, Missourians are choosing to return to the earth just as their ancestors did, wrapped in cloth, laid beneath trees, and surrounded by life. It’s a quiet act of love, rooted in the soil that has always sustained them.

��Green Acres Natural Burial Cemetery - Rocheport, MO

In Missouri, Green Acres, also known as Pushing Up Daisies Inc., was created to give families “the ultimate way of going green.” As a natural burial ground, the cemetery allows only biodegradable materials: no embalming, no metal, no plastic, and no concrete vaults. Its mission is clear, protect the land, air, and water while providing affordable, compassionate burial options.

Green Acres was founded on the belief that traditional funerals are often too expensive and environmentally harmful. Here, families can choose natural burial at a fraction of the cost of conventional practices, with flexible payment options and straightforward care.

Everything at Green Acres is designed to preserve the earth: graves must use biodegradable containers or shrouds, vaults and liners are prohibited, and only natural flat rocks can be used as markers. The cemetery maintains full stewardship of the grounds, ensuring trails, plantings, and burials blend into the landscape.

��Bellfontaine Cemetery & Arboretum (hybrid) - St. Louis, MO

Green burial is permitted throughout all of Bellefontaine Cemetery, whether on a new or existing family lot, or a single grave in a public lot. Individuals can choose to mix green burial options with traditional burial practices to meet specific wishes and desires. For example, one may choose to be un-embalmed, in a shroud, biodegradable, is slower in its return to the earth than a shroud or simple casket.

��Zion Cemetery (hybrid) - St. Louis, MO

At Zion Cemetery, we take great pride in being one of the few Green Burial Council certified cemeteries in St. Louis. Our commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation sets us apart, providing a meaningful alternative to traditional burial methods. By choosing a green burial at Zion Cemetery, you contribute to a more eco-friendly and natural end-of-life process, leaving a lasting legacy of care for our planet.

��Elmwood Cemetery (hybrid) - Kansas City, MO

Their website says they can arrange an interment in accordance with Green Burial protocols if requested by you and your family.

If your community doesn’t yet have a designated green burial ground, start by reaching out to local cemetery caretakers or boards to discuss creating a natural or hybrid section. Missouri’s agricultural roots make this concept easy to embrace, land stewardship is part of the culture. Ask about existing requirements for vaults or embalming; many small-town cemeteries can amend bylaws with community support. Share examples of successful hybrid models across the Midwest and resources from the Green Burial Council. By working together, you can help transform traditional cemeteries into sanctuaries that celebrate Missouri’s connection to nature and the cycle of life.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Montana

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:20:21 GMT

Montana

In Montana, the land feels limitless, mountains rise into the clouds, rivers carve through valleys, and the horizon seems to stretch forever. It’s a place where life and nature are inseparable, and where many Montanans are rediscovering burial traditions that reflect that harmony. Green burial here offers a quiet, grounded return to the earth, without the intrusion of chemicals or concrete. Each natural burial restores life to the land, echoing the rugged simplicity and reverence for nature that defines the Big Sky State. Whether in prairie grasslands or pine forests, Montana’s open spaces remind us that returning to the soil is the most natural act of all.

��Mountainview Cemetery (hybrid) - City of Billings, Billings, MT

Available in Mountview Cemetery selectively. It's not much, but it's a start.

If your community doesn’t yet have a natural burial ground, start by speaking with caretakers or local cemetery boards about adding a “green section.” Montana’s vast landscapes and rural culture make this especially practical, no vaults or heavy maintenance are needed. Ask about existing bylaws regarding vaults or embalming; many can be amended through board approval. Offer examples of hybrid cemeteries in similar climates across the West to demonstrate how simple policy changes can create eco-friendly options. By encouraging dialogue and sharing resources from the Green Burial Council, you can help Montana cemeteries evolve their practices to honor the land’s natural beauty while preserving it for generations to come.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Nevada

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:18:51 GMT

Nevada

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If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial New Jersey

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:15:47 GMT

New Jersey

Known as the Garden State, New Jersey has always held a deep reverence for its landscapes, rolling farmlands, pine forests, and coastal meadows. Green burial here feels like a return to the state’s original promise: harmony between people and place. As urban and suburban communities seek more meaningful, sustainable ways to honor life’s end, natural burial is quietly taking root. Families are rediscovering that simplicity, no embalming, no vaults, no polished metal, can be profoundly beautiful. Whether in the hills of Hunterdon County or near the salt air of the Shore, New Jersey’s green burial movement is reminding families that true peace lies in returning gently to the earth.

��Steelmantown Cemetery - Woodbine, NJ

Tucked in the Pine Barrens of Cape May County, Steelmantown Cemetery is one of the oldest continually operating natural burial grounds in the country. With burials dating back to the 1700s, this sacred woodland has been restored as a conservation cemetery, where the forest itself is both sanctuary and memorial.

Steelmantown permits only biodegradable caskets or shrouds, no embalming, and no vaults or liners. Graves are dug by hand, and families are invited to take part in the process of lowering and covering their loved one, adding to the intimacy and meaning of the farewell.

Markers are natural and modest, often simple wooden or stone pieces that allow the forest to remain the focus. Over time, each resting place blends back into the landscape, supporting the ecological health of the Pine Barrens.

Once nearly abandoned, Steelmantown was lovingly restored to preserve its heritage and to create a model for how burial grounds can also serve as conservation spaces. Today, it stands as a testament to both history and sustainability, offering New Jersey families a natural way to return to the earth.

��Rosemont Cemetery (hybrid) - Rosemont, NJ

The Rosemont Cemetery Association is committed to providing quality end of life choices to meet the needs of all in the community it serves while enhancing the Cemetery’s natural beauty and heritage. As such, in addition to providing traditional burial spaces, on Earth Day 2017, the Cemetery unveiled its newest section, the Rosemont Memorial Garden and Natural Burial Area. This opening represents the culmination of years of work to create a meaningful, well-thought out area where those wishing to lessen the environmental impact of burial can choose to rest.

Much thought was put into the design of the Rosemont Memorial Garden and Natural Burial Area, which sits at the bottom of the hill, bordered on one side by beautiful woodlands and on another side by a farm field. The concept of this burial area is to provide a peaceful place for loved ones to visit and that is inviting to the community; to those that have loved ones buried here, as well as to those that simply want to find a space of peaceful quiet reflection. The graves in the Memorial Garden are laid out in a series of concentric circles, with the circles representing the circle of life and the community that surrounds the Cemetery. This design concept represents a paradigm shift from the traditional rectangular grave layouts to a more natural layout.

To bring natural burial options to your area, start by opening a conversation with local cemetery trustees or sextons. Many New Jersey cemeteries, even historic ones, are finding ways to adapt by offering hybrid sections that allow biodegradable caskets and vault-free burials. Share examples such as Steelmantown Cemetery or Maryrest Cemetery’s natural section to illustrate how successful these integrations can be. Emphasize that adding green options doesn’t require an overhaul, just flexibility in policy and a willingness to meet changing family values. Suggest hosting a community talk or workshop to gauge interest and show that offering green burial isn’t just an environmental choice, it’s an act of stewardship and renewal in the Garden State.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial New Mexico

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:14:31 GMT

New Mexico

In New Mexico, where the vast sky meets mesas painted in red and gold, death is seen not as an ending but as a return. The desert has always been a place of stillness, ceremony, and transformation—and green burial fits naturally within that rhythm. Here, simplicity carries deep spiritual resonance. Families choosing natural burial find meaning in allowing the body to return to the earth without barriers, nourishing the same land that sustained generations before them. From the high desert to the mountain foothills, green burial in New Mexico honors the harmony between human life and the timeless landscape that holds it.

��La Puerta Natural Burial Grounds - Belen, NM

Just outside Belen, New Mexico, lies La Puerta Natural Burial Ground, the s tate’s first and only conservation burial cemetery. Tucked within nearly 40 acres of desert landscape, this site offers families the chance to return their loved ones to the earth in a way that is both simple and sustainable.

La Puerta requires no embalming, no vaults, and only biodegradable burial containers. Graves are hand-dug, and natural markers like local stones are used so that over time, the land remains undisturbed and wild. Families may take part in the burial process, making the farewell deeply personal.

Each burial helps conserve the fragile high desert ecosystem, ensuring that native plants and wildlife thrive. This is burial that doesn’t just avoid harm, but actively contributes to land protection and ecological health.

For families in New Mexico, La Puerta represents a return to older traditions, burial that is straightforward, affordable, and connected to place. Here, loved ones are laid to rest beneath open skies and mesas, becoming part of the desert’s living cycle.

If your community doesn’t yet have a green burial ground, begin by reaching out to caretakers or boards of existing cemeteries. Many traditional cemeteries are open to dedicating a section for natural burials once they understand the process and benefits. Share examples of desert-friendly practices such as using local stone markers, drought-tolerant native plants, and biodegradable materials suited for arid climates. Present the ecological and cultural value, reducing concrete use, preserving water, and respecting Indigenous understandings of the land. By working collaboratively, you can help transform existing cemeteries into places that both honor tradition and embrace New Mexico’s enduring connection to the natural world,

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial New York

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:12:57 GMT

New York

New York’s green burial movement is thriving at the intersection of nature and innovation. From the Adirondacks’ quiet forests to the rolling Hudson Valley and the protected lands of Long Island, New Yorkers are embracing burial practices that restore balance to the earth. In a state known for progress and preservation alike, natural burial offers a meaningful way to unite tradition with environmental responsibility. Families are choosing biodegradable materials, native plant restoration, and conservation land trusts to ensure that even in death, they contribute to life’s continual renewal. Each burial becomes both a personal act of remembrance and a collective gesture toward a greener future.

��Greensprings Cemetery - Newfield, NY

High above Cayuga Lake in Newfield, Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve stretches across 130 acres of rolling meadows, forest, and sky, one of the most scenic and pioneering green cemeteries in the United States. Founded in 2006, it was among the first to earn Green Burial Council certification, setting the standard for natural burial in the Northeast.

At Greensprings, there are no vaults, no embalming, and no polished headstones. Burials use biodegradable shrouds or simple wooden caskets, allowing each person to return fully to the soil. Native grasses and wildflowers slowly reclaim each grave, weaving every life back into the ecology of the land.

Every burial at Greensprings supports permanent land protection. The preserve’s mission is to restore and maintain natural habitats while offering an environmentally conscious resting place. Visitors walk along mown trails and open fields, where meadowlarks and pollinators thrive.

Greensprings welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds. Families are invited to participate in burials, from carrying the body to lowering it into the grave, creating a deeply personal experience rooted in love and connection.

��Spirit Sanctuary Green Burials - Essex, NY

Nestled in the hills of the Hudson Valley, Spirit Sanctuary in natural Rhinebeck is New York’s first conservation burial ground, a sacred space where the end of life becomes an act of environmental restoration. Developed in partnership with the Conservation Burial Alliance and the New York Open Center , Spirit Sanctuary blends ecology, spirituality, and simplicity.

Every burial here supports land conservation. No vaults, embalming, or metal caskets are allowed, only biodegradable materials that return the body to the soil. As the forest floor reclaims each grave, it becomes part of a larger ecosystem that nourishes new growth.

Spirit Sanctuary is open to all faiths and backgrounds, rooted in the belief that death can be approached with reverence and ecological awareness. Families may participate in every step of the burial, creating a communal, healing experience grounded in love and respect.

Each interment at Spirit Sanctuary contributes to protecting Rhinebeck’s natural habitat, ensuring that the land remains untouched by development. The sanctuary represents a modern evolution of ancient traditions: returning to the earth as part of a cycle that sustains life.

��Mount Hope Cemetery (hybrid) - Rochester, NY

The cemetery offers a designated green burial section, the Garden of Renewal, which is set within the historic landscape of the cemetery and the choice for green burial anywhere in the cemetery.

��Grasmere Cemetery at Rhinebeck Cemetery (hybrid) - Rhinebeck, NY

The Natural Burial Ground at the Town of Rhinebeck Cemetery was opened in 2014 and is only the second municipal natural burial ground in New York State. It is nestled back from historic Mill Road, adjacent to the Grasmere section of the cemetery, and is set in a young hardwood forest on land that once served as pasture to the Grasmere Estate.

��Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (hybrid) - Sleepy Hollow, NY

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, that “Sleepy” place which serves as the backdrop to Washington Irving’s short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, is largely just that – a quiet and sleepy resting place where little seems to ever change. Following the Pocantico River as it meanders through the pristine terrain of the cemetery, one feels like they are in a place lost in a time long gone. One can easily imagine Ichabod Crane following this very path in the legendary story.

Yet, this timeless gem in Westchester County, New York is actually among the most progressive and forward thinking cemeteries in the United States. For in the opening of the “Riverview Natural Burial Grounds”, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery has become part of a very small and elite group of burial places in the country, which afford the deceased a “natural” or “green” burial option.

��White Haven Memorial Park (hybrid) - Pittsford, NY

White Haven Memorial park has a special area Certified by the Green Burial Council. This area is specifically for full body burial with no vault, no casket and no cremation. The body is placed in a biodegradable container or cloth shroud. There is one embalming solution that is certified by the Green Burial Council, which is made up of essential oils vs. toxic chemicals. The goal is to allow the body to return to the soil naturally. Graves are double the width since there are no vaults or caskets used. This helps keep the integrity of each burial.

��Holy Sepulchre (hybrid) - Rochester, NY

In 2013, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery & Ascension Garden became the first Catholic cemeteries in New York State to earn Green Burial Council Certification as approved providers of green burial grounds. Only after extensive ecological assessments and formal application was this honor bestowed. The certification furthers the commitment of Holy Sepulchre & Ascension Garden to the environment, and provides beautiful, natural surroundings while meeting the highest standards of the cemetery industry.

��Ascension Garden Cemetery (hybrid) - Henrietta, NY

��Forest Hill Cemetery @ Forest Lawn (hybrid) - Attica, NY

At the Forest Lawn Group (read Corporate), we’re proud to offer green burial options for families who want to honor their loved ones while caring for the environment. Our green burials use biodegradable materials and avoid harmful chemicals, helping to conserve natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, protect worker health, and restore natural habitats. We adhere to the Green Burial Council’s guidance and certification. At Forest Hill Cemetery, Phelps’ Meadow offers a field of natural burial lots with a large shared permanent memorial stone at the foot of the field to record individual names in the meadow.

�� Lakeside Cemetery @ Forest Lawn (hybrid) - Hamburg, NY

At the Forest Lawn Group(read Corporate), we’re proud to offer green burial options for families who want to honor their loved ones while caring for the environment. Our green burials use biodegradable materials and avoid harmful chemicals, helping to conserve natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, protect worker health, and restore natural habitats. We adhere to the Green Burial Council’s guidance and certification.At Lakeside Cemetery, The Oaks offers a natural burial section with a traditional memorial marker for each grave.

If your area doesn’t yet have a dedicated green or conservation burial ground, start by approaching the trustees or managers of local cemeteries with curiosity and respect. Ask if they’ve considered setting aside a section for vault-free burials or revising their bylaws to allow shrouded or biodegradable caskets. Highlight that New York already has several successful examples, such as Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve and Sleepy Hollow’s hybrid section, that demonstrate how natural burial can exist with traditional practices. By sharing data on growing public interest and the ecological benefits, you can help your local cemetery become part of New York’s evolving legacy of sustainability and remembrance.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial North Carolina

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:11:32 GMT

North Carolina

From the misty Blue Ridge Mountains to the pine forests and coastal plains, North Carolina’s landscape speaks to a deep and enduring relationship with nature. Here, green burial isn’t just an environmental choice—it’s a continuation of the Southern tradition of family, faith, and respect for the earth. Families are rediscovering that a natural burial, free from embalming and metal caskets, offers a more intimate and meaningful farewell. Whether resting beneath native wildflowers or beneath the canopy of longleaf pines, green burial in North Carolina brings renewal to both land and spirit.

��Carolina Memorial Sanctuary - Mills River, NC

Nestled in Mills River, just south of Asheville, Carolina Memorial Sanctuary is a breathtaking 11-acre conservation burial ground where people, wildlife, and the land coexist in perfect harmony. Certified by the Green Burial Council, it’s North Carolina’s first conservation burial ground, permanently protected and managed as a nature preserve.

Carolina Memorial Sanctuary requires no embalming, vaults, or metal caskets. Every burial uses biodegradable materials, and graves are dug by hand to preserve the land’s integrity. Visitors find meadows of wildflowers, stands of native trees, and pollinators moving gently through the open fields. Each burial restores the ecosystem, turning grief into growth.

As a conservation burial ground, every interment directly supports land protection. The Sanctuary partners with environmental organizations to ensure that this land will always remain undeveloped and ecologically healthy. Its stewardship model means burials are part of a larger cycle of preservation and renewal.

The Sanctuary invites family participation, offering a quiet, sacred experience that fosters connection with both loved ones and the earth. Visitors can walk winding trails or sit in refle ction by the river, surrounded by the sounds of nature.

��Bluestem Conservation Cemetery - Cedar Grove, NC

Set among 87 acres of rolling meadows, forests, and wetlands in Cedar Gro ve, Bluestem Conservation Cemetery offers a breathtaking return to the land, a place where remembrance and restoration are one. Certified by the Green Burial Council, Bluestem is a true conservation burial ground, ensuring that every interment contributes to the protection and regeneration of North Carolina’s native landscape.

At Bluestem, graves are dug by hand and filled without vaults, embalming, or metal caskets. Each burial uses biodegradable materials, allowing the body to return fully to the soil. Families are invited to participate in the burial process, creating a deeply personal and sacred farewell.

Every burial helps conserve the property in partnership with the Triangle Land Conservancy , guaranteeing that the land will never be developed. The cemetery’s open fields and forested paths provide vital habitats for wildlife, pollinators, and native plants turning grief into growth with each passing season.

�� A Place of Peace and Purpose

Visitors describe Bluestem as both grounding and inspiring — a landscape where beauty and biodiversity coexist with reflection and remembrance. It’s a place for those who wish to return to the earth in a way that sustains it.

��Mordecai’s Meadow at Historic Oakwood Cemetery (hybrid) - Raleigh, NC

In the Spring of 2016, Oakwood Cemetery opened Mordecai’s Meadow, a green burial section located in the North West section of Oakwood Cemetery. Green Burial is simple and natural. It reunites our bodies with the earth using biodegradable caskets, no embalming fluids, and no concrete or metal vaults. It allows the cycle of nature to be completed, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Mordecai’s Meadow at Historic Oakwood Cemetery will allow members of our community, who wish to “return to the earth” to do so in a peaceful, yet urban, environment, surrounded by generations of Raleigh citizens who passed before them. Oakwood is returning to it’s roots, and offering a burial option that looked much like the original burials here at Oakwood in the 1860s.

As we return to the “traditional” way of burial with this section, the name Mordecai’s Meadow was inspired by the original burials at Oakwood Cemetery and the previous landowners of our grounds, the Mordecai family.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Ohio

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:09:40 GMT

Ohio

Ohio’s gentle hills and ancient forests hold a long history of reverence for the land, making it a natural place for the green burial movement to take root. Many Ohioans are rediscovering the simplicity and beauty of returning the body to the earth without chemical interference or concrete barriers. Whether in rural meadows or wooded preserves, families across the state are seeking options that align with both their environmental values and their spiritual sense of continuity with the land. Green burial here honors the rhythm of nature, allowing each life to nourish what comes next.

��Foxfield Preserve - Wilmot, OH

Nestled within the protected forests of the Wilderness Center in Wilmot, Foxfield Preserve is Ohio’s first conservation burial ground, and one of the earliest in the nation. Since 2008, it has offered families a way to lay loved ones to rest in harmony with nature, where every burial supports land preservation and wildlife habitat.

At Foxfield, burials are entirely natural: no embalming, no vaults, no metal caskets. Graves are dug by hand, and biodegradable caskets or shrouds allow each body to return gently to the soil. Families are encouraged to participate in the burial process, creating an intimate, meaningful farewell.

Each interment directly contributes to the care and protection of over 1,000 acres of The Wilderness Center’s woodlands and prairies. The preserve’s wildflowers, songbirds, and native trees form a living memorial, proof that death can nurture new life.

Foxfield doesn’t just offer burials, it also teaches. Through tours and workshops, the preserve educates the public about natural burial and sustainability, inspiring other communities across the Midwest to follow suit.

��Heritage Acres Memorial - Cincinnati, OH

In the rolling hills just east of Cincinnati, Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary offers a peaceful, natural resting place where people can return to the earth in the most life-giving way possible. Spanning 40 acres of meadows, woodlands, and walking trails, this Green Burial Council–certified sanctuary is both a cemetery and a nature preserve, a place where grief and growth intertwine.

Heritage Acres welcomes people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds. Every burial is free of vaults, embalming, and metal caskets, instead using biodegradable shrouds or caskets to allow the body to decompose naturally and nourish the land. Families are invited to participate in the burial process, creating a deeply personal experience.

Each interment at Heritage Acres supports native plant restoration and wildlife habitat. Visitors are greeted by open skies, wildflowers, and the hum of pollinators, a living memorial that continually renews itself with each season.

The Sanctuary is sustained by volunteers and community members who share a commitment to sustainability, reverence, and simplicity. Education, guided tours, and events help others learn about green burial and its role in ecological healing.

��Kokosing Nature Preserve - Gambier, OH

In Gambier, Ohio, Kokosing Nature Preserve bri ngs together land conservation, education, and natural burial in a way that’s both deeply personal and profoundly ecological. Managed by Kenyon College’s Philander Chase Conservancy , this 23-acre preserve offers families a chance to rest in peace while supporting the permanent protection of the land.

Kokosing allows only biodegradable caskets or shrouds, with no vaults or embalming. Graves are carefully dug by hand, and families can take part in the burial process, connecting body, land, and legacy. Each burial is a return to the soil, simple, sacred, and sustainable.

All proceeds from the cemetery support Kenyon College’s conservation work, helping preserve hundreds of acres of farmland and forest in the Kokosing River Valley. The preserve serves as both a resting place and a living classroom, where students and visitors can learn about ecology, end-of-life sustainability, and stewardship.

Set amid meadows and woodlands, Kokosing Nature Preserve is a model for how green burial and higher education can coexist, honoring those who’ve passed while teaching future generations about the cycles of life and the importance of protecting the earth.

��Emerald Meadows at North Lawn Cemetery (hybrid) - Canton, OH

Emerald Meadows is the green burial section of North Lawn Cemetery.

Burials that occur in this section are not to be embalmed unless it is with ENIGMA and must be in a biodegradable casket (wicker), urn or shroud. Cremations are accepted in this section as well.

��Union Grove Cemetery (hybrid) - Canal Winchester, OH

No information online other than green burial is allowed. I could not find a reliable website for this cemetery, either.

��Spring Grove Cemetery (hybrid) - Cinncinati, OH

On their website they explain their cemetery can support those wishing for a more natural state of disposition with a focus on protecting the environment. They have a small section for green burial, the only area in the cemetery where they do not require vaults and embalming is prohibited. Caskets must be made of a quickly decomposing material such as wicker and cannot contain any metal components.

If your community doesn’t yet have a designated green burial section, you can still help create one. Start by approaching local cemetery boards or sextons to discuss setting aside a portion of existing grounds for natural burials. Present examples from nearby states or Ohio conservation initiatives to illustrate community interest and environmental benefits. Ask about bylaws regarding vaults and embalming, many can be waived through board approval. By initiating a thoughtful, respectful conversation, you can help your local cemetery evolve into a more sustainable resting place for future generations.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Oregon

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 01:55:49 GMT

Oregon

Oregon has long been a state where people turn toward the land for meaning, where ancient forests, coastal headlands, and volcanic mountains remind us daily of nature’s power to transform and renew. It’s no surprise, then, that Oregon has become one of the most active hubs for green and conservation burial in the Pacific Northwest. From the mossy slopes of the Cascades to the oak savannas of the Willamette Valley, Oregonians are choosing to return to the soil in ways that restore, rather than disturb, the ecosystems they love.

Here, natural burial is more than a trend, it’s a philosophy rooted in reciprocity. Families gather under cedar and fir to say goodbye without chemicals, concrete, or excess. The land becomes a living memorial, and each burial supports habitat restoration, carbon sequestration, and community connection. Many Oregon cemeteries demonstrate how death care can become land care, blending ancient practice with modern sustainability.

��The Forest Conservation Burial Grounds - Ashland, OR

The Forest Conservation Burial Ground offers one of the most breathtaking natural resting places in the Pacific Northwest. Located within The Mount Union Cemetery at Willow–Witt Ranch, this designated site is a Green Burial Council–certified conservation cemetery, where every burial helps protect and restore native forest habitat.

Here, loved ones are laid to rest beneath towering firs and maples, without vaults, embalming, or metal caskets. Bodies are placed in biodegradable shrouds or wooden caskets, allowing them to decompose naturally and nourish the surrounding ecosystem. The land remains wild and quiet, with only natural markers or native plants signifying each grave.

All proceeds from burials directly support the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, ensuring the permanent protection of this forest as a living ecosystem. Every interment at The Forest strengthens the land’s ecological resilience and contributes to ongoing restoration efforts.

Visitors describe the forest as a place of profound stillness, where the sounds of wind, birds, and rustling leaves become a natural requiem. Families are welcome to take part in the burial process, connecting deeply to both their loved one and the landscape.

��Great River Natural Burial - Mosier, OR

Great River Green Burial Sanctuary offers families a peaceful, protected landscape where life and death are held in balance. This conservation burial ground is Oregon’s newest addition to its thriving network of natural cemeteries, a place where every interment helps restore and safeguard the land.

Great River allows only biodegradable caskets and shrouds, no vaults, no embalming, no nonrenewable materials. Graves are hand-dug and carefully placed among native trees, meadows, and moss-covered forest floor. Loved ones are laid to rest beneath open sky and birdsong, becoming part of the natural cycle once more.

As a certified conservation burial ground, Great River partners with environmental organizations to ensure the land will remain undeveloped in perpetuity. Each burial directly contributes to habitat restoration, soil health, and the protection of the Columbia River ecosystem.

The sanctuary invites families and visitors to walk its trails, tend native plants, and reflect within the beauty of Oregon’s coastal landscape. Burials here are more than farewells, they are acts of renewal, turning grief into growth and remembrance into restoration.

With Great River joining Herland Forest, Greenhaven, an d The Forest Conservation Burial Ground, Oregon now stands as a national leader in natural and conservation burial, proving that honoring life can mean preserving the land that sustains it.

��River View Cemetery (hybrid) - Portland, OR

River View Cemetery and our on-site funeral home, are pleased to offer natural burial and funeral options for individuals who wish to have a simple, environmentally friendly service and burial. This means no embalming, a biodegradable casket or shroud and lowering board and no outer burial container (vault or concrete grave liner). This is a wonderful option for those who prefer their body to return to the earth with a minimum footprint.
Unlike some cemeteries that only allow natural burials in one specific section of the cemetery, River View Cemetery has become one of the first cemeteries in the nation to allow natural burial in every area of the cemetery. Memorial markers (headstones) are allowed, but not required, for all natural burials at River View.

��Rose City Cemetery (hybrid) - Portland, OR

Rose City is certified by the Green Burial Council and is one of a few cemeteries in the Portland area which allows Green Burial in any grave in our cemetery. Green Burial typically refers to burial involving no formaldehyde, no casket and no concrete vault. There is no additional cost for choosing Green Burial at Rose City, in fact depending on your choices, sustainable burial may be less expensive than traditional vault interment.

For communities still waiting for a local option, the next step begins with conversation. Visit your town’s existing cemetery and ask the board or sexton whether they’d consider offering hybrid green burials, allowing biodegradable caskets or shrouds, eliminating vaults, and designating a natural section where mowing and pesticides are reduced. Many cemeteries simply haven’t been asked, and your voice can plant the seed for lasting change. Offer to share educational materials or connect them with Green Burial Council guidelines, small steps that can grow into statewide transformation.

In a place where the land itself feels sacred, Oregonians continue to lead by example, proving that when we care for the earth in life and in death, we honor the full circle of what it means to belong here. ��

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Pennsylvania

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:18:14 GMT

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s landscapes are as varied as the people who call it home , from Appalachian ridgelines and rolling Amish farmland to the quiet forests that turn golden each fall. It’s a state where the connection between people and place runs deep, and where a growing number of families are rediscovering the simple wisdom of returning naturally to the earth.

Across the state, green and hybrid burial grounds are beginning to take root, from forest preserves to family-run cemeteries choosing sustainability over excess. These spaces remind us that care for the dead and care for the land can be one and the same. They offer peace, biodiversity, and affordability, all while reconnecting end-of-life care to the rhythms of nature that Pennsylvanians have cherished for generations.

��The Woods Edge Green Burial at Paxtang Cemetery (hybrid) - Harrisburg, PA

Peaceful and private, The Ellipse is surrounded by a variety of mature trees and shrubs. In place of individual monuments, a granite ledger for communal inscriptions of names of the deceased is located in the area’s center to best preserve its natural setting. Every grave space in The Ellipse allows for one full body burial or two sets of cremated remains. Both full body and cremation interments take place without the use of any type of permanent outer container. Historical Paxtang Cemetery was established in 1898 on what used to be the Thomas Rutherford Farm on Paxtang Ave. There are thirty-three beautiful acres of rolling hills, gentle slopes and level lands. Twelve wooded acres are dedicated to the Green Burial area called The Wood's Edge. The property adjoins the Capital Area Greenbelt on the west side and Paxtang Ave. on the East Side.

There have been close to 12,000 interments in the cemetery over the last 126 years and lots of room for future expansion for another 126 years.

Since 2006 Paxtang Cemetery has been a family-owned by Alesia and James Skinner. It is unique to the area with its beautiful perennial gardens located throughout and a breathtaking view of three neighboring mountainsides from the summit. It is also the only green burial certified cemetery in Central Pennsylvania where every burial takes part in restoration of our PA native forest.

Paxtang Cemetery is blessed with beautiful and natural surroundings that are unlike any other cemetery in Central Pennsylvania; managed by a 10-year plan to continue to enhance this beautiful park with yet more gardens and other projects to meet the diverse needs of our families. Come and visit and see what makes Paxtang Cemetery so special.

��Penn Forest Natural Cemetery - Verona, PA

Just outside Pittsburgh, in the wooded hills of Penn Hills, lies Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, Pennsylvania’s first and only exclusively natural burial ground. Spread across 31 acres of forest and meadow bordered by Plum Creek, Penn Forest offers a serene, eco-conscious resting place where every burial contributes to the renewal of the land.

Since 2011, Penn Forest has been certified by the Green Burial Council, maintaining some of the nation’s highest environmental standards. Ten acres are permanently preserved as wildlife habitat, ensuring that each interment not only honors a life, but also supports native ecosystems and biodiversity.

Penn Forest welcomes people of all faiths, offering both full-body and cremated remains burials, as well as scattering among native wildflowers. No vaults, embalming, or synthetic materials are used, only biodegradable shrouds and caskets, returning the body naturally to the soil.

��Nature’s Sanctuary at Laurel HIll West Cemetery (hybrid) - Philadelphia, PA

Nature’s Sanctuary is our award-winning green burial area at Laurel Hill West. Establishing a powerful connection between people, nature and community, Nature’s Sanctuary is planted with indigenous grasses, trees, and shrubs and is currently maintained as a meadow transitioning into a successional forest. All graves are hand-dug for minimal environmental impact; no gas-powered equipment is used. Only biodegradable or environmentally friendly caskets, shrouds, and urns are allowed. Nature’s Sanctuary is a regenerative landscape that offers families a tranquil environment and connection to the earth.

��Elper’s Church Greenwood Glen Cemetery (hybrid) - Leesport, PA

Epler’s Church has been providing burial services for its members and the community at large since the congregation was founded in 1737. The oldest part of the facility, which is now inactive, contains the remains of more than 1,200 people including veterans from the Revolutionary War period.

The active parts of the cemetery include a “Traditional” burial area, Cremation burial area, and the “Green” or “Natural” burial area (Epler’s Greenwood Glen). Certification by the Green Burial Council will give our cemetery the status of a “Hybrid” cemetery, which means that we can handle almost any type of burial that is allowed by law. Our facility also includes a Unicursal Labyrinth for meditative walking.

��Gethsemane Cemetery (hybrid) - Reading, PA

Our natural burial section is different from our other sections. There are no manicured lawns and the majority of the section is covered in native green grasses, wild flowers and stands of trees. Paths will wander through the section to allow for visitation and memorialization is limited to an inscribed field stone, as no manufactured memorials will be permitted. Metal caskets and burial vaults are also not permitted. The body may be wrapped in a shroud or placed in a completely biodegradable casket. Our hope is to provide burial while reducing the environmental impact to the greatest degree possible. Due to the energy use and possible environmental concerns of the cremation process, cremated remains will not be permitted in the section of St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

��Wellsboro Cemetery (hybrid) - Wellsboro, PA

We are pleased to say that we are considered a Hybrid Cemetery so there is a choice between Green or Traditional. A Green Burial is burial where no embalming is allowed - unless GBC approved (nontoxic chemicals) are used. Any burial container used is made of only natural, biodegradable materials. Such as a burial shroud, wicker basket coffin, cardboard box coffin (such as what is used for cremation), or a wooden box. No vault or liner is used. The body is simply placed into the ground and becomes one with the earth again. The family is given the option to participate in the burial process by helping to close the grave if they choose. Extra shovels can be supplied if this is wanted. Many find this gives them closure and in some ways a bit healing to feel as though they could show one last act of love.

For those who don’t yet have a local green opti on, the best next step is often to engage with existing cemeteries about going hybrid. Many traditional cemeteries already have the infrastructure and zoning, they just need to know that the demand exists. Start by meeting with the ce metery board or sexton to ask simple questions: Would they consider allowing biodegradable caskets or shrouds? Could vaults be made optional? Are there unused sections that could remain natural and un-mowed? When framed as both an ecological and community benefit, these conversations often open doors rather than close them.

Pennsylvania’s forests have always been a place of renewal, a refuge, a teacher, and now, for many, a final resting place. With continued curiosity and courage, residents here can lead the way in transforming the Keystone State into one that honors life, death, and land as one continuous story. ��

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Rhode Island

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:04:29 GMT

Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in soul. From rocky coastal bluffs to inland forests and salt marshes teeming with life, the Ocean State has always held a deep respect for its natural landscapes. That reverence is beginning to extend into death care, as more Rhode Islanders seek ways to return to the earth gently, without chemicals, concrete, or excess.

��Prudence Memorial Park - Prudence Island, RI

Nestled on Prudence Island in Narragansett Ba y, Prudence Memorial Park off ers Rhode Island’s only dedicated green burial groun d, a place where nature, reverence, and renewal meet. Certified by the Green Burial Council, this conservation-focused cemetery restores an ancient practice: returning the body to the earth gently and naturally.

At Prudence Memorial Park, every burial is designed to minimize environmental impact. No vaults, concrete, metal, or toxic embalming chemicals are allowed. Bodies are wrapped in biodegradable shrouds or placed in simple wooden caskets made by local craftspeople. Even the act of digging a grave is done with care for surrounding root systems, preserving the integrity of the landscape.

While cremation remains popular, the park reminds us that it comes with an environmental cost, from fossil fuel consumption to emissions released into the air. In contrast, natural burial at Prudence Memorial Park allows the body to decompose naturally, nourishing the soil and supporting local biodiversity. Cremated remains may also be buried or scattered thoughtfully among native plants or incorporated into the stone foundations of the property.

Permanent markers here are simple, engraved native field stones laid flush to the ground, and loved ones may plant approved native species to honor those buried. Each grave is precisely recorded, ensuring that every resting place remains known and protected even as the land returns to a natural state.

Prudence Memorial Park stands as a model for what su stainable deathcare can be: reverent, restorative, and responsible. By choosing this form of burial, families help conserve the island’s ecosystem while creating meaningful, enduring memorials rooted in the beauty of Rhode Island’s coastal landscape.

��Swan Point Cemetery (hybrid) - Providence, RI

If you live in Rhode Island and wish to see natural burial offere d locally, consider starting conversations with existing cemeteries about creating hybrid sections. Often, the path begins with a single request, asking if they can accommodate burials without vaults or embalming, and using biodegradable caskets or shrouds. It’s a simple question that opens doors for change.

In the Ocean State, where land and sea meet in an eternal exchange, it’s only natural that more Rhode Islanders are looking to make their final rest part of that same beautiful cycle. ⚓��

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial South Carolina

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:58:15 GMT

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state where history breathes through the trees, from the moss-draped oaks of the Lowcountry to the pine forests and foothills that roll toward the Blue Ridge. Here, the land has always been both a resting place and a teacher, reminding us of the cycles of renewal that define Southern life. It’s also home to a small but growing movement toward natural and conservation burial, a return to simplicity that honors both ancestry and ecology.

Across South Carolina, families are beginning to look beyond polished granite and manicured lawns, toward meadows and woodlands where native plants thrive and the earth is left to heal itself. These emerging sanctuaries reflect a deeper understanding, that death care doesn’t need to be industrial to be meaningful. Whether through dedicated conservation cemeteries or green sections within historic burial grounds, South Carolinians are rediscovering what it means to rest in harmony with nature.

��Ramsey Creek Preserve - Westminister, SC

Deep in the rolling hills of South Carolina’s Piedmont, Ramsey Creek Preserve stands as the birthplace of the modern green burial movement in the United States. Established in 1998, it was the first conservation burial ground in the nation, and remains one of the most inspiring examples of how sacred land and ecological restoration can coexist.

At Ramsey Creek Preserve, burial and conservation are one and the same. Each interment helps protect and restore wild habitat for native plants and animals. No toxic embalming, no vaults, no concrete, only natural materials that allow the body to return fully to the earth. Every burial literally nourishes the forest floor, ensuring that death contributes to new life.

Part of each burial fee supports land conservation, ecological restoration, and perpetual care. This means that every family who chooses Ramsey Creek is helping preserve a piece of the natural world for generations to come. The preserve is intentionally limited in the number of burials it allows, ensuring that the land remains vibrant and uncrowded, a true sanctuary for both people and wildlife.

The founders of Ramsey Creek envisioned more than a cemetery, they imagined a national network of wild sanctuaries where death care serves life. Their goal: to protect and restore one million acres of wildlands through conservation burial. In doing so, they’ve reconnected countless families with the rhythms of the natural world and transformed how we think about saying goodbye.

��Greenhaven Preserve - Eastover, SC

I have personally set foot on this land and created content on social media about my visit. I can whole heartedly recommend this location based on my personal observation and experience.In the quiet countryside of Eastover, South Carolina, lies Greenhaven Preserve, a 10-acre natural burial ground surrounded by 360 acres of protected wilderness. Here, every interment contributes to a legacy of restoration, preservation, and deep respect for the earth.

Greenhaven Preserve was founded on a promise, to safeguard fields, forests, and waters while offering families a simple and sustainable way to say goodbye. Each burial restores the land rather than altering it, returning the body to the soil in a way that nourishes new life. Vaults, embalming, and non-biodegradable materials are absent here; only natural materials are used, ensuring harmony between humans and habitat.

This preserve exists as part of a thriving 360-acre ecosystem teeming with native plants, birds, and wildlife. The land itself is the monument, not stone, not marble, but open meadow and forest, alive with renewal. Greenhaven’s caretakers are devoted to long-term guardianship, ensuring that future generations inherit a landscape unspoiled and sacred.

When families choose Greenhaven, they join a movement larger than themselves, one that protects biodiversity, restores soil health, and redefines what it means to leave a lasting mark on the world. In death, they give back to life, ensuring that the beauty of the South Carolina countryside endures forever.

��Dust to Dust Green Burial Cemetery - Swansee, SC

I have personally set foot on this land and created content on social media about my visit. I can whole heartedly recommend this location based on my personal observation and experience.

Tucked away on family farmland in Swansea, South Carolina, Dust to Dust Green Burial is one of the state’s most down-to-earth and authentic natural cemeteries, a place where simplicity, honesty, and respect for nature guide every decision.

At Dust to Dust, burial takes place in harmony with the land. No vaults, no embalming, and no unnatural materials, just biodegradable caskets or simple shrouds. Over time, the grave settles naturally, becoming part of the landscape once more. Visitors are reminded that this is a nature reserve first, and a cemetery second, where the environment is left wild, alive, and real.

The property is part of a working family farm, and that authenticity defines the experience. You may encounter farm animals or wildlife during your visit, and that’s by design, this is a resting place where human life and nature remain intertwined. Visitors are welcome to bring their own leashed pets to walk the land and share in its quiet peace.

Dust to Dust isn’t manicured or maintained like a traditional perpetual-care cemetery. Instead, it’s a living, breathing piece of land, cared for by time, weather, and the natural cycle of growth and decay. Each burial here reinforces a connection to the earth, honoring life through the act of returning fully to it.

��Kings Mountain Preserve Conservation Burial - Blackburn, SC

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just minutes from historic Kings Mountain State Park, lies Kings Mountain Preserve, a breathtaking 55-acre conservation burial ground that restores the sacred connection between people and the land.

Partnered with Upstate Forever Land Trust, the preserve is protected under a Perpetual Conservation Easement, ensuring its forests, creeks, and meadows remain untouched and preserved for generations to come. Majestic hardwoods, blooming dogwoods, and the gentle flow of Kings Creek create a landscape that feels more like a sanctuary than a cemetery.

As a Green Burial Council Certified conservation cemetery, Kings Mountain Preserve follows the highest ecological and ethical standards. Vaults are prohibited, embalming is only allowed with non-toxic solutions, and all caskets and shrouds must be 100% biodegradable. Families are invited to take part in the burial process, lowering their loved one into the earth by hand, closing the grave, and planting remembrance stones and native flora.

Every burial site is marked with a simple engraved river stone, blending seamlessly into the natural surroundings. With over three miles of scenic hiking trails, visitors can walk through the preserve and witness how every interment helps sustain this vibrant ecosystem of trees, wildflowers, and ferns.

Kings Mountain Preserve transcends the idea of what a cemetery can be, transforming it into a place of healing, life, and legacy. To be buried here is to become part of the forest itself, ensuring your final act gives back to the land that sustains us all.

�� Sacred Grove Green Burial Preseve, Charleston, SC

Sacred Grove Preserve is a conservation burial sanctuary nestled within the boundaries of Francis Marion National Forest, making it the first dedicated green burial preserve in the Charleston region.
Founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Sacred Grove was created to meet a growing need for death care that honors both the human spirit and the natural world. Here, burial is not viewed as an end—but as a sacred return to the land, where the body nourishes the soil and supports living ecosystems.

Sacred Grove’s practices reflect the highest green burial standards:

No embalming chemicals
No concrete vaults
No imported hardwoods
Only fully biodegradable burial materials

Each interment contributes directly to carbon sequestration, native habitat restoration, and long-term land stewardship, ensuring the land is protected for generations.

Rooted in interfaith values and open to all, Sacred Grove offers families a deeply personal way to honor their loved ones. It is a place of reflection, healing, and reconnection—where grief and legacy are held within a living, protected landscape.

Sacred Grove’s mission goes beyond burial. It seeks to transform how we relate to death, grief, and remembrance by offering a final resting place that gives back to the earth , honors life’s cycles, and safeguards sacred land into the future.

In a state shaped by its deep cultural roots, this shift carries profound meaning. For many, it’s about reclaiming the old ways, when burial was a family or community act, done with care and reverence. For others, it’s about stewardship, ensuring the land remains healthy for generations to come. Whatever the reason, the green burial movement here reminds us that returning to the soil isn’t just an ending, it’s a continuation of everything that’s ever grown in Southern ground.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial South Dakota

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:47:21 GMT

South Dakota: Space to Grow Something New

In South Dakota, the land feels endless, golden prairies stretching to meet the horizon, the quiet hum of wind through tall grass, and sky that seems to hold every season at once. It’s a place where people have always lived close to nature and relied on the land for their way of life. And yet, amid all that open space, there are no official green or conservation burial grounds—not yet.

That absence doesn’t mean the desire isn’t there. It simply means South Dakota is poised for pioneers once again. The state’s strong agricultural roots and conservation-minded communities make it a natural fit for families seeking a gentler, more sustainable way to return to the earth. Whether through faith-based cemeteries, family plots, or community land trusts, the foundation already exists for natural burial to take root here.

If you live in South Dakota and want to see green burial become available locally, one of the most effective steps is to approach an existing cemetery and ask them to consider creating a hybrid section. Many traditional cemeteries already have the space and legal structure, they simply need community interest. When you meet with the cemetery board or sexton, bring examples from nearby states like Minnesota or Nebraska, where hybrid models are thriving. Ask if they would allow biodegradable caskets or shrouds, and if vaults can be made optional. Often, one “yes” is enough to open the door for many.

South Dakota’s vast plains have always been a place of quiet renewal. With a little courage and conversation, they can become a place where even our final act nourishes the land we’ve loved all along. ��

��Mount Pleasant Cemetery (hybrid) - Souiz Falls, SD

At Mount Pleasant, we offer options to suit your individual needs and beliefs, from hybrid burials that blend traditional and green practices, to full natural burials. A truly "green" burial involves no embalming, vaults, or liners, and utilizes only biodegradable containers like caskets, shrouds, or even no container at all. This allows the body to return to the earth enriching the soil and fostering new life.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Tennessee

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:49:41 GMT

Tennessee

Tennessee’s hills hum with history, songs of mountains, rivers, and resilience. It’s a place where the land has always held meaning, and where community is woven into the landscape itself. That same spirit now guides the growing movement toward green and natural burial across the Volunteer State.

��Narrowridge Burial Preserve - Washburn, TN

In the peaceful hills of Grainger County, Tennessee, the Narrow Ridge Natural Burial Preserve offers a place where simplicity, reverence, and ecology meet. This 5-acre woodland burial ground honors the natural life cycle, allowing the human body to return to the earth gently, without embalming fluids, metal caskets, or concrete vaults.

Unlike conventional cemeteries that separate us from the soil, Narrow Ridge invites families to become part of the forest’s renewal. Graves are hand-dug or opened by a local operator, and each body is wrapped in a biodegradable shroud or placed in a simple wooden casket made from natural or reclaimed materials. Over time, the burial preserve will naturally reforest, a living memorial trail winding through trees, wildflowers, and birdsong.
Founded by the Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, the preserve embodies the center’s mission of sustainable living and spiritual ecology. Burial fees are donation-based, ensuring that every person, regardless of financial means, can choose an earth-friendly farewell. Memorial gatherings take place under a timber-frame pavilion that blends seamlessly with the landscape, offering space for reflection and community connection.

��Larkspur Conservation Burial - Westmoreland, TN

In the rolling hills just outside Nashville, Larkspur Conservation is redefining what it means to be laid to rest, not in a cemetery, but within a protected nature preserve. Stretching across meadows, forests, and wildflower fields, Larkspur is Tennessee’s first conservation burial ground, where every burial helps heal and protect the land.

At Larkspur, the land is permanently safeguarded by a conservation easement, held by an independent accredited land trust. This binding agreement ensures the forest will never be developed, no subdivisions, no pavement, no parking lots, only thriving ecosystems of oak, hickory, and native grasses. Each burial becomes part of that ecosystem, contributing both physically and financially to the land’s care and restoration.

Here, there is no embalming, no vaults, no metal or plastic, only natural materials that allow the body to return fully to the soil. The preserve’s team plants native species, pulls invasives, restores soil health, and tends the land with reverence. This is more than green burial, it’s reciprocity with the earth, a practice that turns loss into legacy and memory into restoration.

The Larkspur team walks families through every step of the process, from coordinating with funeral homes to preparing the grave and leading ceremonies. Each burial begins with a quiet procession through nature and ends with loved ones returning handfuls of earth to the grave. Flowers, pine needles, and song often close the ritual, leaving behind beauty and peace instead of sorrow.

Larkspur reminds us that we don’t need new laws or new technology to protect the planet, we need to protect the land itself. Conservation burial transforms the way we think about death, offering an alternative to consumption and pollution: one that sequesters carbon, creates wildlife habitat, and restores ecosystems for generations to come.

��Elmwood Cemetery (hybrid) - Memphis, TN

Elmwood Cemetery allows Green Burials. Green burials are an environmentally-conscious approach to interment. These burials typically involve a shroud or biodegradable casket without a burial vault or liner, and alternative use of embalming fluids. A licensed funeral director will be able to explain the process of Green Burials. Check with your local, trusted funeral homes to inquire about this safe alternative to traditional funeral practices. Headstones and monuments are allowed for Green Burials at Elmwood. The prices for Green Burials at Elmwood are the same as traditional interment services.

At the heart of Tennessee’s green burial movement is a love of place, one that values conservation, stewardship, and the peace that comes from knowing your final act gives back to the earth. Whether it’s a wildflower blooming where a grave once was, or a family gathering under the shade of native trees, Tennessee reminds us that death, too, can be an act of renewal.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Texas

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:42:37 GMT

Texas

In Texas, the land has always meant something sacred, vast skies stretching over prairies and mesquite, quiet hills that hold memory like heat. It’s a state defined by independence and by its deep relationship with the natural world. So it’s fitting that Texas was among the first to embrace natural and green burial, returning to the earth in a way that’s simple, sustainable, and true to the land itself.

��Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park - Cedar Creek, TX

In the heart of Central Texas, tucked among the trees of Cedar Creek near Austin, lies Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park, a peaceful woodland sanctuary where life and death are in harmony with nature. As one of the state’s earliest dedicated natural burial grounds, Eloise Woods has become a cherished place of simplicity, beauty, and renewal.
Founded on the belief that death can be a continuation of care for the planet by my mentor., Ellen Macdonald, Eloise Woods provides natural burials in harmony with the land, following the high standards of the Green Burial Council. Every burial is done without embalming, concrete vaults, or toxic materials. Bodies are laid to rest in biodegradable shrouds or simple wooden caskets at a depth that allows nature’s own microbes and oxygen to complete the cycle of return.

The park serves as both a burial ground and a wildlife preserve. With walking trails winding through wildflower meadows, oak groves, and native habitat, it offers a place for families to visit, reflect, and connect. No artificial flowers or decorations are permitted, only Texas native plants, natural stones, and wildflower seeds, so the land remains vibrant and ecologically sound.

At Eloise Woods, nature is the monument. Flat native stones, no taller than three inches, mark each resting place, blending into the woodland floor. The goal isn’t to impose permanence on the landscape but to let it thrive, to create a legacy of clean air, pure water, and living habitat for generations to come.
Natural burial here is more than an ecological act, it’s emotional and deeply human. As seasons shift, so do the colors, textures, and sounds of the forest, creating what scholars call a “therapeutic landscape”, a place where grief and nature coexist, and where each visit reflects the changing rhythm of life itself.

��Countryside Memorial Park - La Vernia, TX

Just outside San Antonio, Countryside Memorial Park offers a place of serenity and simplicity, a natural burial ground where families can return their loved ones to the earth in the purest, most natural way possible. Founded by Dr. A.D. Zucht III, a visionary dentist, balloonist, and entrepreneur, Countryside reflects his belief that death, like life, should be rooted in authenticity and respect for nature.
When Dr. Zucht passed away, his daughter Chrysta Bell Zucht and her mother Sunny Markham carried his dream forward. Together, they transformed Countryside Memorial Park into a thriving sanctuary for green burial. Chrysta Bell, a world-touring artist and actress known for Twin Peaks: The Return, uses her platform to educate others about sustainable deathcare, while Sunny leads families through the burial process with compassion and care.
At Countryside, burial is performed at a shallow, natural depth of about three feet, where microbes and oxygen work together to return the body to the soil swiftly and safely. There are no vaults, toxic chemicals, or metal caskets, only biodegradable materials like shrouds, reeds, bamboo, or wooden caskets. Families are welcome to help close the grave themselves, a final, loving gesture that reconnects them to the earth and the person they’ve lost.
The cemetery’s natural landscape, a mix of open Texas sky, wildflowers, and historic grounds, invites reflection and participation. Families can plant native trees or shrubs, place flat engraved stone markers, and decorate graves with biodegradable flowers or simple tokens of love. Everything here is designed to protect the integrity and wild beauty of the land.

��Blazing Star Sanctuary in Coastal Prarie Conservancy - Katy, TX

On the open grasslands west of Houston, Blazing Star Sanctuary is transforming the way Texans think about burial, land, and legacy. This new conservation cemetery, part of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, is restoring one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth, the tallgrass prairie, while creating a place of remembrance that will last forever.

Unlike traditional cemeteries, Blazing Star is designed as a nature sanctuary first. Each burial contributes directly to prairie restoration and conservation, no vaults, no embalming, no concrete, only biodegradable materials that allow the body to return fully to the soil. Burial sites are chosen with deep respect for the land’s natural contours, and small, flat markers ensure that the landscape remains open and wild.
Less than 1% of Texas’s original tallgrass prairie still exists, but the work at Blazing Star is helping to change that. The preserve’s caretakers are reintroducing native wildflowers, grasses, and pollinators, building healthy soil, and restoring wetland habitats that once defined the Gulf Coast region. By 2025, thousands of native plants will once again cover the memorial grasslands, providing vital refuge for migratory birds and wildlife.

Every burial and every scattering here provides tangible environmental benefits, sequestering carbon, filtering water, improving air quality, and reducing flooding. The sanctuary’s partnership with the Coastal Prairie Conservancy ensures the land will be protected in perpetuity, never to be developed or lost to urban sprawl.

��Campo De Estrellas - Smithville, TX

In the quiet countryside of Bastrop County, near Smithville, Texas, a new kind of burial ground is taking shape, one that gives back to the land rather than taking from it. Campo de Estrellas Conservation Cemetery is rewilding nine acres of former cattle pasture, transforming it into a thriving ecosystem where people, pets, and the planet coexist in balance.
Set within the 30-acre property of Abbey Grange Farm, Campo de Estrellas is part of a larger vision: to restore biodiversity and let the land heal itself. The cemetery follows strict green burial practices, no embalming, no concrete vaults, and no non-biodegradable materials. Every casket, shroud, and flower placed here must return naturally to the earth. Only native Texas plants are used to mark graves, ensuring that each resting place blends seamlessly into the ecosystem.
Campo de Estrellas goes beyond green burial because it’s part of a rewilding project, reviving the natural rhythms of East Texas. By restoring native vegetation, supporting wildlife habitats, and encouraging the presence of species like deer, wild turkeys, predatory birds, coyotes, and even wild hogs, the preserve is rebuilding a self-sustaining, balanced ecosystem. Every interment directly supports this ecological renewal.

��Unbroken Circle Cemetery - Atascosa, TX

Sacred burial provides a deep connection to the land for family and friends whose loved ones are here on this conserved land, the home of San Antonio’s green cemetery. Specifically designed to save and restore significant wildlands and habitats, Unbroken Circle Green Cemetery has fewer interments than usual cemeteries. To that end, family and friends will experience a closer emotional connection with a natural burial experience. Most importantly, you protect the environment, take care of our planet, preserve the natural habitat, reduce your carbon footprint, and remain financially responsible.

��Mountain Creek Cemetery (hybrid) - Grand Prarie, TX

At Mountain Creek Cemetery, we provide a peaceful resting place where families can honor their loved ones with dignity, compassion, and care. Located in Grand Prairie, Texas, we offer traditional burials, green options, and urn interments—all in a serene setting designed to bring comfort and connection. Here, every memory is cherished, and every legacy continues to bloom,

��Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery (hybrid) - Georgetown, TX

There is nothing traditional about conventional burial. Over the last decade, traditional (green) burial has been overran by new products and a one size fits all mind-set. The current trend of conventional burial says we should be handled by strangers, filled with poisonous chemicals, sealed away in a mass produced casket and be placed in yet another container to seal us away from nature.

From the peaceful meadows of Countryside Memorial Park near San Antonio to the wooded trails of Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens, Texans are rediscovering that caring for the dead can also mean caring for the soil. These sanctuaries prove that dignity doesn’t require concrete or chemicals, only intention, community, and love of place.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Vermont

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:23:00 GMT

Vermont

In Vermont, the land itself feels like an invitation to slow down, to breathe, to listen, and to belong. Known for its deep woods, winding streams, and strong environmental ethic, Vermont has long understood the value of living gently on the Earth. It’s only natural, then, that this understanding now extends into death.

��Vermont Forest Cemetery - Roxbury, VT

Deep in the heart of the Green Mountains lies Vermont Forest Cemetery, the state’s first forest cemetery is a 56-acre woodland dedicated entirely to natural burial. Here, the trees, soil, and wildlife are the caretakers, and every burial becomes a quiet act of reciprocity between people and the land that sustained them in life.
Unlike manicured lawns or rows of headstones, Vermont Forest Cemetery rests in an upland mixed hardwood forest, where maples, birches, and ferns define the landscape. This isn’t just a place to lay the body, it’s a living ecosystem. Over time, the body nourishes the soil, becoming part of the forest itself. Graves are chosen with intention, blending naturally into the terrain, and simple markers of native stone serve as quiet reminders of the lives once rooted here.
At Vermont Forest Cemetery, families don’t just attend a burial, they take part in it. Loved ones are encouraged to help open the grave, carry the body, lower it by hand, and fill the grave with earth, accompanied by the support of compassionate staff. These shared, physical rituals bring healing and presence, transforming what’s often seen as somber into something profoundly connective and sacred.

��Higher Ground Conservation Burial - Williamsville, VT

Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Vermont, Higher Ground Conservation Burial offers more than a final resting place, it’s a community woven into the living forest. Part sanctuary, part movement, this sacred woodland honors both the human spirit and the wild land it rests upon.
Higher Ground’s story begins with Pam, a longtime steward of the land, who wished to “become one” with the forest she helped protect. When she died, her winter burial among the trees became the seed of what would grow into Vermont’s newest conservation burial ground. Months later, her dear friend Rupa joined her, carried to her resting place by flute, drum, and the hands of over 100 friends who danced, sang, and returned her to the soil. Their stories became the foundation for Higher Ground, a place where the line between life, death, and land blurs into unity.

In the wake of those first burials, a group called Caring for Our Own was born, neighbors and friends exploring home funerals, natural burial, and how to care for one another in both life and death. Today, they meet monthly (both on Zoom and on-site) to share wisdom, stories, and stewardship of the forest. It’s a living example of community-based deathcare, where the same people who hike, plant trees, and clear trails also tend the graves and support the grieving.
Located on unceded Abenaki territory, the 5-acre burial area sits within a larger protected forest managed with a deep respect for ecology and heritage. Mature oaks, birch, and ash trees form the canopy; trails wind gently through mossy slopes and ancient “pillows and cradles” where trees once fell centuries ago. Every burial here is natural, no embalming, no vaults, no metal, and every interment supports ongoing forest restoration, soil enrichment, and biodiversity.

Vermont’s green cemeteries remind us that death need not disturb nature, it can complete it. Each resting place here is part of a larger story of conservation and community stewardship, ensuring that the hills, forests, and wildflowers that cradle the dead today will continue to shelter life for generations to come. ��

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Virginia

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:14:55 GMT

Virginia

Virginia’s story is steeped in history, from Revolutionary soil to rolling Blue Ridge forests, this is a state where the land remembers. And now, it’s also becoming a place where people are reimagining what it means to rest within that land. Across the Commonwealth, a quiet movement toward green and conservation burial is taking root, one that honors ancestry, preserves ecosystems, and restores balance between human life and the natural world.

��Forest Rest Natural Cemetery - Boones Mill, VA

Tucked within the quiet woods of Boones Mill, Forest Rest Natural Cemetery offers something rare in southwest Virginia, a place to return to the earth naturally, without embalming, vaults, or excess. Surrounded by native trees and birdsong, it’s a serene sanctuary where simplicity meets sustainability, allowing loved ones to rest gently within the soil that sustains all life.
At Forest Rest, there’s no need for heavy metal caskets or toxic chemicals. Families can choose a shroud, favorite blanket, or biodegradable pine or wicker casket, embracing a gentler approach to burial. Graves can even be dug by hand, reducing emissions and deepening the personal connection to the land.
Located adjacent to Mountain View Burial Park, Forest Rest is the only certified natural cemetery in southwest Virginia, spanning over a hundred miles in every direction. It fills a vital gap for families seeking a return to traditional, meaningful, and environmentally conscious burial practices between Lexington, VA and Raleigh, NC.

�� Duck Run Cemetery - Penn Laid, VA

Nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Duck Run Natural Cemetery in Penn Laird is Virginia’s first 100% natural cemetery, redefining what it means to rest lightly on the earth. This peaceful 8-acre sanctuary, designed to expand to 113 acres over time, offers both traditional green burial lots and an innovative concept rarely seen in the U.S.: 75-year renewable plots.
Each renewable lot at Duck Run is leased for 75 years, a timespan chosen to ensure complete natural decomposition while allowing up to four generations of family to visit the resting place. After that period, the lot may be renewed or returned to the land for another natural burial. It’s a model of true sustainability, one that honors the cyclical nature of life and death.

Duck Run was once a dairy farm, now, it’s being lovingly restored into a thriving ecosystem. Certified by the Green Burial Council, the cemetery’s restoration efforts help rebuild native habitat, conserve resources, and protect soil and water quality. Walking trails wind through meadows and woodland, while scattering gardens offer another gentle way to return ashes to the earth.

There are no vaults, no metal caskets, and no embalming chemicals at Duck Run. Families may choose biodegradable shrouds, wicker caskets, or pine boxes, and each grave is marked with a simple fieldstone or native plant. For those seeking connection and simplicity, the experience here evokes the original meaning of “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

��Panorama Natural Burial - Earlysville, VA

In the rolling hills of Earlysville, Virginia, Panorama Natural Burial carries forward a legacy of love for land, life, and community. Founded in 1953 by James “Jim” Murray and Jean “Bunny” Murray, Panorama Farms began as a place of stewardship and service, and now, it’s where their family continues their mission by offering Virginia’s most exceptional natural burial experience.
Jim and Bunny devoted their lives to thoughtful land care, transforming Panorama Farms from a working farm into a hub for organic composting, conservation, and community recreation. When they passed, their final wish was fulfilled in the most poetic way, returning their bodies to the same earth they had nurtured, in simple, regenerative burials that mirrored their lifelong values.

What makes Panorama extraordinary is its living energy. Wildlife flourishes among native grasses, dogs trot the trails beside visitors, and Tree Stewards and local conservation groups gather for restoration and educational work. The upcoming Restoration Committee (2024) will guide efforts to restore meadows and forests, ensuring that every burial strengthens the ecosystem that sustains it.

��Cool Springs Natural Cemetery at Holy Cross Abbey - Berrysville, VA

Tucked beside the Shenandoah River and framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Cool Spring Natural Cemetery rests on the sacred grounds of Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia, a place where prayer, peace, and reverence for the land have guided life for over sixty years.
Maintained and managed by the Cistercian monks of Holy Cross Abbey, this natural cemetery reflects a centuries-old monastic devotion to stewardship and hospitality. Burial here is more than a final resting place, it’s a continuation of the monks’ contemplative relationship with the land and the sacred rhythm of life and death.

The monks describe Cool Spring as “a tangible extension of our life of worship and care for creation.” To be buried here is to join a living monastic tradition, one rooted in humility, respect for all life, and communion with the natural world.
While consecrated as a Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cool Spring welcomes people of all faiths and beliefs who wish for a natural return to the earth. Embalming, vaults, and metal caskets are not permitted. Instead, burials take place in biodegradable containers, with simple engraved fieldstones from the Abbey grounds marking each grave.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Washington

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:04:29 GMT

Washington

Washington State has become one of the most transformative landscapes in America’s natural deathcare movement. From the mist-covered forests of the Cascades to the golden hills of the Columbia Gorge, this region has long inspired people to live and die in harmony with the land. It’s no surprise that Washington is now home to some of the most progressive and ecologically rooted burial and disposition options in the country.

��White Eagle Memorial Preserve at Ekone Ranch - Goldendale, WA

High above the Columbia River Gorge, where the oak and ponderosa forest meets sweeping meadow and canyon, lies White Eagle Memorial Preserve (WEMP), one of the most breathtaking conservation burial grounds in the Pacific Northwest.

Founded in 2008 and licensed by the State of Washington, White Eagle spans 20 acres within a 1,283-acre wilderness permanently protected by the Sacred Earth Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also stewards the beloved Ekone Ranch. This landscape is alive, home to deer, coyotes, cougars, eagles, turkeys, steelhead, and even the occasional bear or lynx. Here, life and death are woven into one continuous ecosystem of respect and renewal.
White Eagle’s mission is simple and profound: “To steward and protect this ecosystem, and to provide families with meaningful conservation burial opportunities.”

Those who choose burial here return to the earth as part of an ongoing act of love, nourishing the soil and strengthening the web of life. Each grave restores rather than disturbs, turning death into a gift to the living landscape.
White Eagle is an extension of Ekone Ranch, a community founded through the vision of Ray Mitchell, a horse-whispering teacher, land steward, and conservationist who dedicated 30 years to protecting this wilderness. His legacy continues through children’s summer camps, adult quests, and wilderness programs that connect people deeply to the natural world.

The land’s first stewards were the Rock Creek Band of the Yakama Nation, and its canyons and valleys remain sacred gathering places. Today, White Eagle honors that lineage of care and connection, inviting people of all walks of life to return naturally to the soil of this ancient place.

�� Herland Forest Natural Burial Cemetery - Klickitat County, WA

At the meeting point between Washington’s lush western forests and the golden eastern highlands, Herland Forest stands as a living sanctuary, a permaculture-based natural burial ground dedicated to returning each person to the circle of life. Managed by the Windward Community, this nonprofit cemetery merges sustainability, education, and deep spiritual respect for the land.

Herland Forest is home to Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, ancient oaks, and chestnut, walnut, and ginkgo trees, all forming a thriving mosaic of native and cultivated life. Every grave here becomes part of a regenerative cycle, a resting place that blossoms each spring into wildflowers and forest renewal. “We delight in transforming graves into bouquets of flowers that herald the annual return of spring.” ��

This 40-acre forest near the Columbia River Gorge serves not only as sacred burial ground but also as a research and restoration project, using permaculture and wildfire resilience practices to protect the Cascadian landscape.
At Herland, death is not an end, it’s an act of creation. Each burial is non-toxic and biodegradable, free of embalming and metal caskets, ensuring that bodies nourish soil and seed new life. Through natural burial, each person becomes part of an ancient cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth.

��The Meadow (hybrid) - Bellingham, WA

The Meadow Natural Burial Ground at Greenacres Memorial Park allows families the option to lay loved ones to rest in a serene and natural environment.

Everything placed in the ground at The Meadow is nontoxic and biodegradable, allowing it to return to the earth. In addition, each burial contributes to the ongoing restoration of The Meadow as a thriving, native ecosystem. As part of the restoration plan, each family is given the option to have three native plants planted in the memory of their loved one. Also available for memorialization are boulder-sized, engraved river rocks.

These grounds are kept as a natural area. Maintenance is minimal and does not involve irrigation, fertilizers, regular mowing, or pruning. In addition, integrated pest management is used to manage invasive species. The Meadow is one example of Moles’ value of community stewardship. We are committed to acting responsibly with what has been entrusted to us.

��Riverside Memorial Park (hybrid) - Spokane, WA

Verbage on the website is very marketed, but the photos are beautiful, so see if it resonates with you.

��Hillcrest Cemetery (hybrid) - Bainbridge Island, WA

An existing cemetery that has allowed unembalmed and unvaulted body burial.

��Sumner Cemetery (hybrid) - Puyallup, WA

��Woodlawn Cemetery (hybrid) - Snohomish, WA

Early 2009, Woodlawn Cemetery dedicated a specific piece of land for the use of Green Burials.

There are several old burials scattered throughout this section dating back to 1891 and 1892; making this new trend in burials not so new at all. In fact, this is more of a traditional burial from the “old days”.

Some of the headstones in this section are the original markers from the 1800’s showing the amazing history of one family’s surname change throughout the past 120 years.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial West Virginia

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:48:35 GMT

West Virginia

West Virginia’s rolling hills, quiet hollers, and ancient forests have long held a deep connection to the land, a place where life and death both find their peace in nature. While the state currently has no officially designated green burial grounds, its people have always lived close to the earth, making natural burial not a new idea, but rather a return to the old ways.

Families across Appalachia have been caring for their own dead for generations, bathing, wrapping, and burying loved ones on family land or small church plots without chemicals, vaults, or excess. In many ways, the foundation for green burial already exists here; it simply needs to be reclaimed, recognized, and reintroduced to modern cemeteries that are open to change.

�� How to Approach Existing Cemeteries About Green Burial

If you live in West Virginia and want to help bring green burial options to your community, start by reaching out to existing cemeteries or local funeral directors. Many traditional cemeteries can, and do, accommodate natural burials within their existing grounds; they just may not have been asked yet.

Here’s how to start the conversation:

Ask about vaults. Request to waive the requirement for a concrete burial vault. Cemeteries are legally allowed to make exceptions if they choose.
Discuss biodegradable materials. Ask if they will accept shrouds or biodegradable caskets without metal or varnish.
Offer education. Share resources from the Green Burial Council and examples of cemeteries in neighboring states like Virginia or Pennsylvania that already allow natural burials.
Frame it as stewardship. Emphasize that green burial supports soil health, preserves open space, and reduces long-term maintenance costs, aligning perfectly with West Virginia’s conservation values.
Build community interest. If multiple families request eco-friendly options, cemeteries are far more likely to create a dedicated green section.

�� Honoring the Land, Preserving the Legacy

In a state where families have always looked after their own and land is sacred, green burial is a natural fit. The call now is to revive old traditions under a new name, one that celebrates renewal, simplicity, and respect for the wild Appalachian landscape.

Green Burial Wisconsin

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:27:37 GMT

Wisconsin

Wisconsin holds a special place in the green burial movement, home to some of the earliest and most spiritually grounded natural cemeteries in the country. From sacred Pagan woodlands and prairie restoration projects to arboretum burials in the heart of Milwaukee, this state reminds us that death and renewal are inseparable parts of the same natural cycle.

Across Wisconsin, you’ll find places where wildflowers grow in place of headstones, where families gather under oak canopies instead of chapels, and where conservation and commemoration walk hand in hand.

��Natural Path Sanctuary, Verona, WI

Just outside Madison, in the rolling meadows and quiet woods of the Linda & Gene Farley Center for Peace, Justice, and Sustainability, lies Natural Path Sanctuary, 25 acres of forest and prairie where the fullness of life beautifully balances the sorrow of death. Here, burial is not about separation from the earth, but about returning to it, nourishing new growth and continuing the cycle of life.
June 2011 Natural Path Sanctuary opened as Wisconsin’s first green cemetery, located within the Farley Center’s conservation land. It remains one of the few burial grounds in the country directly tied to an educational and social justice mission, promoting sustainability in life, death, and everything between.
Every burial at Natural Path Sanctuary supports more than just the land, it sustains the Farley Center’s programs in peace, justice, sustainability, and local farming. Proceeds and legacy donations help fund farm incubators, community gardens, and global initiatives aimed at creating a more just and equitable world. In this way, even after death, those buried here continue Linda’s work of healing people and the planet.
Walking the wooded trails of Natural Path Sanctuary, visitors find a quiet, sacred balance, where mourning and gratitude coexist, and where wildflowers, birds, and sunlight move among the natural markers of those returned to the soil. Families are invited to visit anytime during daylight hours to rest, reflect, and remember.

��Sòlas Natural Burial Preserve, Middleton, WI

Just outside of Madison, Sòlas Natural Burial Preserve offers a modern, mindful approach to returning to the earth. This 20-acre sanctuary is officially certified by the Green Burial Council, ensuring that every burial helps protect soil health, water quality, and local biodiversity.

Sòlas (pronounced “SO-lahs,” meaning “comfort” or “light” in Gaelic) was founded with the mission of creating a burial ground that feels alive, a place for both remembrance and renewal. The preserve is home to winding walking trails, native wildflowers, and restored prairie grasses. Visitors are encouraged to walk, reflect, and find peace in the simplicity of nature.

No metal. No concrete. No polished stone.
Each burial here honors the earth through biodegradable materials only , simple shrouds, untreated wood, or natural fiber caskets. There are no vaults, no embalming, and no non-degradable materials allowed. Even grave markers blend with the landscape: families may choose a native plant, tree, or flower to honor their loved one, or opt for a simple flat fieldstone.
Sòlas blends ancient wisdom with modern tools. Every burial site is marked by GPS and recorded digitally. Families can also choose a Digital Headstone™ a personalized online page that serves as a living memorial, accessible from anywhere in the world.
In addition to human burials, pet burials are welcome in a designated section of the preserve, offering a way to reunite companions in a shared resting place. There’s also a special Veterans’ area to honor those who have served, with equal respect for environmental integrity.

�� C ircle Cemetery at Circle Sanctuary, Barneveld, WI

Tucked into the rolling hills of southwest Wisconsin, Circle Cemetery is one of the oldest green cemeteries in the United States and the very first to be established on a nature preserve. Founded in 1995, this 20-acre cemetery rests within the 200-acre Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, a sacred space where forest, prairie, and spirituality intertwine.
Circle Cemetery was created to honor the dead while protecting the living landscape, combining natural burial with environmental conservation. Burials here return bodies to the earth without embalming, vaults, or metal caskets, using only biodegradable shrouds, pine boxes, or wicker caskets. Cremated remains may also be scattered or interred among the woodlands and restored prairie.

Each resting place is simple and natural, some marked by flat granite stones, others left unmarked, blending seamlessly with the land. This quiet humility allows the forest and prairie to remain alive and unbroken, honoring both the earth and those who rest within it.
Operated by Circle Sanctuary, an international Nature Spirituality church and resource center, Circle Cemetery serves practitioners of Paganism, Wicca, and other nature-honoring paths, as well as individuals of diverse beliefs seeking a sacred connection to the natural world.

Atop the forested ridge lies Veterans’ Ridge, where Pagan and Wiccan veterans are honored with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs–issued gravestones. It stands as one of the few places in the nation where Pagan veterans are officially recognized for their service.

The cemetery features multiple outdoor spaces for funerals, memorials, and rituals, including a microlithic Stone Circle in an oak grove on a natural mound. Visitors are welcome for special events throughout the year, from quiet memorial days to large seasonal gatherings celebrating the cycles of nature.

Circle Sanctuary itself, founded in 1974 by Rev. Selena Fox, serves as a global center for education, interfaith dialogue, environmental preservation, and Nature-based spiritual practice. The organization hosts festivals, classes, and ceremonies that honor the turning of the seasons, including Samhain, Beltane, and the Pagan Spirit Gathering, one of the largest Pagan festivals in the country.

More than just a cemetery, Circle Sanctuary embodies a vision of spiritual ecology, a world where people live and die in harmony with nature. The preserve’s forests, meadows, and prairies are protected through active conservation, restoration, and community stewardship.

��Prairie Rest at Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum, Milwaukee, WI

In the heart of Milwaukee’s historic Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum, a new chapter in sustainable remembrance is blooming, Prairie Rest, the cemetery’s dedicated green burial section.

Here, native wildflowers sway among prairie grasses, birds nest in restored habitat, and the cycle of life continues uninterrupted. Prairie Rest honors both heritage and habitat, blending the cemetery’s 170-year legacy with a forward-thinking commitment to the planet.
Every green burial at Prairie Rest uses biodegradable caskets, shrouds, or urns, ensuring the body returns gently to the soil and enriches the ecosystem. There are no concrete vaults, metal hardware, or chemical preservatives, just earth, air, and renewal.

The design of Prairie Rest reflects Wisconsin’s natural beauty, open meadows framed by granite boulders that serve as shared monuments, engraved with names and dates of those who rest nearby. Families can locate their loved one’s resting place using GPS coordinates, merging ancient simplicity with modern connection.
Green burial at Prairie Rest is not only a gift to nature, it’s also one of the most affordable burial options available. Families can pre-purchase property and burial fees, with options for family and companion plots nestled within the prairie’s edge.
Founded in 1850, Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum was one of America’s earliest garden-style cemeteries, designed as a peaceful rural retreat where people could stroll among trees, monuments, and artful plantings. Today, the addition of Prairie Rest extends that vision, protecting biodiversity while continuing the site’s tradition of beauty, reflection, and public access.

Visitors can explore nearly 200 acres of certified arboretum land, where historic architecture meets living ecology, a landscape that reminds us that life, death, and renewal are all part of one great cycle.

��Prairie Green at Greenwood Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI

Nestled beside Forest Home Cemetery’s historic grounds, Prairie Green at Greenwood Cemetery offers a beautiful union of faith, tradition, and sustainability, one of Wisconsin’s first Green Burial Council–certified Jewish cemeteries.

Here, the prairie hums with life, wildflowers, tall grasses, and native trees create a tranquil landscape where burials return gently to the earth. Prairie Green is both a renewal of ancient Jewish burial customs and a reflection of modern ecological awareness, proving that honoring life and caring for the planet can go hand in hand.
For centuries, Jewish burial practices have aligned seamlessly with the core principles of green burial, simplicity, humility, and respect for the natural cycle of life and death. Like traditional Jewish funerals, green burials at Prairie Green avoid embalming, use biodegradable shrouds or caskets, and forgo vaults, allowing the body to decompose naturally and nourish the land.
Prairie Green was developed following Green Burial Council standards, ensuring that each interment supports the health of the land. Burials are made directly into the earth, surrounded by native plantings that restore biodiversity and invite pollinators to thrive.

Rather than upright headstones, memorial boulders line the prairie’s edge. Skilled inscription artists engrave each name and date into natural stone, connecting loved ones to the land they now nurture. Each site can be located by GPS coordinates, allowing visitors to honor their loved ones while preserving the natural flow of the prairie.
Founded in 1872, Greenwood Cemetery is one of Milwaukee’s oldest active Jewish cemeteries, independent, nontraditional, and inclusive. It welcomes non-Jewish spouses and children to rest alongside their loved ones, emphasizing that family unity and compassion transcend boundaries.

Though Greenwood began as a German Jewish cemetery, it has evolved to serve Milwaukee’s wider Jewish community for over 150 years. Its partnership with neighboring Forest Home Cemetery ensures the grounds are beautifully maintained, dignified, and serene.
Prairie Green represents the best of both worlds, an environmentally conscious choice grounded in timeless spiritual values. It honors the past, sustains the present, and safeguards the earth for the generations yet to come.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial North Dakota

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:18:36 GMT

North Dakota

North Dakota currently has no dedicated green burial cemeteries, but the open prairies, quiet forests, and deep respect for the land make it an ideal state to bring natural burial forward. The good news? Nothing in North Dakota law prohibits it.

�� Where North Dakota Stands
Most cemeteries in the state follow traditional practices involving vaults, embalming, and non-biodegradable materials. However, these requirements are cemetery policies, not state laws. That means families, faith groups, or conservation organizations can legally establish natural or hybrid cemeteries, with local zoning and health department approval.

�� How to Start a Green Burial Ground

Partner with an existing cemetery to set aside a section that eliminates vaults and embalming, a simple, low-cost way to start a hybrid model.
Form a conservation partnership with land trusts or park agencies to dedicate a portion of land for natural burials.
Explore family burial plots, permitted on private land with proper recording and local consent, as small-scale, legal natural burial options.
Raise awareness through community meetings, churches, and local media to build public understanding and demand.

�� Regional Neighbors Leading the Way
North Dakotans can look to Minnesota and Montana for examples, both states have conservation and hybrid cemeteries that balance burial with environmental care. Their success shows what’s possible with community effort.

�� Why It Matters
Creating a green burial ground in North Dakota would honor the state’s land and heritage, offering families a simple, affordable, and ecological choice. The potential is already here, it just needs a group willing to take the first step.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Wyoming

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:50:19 GMT

Wyoming

Wide-open skies. Endless horizons. Land that humbles you with its beauty.

Wyoming’s vast wilderness feels like the most natural place in the world to return to the earth,and yet, there are currently no official green or conservation burial grounds in the state.

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It just means the opportunity is wide open for those ready to lead the way.

Wyoming’s laws already make natural burial possible on private or family-owned land. In most rural counties, burials can occur legally as long as the land is registered as a cemetery with the county clerk and follows local zoning and water setback requirements. No state law requires embalming, vaults, or even the use of a funeral home.

That means you can:
�� Bury naturally on private property (with county registration).
�� Start a nonprofit or community burial ground on conserved land.
�� Partner with local ranchers or land trusts to protect open space through conservation burial.

Imagine it, a Wyoming conservation cemetery set among sagebrush, cottonwoods, and mountain views, where burial becomes part of land restoration. A place where native grasses and wildflowers reclaim the soil and pronghorn wander through the same pastures where generations once worked the land. ��

If you’re someone who loves this land and wants to protect it long after you’re gone, Wyoming is ready for you to make that dream a reality. Green burial here isn’t about changing the West, it’s about honoring it.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Utah

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:47:31 GMT

Utah

Utah’s vast deserts, red canyons, and alpine forests are among the most breathtaking landscapes in the country, yet, as of today, the Beehive State has no officially designated green or conservation burial cemeteries . Still, that doesn’t mean natural burial isn’t possible here. With a little community effort, Utahns can bring the movement home.

�� What’s Legal in Utah
Natural burial is fully legal in Utah. State law does not require embalming, vaults, or metal caskets, meaning any existing cemetery can offer a green burial section by simply adjusting its rules. Families also have the right to choose home funerals and may bury loved ones on private land if local zoning allows.

�� Neighboring Options
For those seeking certified natural burial now, nearby states offer several excellent options:

Colorado – Home to the renowned Crestone End of Life Project and Colorado Burial Preserve , both deeply rooted in ecological stewardship.
Arizona – Marana Mortuary & Cemetery and Joshua Tree Memorial Park offer natural burial in the desert landscape.
Nevada – Eastside Memorial Park includes a green burial section.

�� How to Bring Green Burial to Utah
Starting one here isn’t as difficult as it sounds.

Partner with local land trusts or conservation groups to protect land through a perpetual easement.
Collaborate with existing cemeteries to open hybrid sections — simply removing vault and embalming requirements qualifies as green.
Engage community allies — faith leaders, funeral directors, and environmental groups can all help shift policy and awareness.
Connect with the Green Burial Council , who can provide certification guidance and model bylaws for creating a natural or conservation cemetery.

�� A State Ready for Renewal
Utah’s strong conservation ethic, from its national parks to its public lands, makes it a natural fit for this movement. The same reverence that draws people to Moab’s sandstone cliffs or Zion’s canyon trails can also guide how we return to the earth, gently, naturally, and sustainably.

There may be no green burial grounds in Utah yet, but the land is waiting, and the people who love it can be the ones to make it happen.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Nebraska

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:41:10 GMT

Nebraska

At present, Nebraska does not have any active green burial cemeteries. Families seeking a natural return to the earth must look to neighboring states: Iowa , Missouri , and Colorado all offer dedicated green burial sites and conservation cemeteries.

Traditional cemeteries in the state still rely heavily on vaults, embalming, and non-biodegradable materials. But nothing in Nebraska law outright prohibits green burial. This means that families, faith communities, or conservation groups can take steps to create hybrid or conservation-based cemeteries here.

�� How to Establish One

Hybrid Cemeteries – Existing cemeteries can dedicate a section to natural burials, skipping vaults, embalming, and metal caskets.
Private or Family Burial Grounds – State law allows for burials on private land with proper permits and local approval, which can serve as small-scale natural cemeteries.
Conservation Partnerships – Nebraska’s prairies and river valleys make ideal settings for conservation burial, where land trusts partner with communities to preserve land while offering sustainable interment.
Community Advocacy – The most important step is demand. When enough families ask, funeral directors and cemetery boards are more likely to respond by adding green burial options.

�� Why It Matters
A Nebraska green burial ground would not only provide more affordable and eco-friendly options, but also help protect the land for future generations. Families wouldn’t need to travel across state lines to honor their loved ones in a natural way.

For now, Nebraskans may need to look toward Iowa , Missouri , or Colorado , but with awareness and community effort, Nebraska has all the potential to bring green burial home.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Mississippi

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:37:54 GMT

Mississippi

Mississippi currently has no dedicated green burial cemetery , but the groundwork for sustainable burials already exists in the state’s laws and land use traditions.

�� What the Law Allows
You can bury a loved one on private property (with permission and proper documentation). There’s no state law forcing you to use a casket or vault, in fact, funeral providers are required to accept alternative containers.
These allowances mean that green burial practices (no embalming, biodegradable shrouds or caskets) are legally feasible within Mississippi’s framework.

�� What’s Missing: Infrastructure & Awareness
The biggest challenge isn’t the law, it’s that no land has been dedicated, no conservation or hybrid cemeteries have been established, and many people don’t yet know green burial is an option.

�� How to Make a Change

Engage local landowners or conservation groups to set aside acreage for a natural burial preserve.
Work with a local cemetery to designate a “green section” (hybrid model).
Raise public awareness and build community support, the more people ask for green burial, the more pressure for change.
Understand trust and perpetual care law- any cemetery must comply with state rules for perpetual care cemeteries, or seek exemptions when applicable.

Mississippi’s law gives us room to build. Green burial may not be here yet, but it can be, with vision, collaboration, and persistence.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Minnesota

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:35:21 GMT

Minnesota

��Prarie Oaks Garden Eco Cemetery - I nver Grove Heights, MN

Prairie Oaks Memorial Eco Gardens stands as the state’s first dedicated green cemetery, a place where remembrance and ecological care are inseparable. The grounds combine prairie restoration, natural burial, and community gathering spaces, making it both cemetery and living landscape.
At Prairie Oaks, burials are carried out without embalming, vaults, or metal caskets. Families may choose biodegradable shrouds or containers, ensuring each grave returns gently to the soil while contributing to prairie renewal.
The cemetery doubles as a conservation site, where grasses, wildflowers, and native species are nurtured. Each interment supports habitat restoration, creating a vibrant environment for pollinators, birds, and wildlife.

Prairie Oaks also serves as a space for education and community engagement. Its design encourages visitors to walk the grounds, reflect, and connect with the cycles of nature.

For Minnesota families, Prairie Oaks represents both a farewell and a gift, a final act that leaves behind beauty, habitat, and ecological balance.

��Loving Memorial Gardens - Carlton County, MN

Twenty acres of restored pollinator habitat will help create a new beginning for an ancient burial tradition

Open prairie, wildflower-lined trails and thousands of pollinators buzzing and fluttering under a Minnesota sky will not only soon make Loving Earth the ideal place to be laid to rest, it’s also the ideal place for visitors to remember their loved ones. And, while peace and tranquility can be found here, the real peace will come with knowing your final decisions will make a positive difference for generations to come.

The scattering meadow will let you return your loved one’s ashes to the Earth and be memorialized by native wildflowers. They recognize that often, when a loved one is cremated, we’re at a loss as to what we should do with the cremains. We can be torn as to when or where to scatter them, but we will provide the place as well as the purpose for memorializing your loved one. Whether you want to scatter your loved one’s ashes mixed with a combination of sixteen native flower species on our twenty acre property, or bury their ashes underneath a tree of life or even a memorial bench, Loving Earth will make this happen for your family.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Michigan

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:23:51 GMT

Michigan

�� West Michigan Burial Forest - In Progress

In Brooks Township, Michigan, Peter and Annica Quakenbush of the Michigan Burial & Cremation Society are fighting for the right to open the state’s first conservation burial ground. Their proposed West Michigan Burial Forest would allow families to choose natural burial while permanently protecting forest land.

Brooks Township officials passed an ordinance banning all new cemeteries, blocking the Quakenbushes’ project before it could begin. This ordinance isn’t just a barrier to their dream, it’s a precedent that could shut down conservation burial efforts across the country.
With the help of the Institute for Justice , they’ve filed a lawsuit against the township, arguing that the ban is unconstitutional and violates property rights. Their case is about more than one cemetery, it’s about defending the right for families to choose affordable, ecological burial.

Natural burial offers families dignity, affordability, and environmental care. This project would also directly support land conservation, creating a lasting legacy in West Michigan. If successful, their case could pave the way for conservation cemeteries nationwide.

Share their story : Awareness is power- post, talk, and write about this case.
Follow their journey : Michigan Burial & Cremation Society posts updates as the case unfolds.
Donate if you can : Contributions support both the legal fight and the vision of the burial forest.
Advocate locally : Talk to your own town leaders about the importance of green burial.

This fight is about more than one patch of forest, it’s about protecting choice, conservation, and community for generations to come. ��

��The Preserve at All Saint's Cemetery - Waterford, MI

In Waterford, Michigan, The Preserve at All Saints Cemetery offers families a natural burial option within the Mount Elliott Cemetery Association grounds. This thoughtfully designed woodland area provides a setting where loved ones can return to the earth simply and peacefully.
Burials at The Preserve are carried out without embalming, vaults, or metal caskets. Families may choose biodegradable shrouds or containers, allowing each burial to become part of the forest’s renewal.

The Preserve is nestled within a wooded landscape, designed to feel more like a nature preserve than a traditional cemetery. Flat markers are used to maintain the forest’s beauty, creating a space that feels restorative for both families and the land.

As one of the first dedicated green burial spaces in the state, The Preserve provides an important choice for families who want their final act to reflect simplicity, dignity, and care for creation.

The Preserve at All Saints shows how existing cemeteries can embrace natural burial, ensuring that families in Michigan have sustainable options close to home.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Massachusetts

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:17:32 GMT

Massachusetts

�� Valley Conservation Cemetery – In Progress

In the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, a new project is u nderway: the Conservation Cemetery, a nonprofit burial ground that will combine natural end-of-life care with lasting land protection.

The cemetery will provide families with the choice of simple, natural burial using only biodegradable materials. Loved ones will be memorialized with markers that lie flat to the ground, allowing the landscape to remain open and restorative. More than just a resting place, the cemetery will serve as a sanctuary where grief and healing meet the beauty of nature.
Developed in partnership with the Kestrel Land Trust and Green Burial Massachusetts, the project will conserve a treasured Pioneer Valley landscape, safeguarding habitat for native plants and wildlife. Each burial directly supports stewardship of the land, creating a living legacy for generations to come.
The Conservation Cemetery is being built through collaboration with local conservation and community organizations, ensuring that the project reflects both environmental values and human needs.

Once open, it will stand as Massachusetts’ first full conservation cemetery: a place where remembrance and land protection go hand in hand.

��Wildwood Cemetery - Amherst, MA (Hybrid)

Wildwood Cemetery offers families the choice of natural burial within its historic grounds. Established in the 1800s, this community cemetery has created a dedicated section where burials can return gently to the earth without the trappings of modern convention.
The green burial area allows for interment without embalming, vaults, or metal caskets. Families may choose shrouds or biodegradable containers, ensuring that each burial enriches rather than disrupts the land.

By opening a natural section, Wildwood bridges past and present, preserving the cemetery’s legacy while meeting today’s call for sustainable end-of-life care. Graves are marked simply and blend into the surrounding landscape, reflecting the values of simplicity and dignity.

Wildwood provides a meaningful option for Amherst and the surrounding Pioneer Valley. It reflects the community’s commitment to conservation and gives families a chance to align their farewells with their love of the natural world.

For Massachusetts families, Wildwood Cemetery stands as a reminder that even long-established cemeteries can evolve to meet the needs of the future.

��Highland Woods, Montague, MA (Hybrid)

Highland Woods Green Burial offers a natural burial option through the Montague Cemetery Commission, giving families in western Massachusetts access to simple, environmentally responsible end-of-life care within a public cemetery.

The thing that makes burials here follow natural (green) burial practices:

No embalming (Massachusetts does not require it)
No vaults or grave liners
Burial containers must be fully biodegradable (a shroud or simple coffin)
A stone marker may be placed at the gravesite after burial

Families may work with a funeral director or coordinate the burial themselves. Family-led burial is legal in Massachusetts, as it is in most states. When families choose to manage arrangements themselves, they simply need to follow state and town requirements for paperwork and secure a burial transport permit.

Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to an immediate need, the first step is to contact the Montague Cemetery Sexton, who helps coordinate burials at Highland Woods.

Highland Woods shows how existing municipal cemeteries can thoughtfully expand options, protecting the land, reducing environmental impact, and returning choice and participation to families.

�� Green Burial Massachusetts Hybrid Cemetery Database

Green Burial Massachusetts is conducting a cemetery research project to learn which Massachusetts cemeteries offer green burial, to whom it is available (if a city/town cemetery, does it allow non-residents?) and other information including cost and location. In some cases, we have obtained the cemetery’s rules and regulations. This is a partial list of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Maryland

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:11:39 GMT

Maryland

Maryland may be small in size, but it’s home to a growing movement that’s transforming how families return to the earth. Across the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the rolling Appalachian foothills, green burial advocates are working to preserve land, restore native ecosystems, and offer meaningful, affordable end-of-life options that honor both loved ones and the landscape.

��Morris Orchard Natural Burial - Frederick, MD

In the rolling farmland of western Maryland , Morris Orchard Natural Burial offers a final resting place rooted in simplicity and care for the land. Situated on family-owned acreage, the cemetery was created to give families a meaningful alternative to conventional burial, with practices that return each person gently to the earth.
Burials here are carried out without embalming, vaults, or metal caskets. Families may choose biodegradable shrouds or natural containers, ensuring graves blend seamlessly into the orchard landscape over time.
The grounds provide a quiet, pastoral backdrop, an orchard where life continues to grow. Each burial contributes to a space that feels both restorative and deeply connected to the cycles of nature.

Morris Orchard welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds who seek a natural farewell. Its design offers families an affordable, ecological option while preserving the rural character of the land.

�� Serenity Ridge Natural Burial Cemetery - Windsor Mill, MD

Just outside Baltimore in Windsor Mill, Serenity Ridge Natural Burial Cemetery and Arboretum offers a 45-acre landscape where remembrance and conservation come together. As Maryland’s first dedicated natural burial ground, Serenity Ridge provides a sanctuary where families can lay loved ones to rest in harmony with the land.
Burials here follow green burial principles: no embalming, no vaults, and only biodegradable caskets or shrouds. Graves return gently to the soil, marked with simple, flat memorials that preserve the natural beauty of the arboretum.
The grounds are home to meadows, woodlands, and a diverse collection of trees. Every burial contributes to the restoration and care of the land, supporting wildlife habitats and creating a lasting legacy of conservation.
Serenity Ridge welcomes families of all backgrounds, offering not only natural burials but also trails, quiet spaces, and an environment that encourages reflection and connection. It’s both cemetery and sanctuary, a place where memory and nature coexist.

�� Reflection Park - Silver Springs, MD

In Montgomery County, Reflection Park has been developed as a green burial ground. The project envisions a natural cemetery that protects open space while offering families a simple, ecological way to be laid to rest.
Reflection Park is more than a cemetery, it is a a preserve. Burials will follow natural practices: no embalming, no vaults, and only biodegradable shrouds or caskets. Each grave will contribute to habitat restoration and long-term land protection.

The location includes walking paths, natural landscaping, and quiet areas for reflection. Families will find not just a burial ground, but also a space that fosters connection to the land and to one another.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Maine

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:00:20 GMT

Maine

In Maine, the land speaks in whispers, waves against rocky shores, birch leaves trembling in mountain wind, and loons calling across still lakes. It’s a place where life and death have always coexisted gently, where simplicity feels sacred and nature holds memory. Green burial here is not a new idea, but a return to the way things once were, honoring the body’s natural cycle while preserving the wild beauty of the landscape.

Sadly, Maine has a long way to go to join the modern green burial movement. Here is what we know:

��Cedar Brook Burial Grounds - Limington, ME

Nest led in the heart of southern Maine, Cedar Brook Burial Ground holds the distinction of being the first green cemetery in all of New England. Founded through the vision and determination of Peter McHugh, Cedar Brook is a living example of how one person’s love for the land, and commitment to simplicity, can transform the way we return to the earth.

Over 30 years ago, Peter purchased 150 acres of forested land in Limington, Maine, a place he loved and nurtured under tree growth management. In 2007, after reading an article about green burial, Peter reflected on his father’s wish to be “buried naturally,” something not possible under Massachusetts law at the time. Inspired, he decided to make natural burial possible for others right there on his land, beside the historic Joshua Small Cemetery, which dates back to the mid-1700s.

This cemetery is an extreme example of DIY deathcare. Extremely rural, and the set up is very hands on for the family. VERY.

��Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery - Fayette, ME CLOSED

In Fayette, Maine, Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery offered a quiet, 10-acre resting place beside the Baldwin Hill Conservation Area. Baldwin Hill opened in 2021 but quietly stopped doing new sales and interments not long after, with no explanation beyond they had reached capacity.

��Rainbow's End Natural Cemetery - Orrington, ME CLOSED

14 acre natural burial including meadowland and pine forest on the Penobscot River. Closed in 2021 after the death of the founder. They are only honoring pre-paid burials. Upon our visit in December of 2025, no graves were observed marked, and no signage was up for the cemetery.

ALTERNATIVE OPTION FOR CREMATED REMAINS:

��Life Forest at Whistle Ridge - Auburn, ME

Beautiful Whistle Ridge Farm spans 80 acres, using the land for multiple conservation and land-use purposes, and has committed a protected parcel specifically for Life Forest Woodland Trail Burials. Th is is for cremated remains of people or pets. They are registered as a cemetery with the state.

Woodland Trail Burial
• Burial takes place in a natural wooded area
• Each plot is 3 ft x 3 ft
• Includes one opening
• Allows multiple sets of cremains buried together for no additional cost

If your area doesn’t yet offer green burial, start by speaking with caretakers or cemetery boards about setting aside a natural section. Many small-town cemeteries in Maine are independently managed and open to community-led initiatives. Ask about waiving vault requirements and allowing biodegradable caskets or shrouds, often, these changes can be made locally without new legislation. Share examples from regional conservation and hybrid cemeteries to show that natural burial enhances both the land and its legacy. With thoughtful collaboration, Maine’s cemeteries can continue to be places of peace, protection, and renewal.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Louisiana

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 22:52:36 GMT

Louisiana

Louisiana is one of the states where families currently don’t have access to a dedicated green burial ground. The combination of high water tables, cultural traditions, and limited cemetery development has kept natural burial from being established here, at least for now.

�� What Families Can Do
Even without a dedicated green cemetery, Louisiana families still have choices. State law does not require embalming, vaults, or metal caskets, so families can request simpler arrangements within existing cemeteries if the cemetery is willing. A hybrid model where a traditional cemetery sets aside a natural section could be the first step.

�� Neighboring Options
Those determined to choose green burial today may need to cross state lines. Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas all have cemeteries where vault-free, eco-friendly burials are possible, though travel adds complexity and cost.

�� How to Start One in Louisiana

Work with a local cemetery to designate a vault-free “green section.”
Approach land trusts or conservation groups about creating a natural burial preserve.
Encourage local officials and communities by showing the growing demand for simple, sustainable options.

Louisiana families deserve choices that reflect both their cultural roots and their love for the land. Starting the conversation now can plant the seeds for the state’s first natural burial ground in the years ahead.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Kentucky

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 22:48:41 GMT

Kentucky

�� Loretta Motherhouse Nature Preserve Cemetery - Nerinx, KY
At the historic Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky, the Sisters of Loretto have created a Nature Preserve Cemetery, blending spiritual tradition with environmental care. This sacred space is part of a larger preserve that protects woodlands, meadows, and wildlife, ensuring that burials here support conservation as much as they honor life.The grounds are intentionally left natural, with graves blending into the preserve. Over time, the cemetery becomes part of the forest and meadow itself, a testament to the cycle of life continuing.

For Kentuckians seeking an option that honors faith, conservation, and simplicity, the Loretto Motherhouse Nature Preserve Cemetery provides a unique and deeply meaningful choice.

�� Highland Cemetery- Fort Mitchell, KY (hybrid)

A hybid cemetery is an established, traditional cemetery, that is now allowing for green burials, meaning no embalming, no liner, no vault, and not necessarily a casket either. Highland Cemetery recently reached out and asked to be added to the list, and assure me more information for Green Burial is coming to their website soon.

��Windy Knoll Memorial Sanctuary - Murray, KY (hybrid)

WKMS Cemete ry has opened a dedicated section for natural burials, offering families a way to return to the earth simply and sustainably. As one of the first cemeteries in the state to embrace green practices, it gives Kentuckians a meaningful alternative to conventional burial.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Kansas

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:58:44 GMT

Kansas

��Heartland Prairie Cemetery - Salina, KS

Heartland offers families a place of rest that is simple, natural, and deeply tied to the prairie landscape. Established as the state’s first dedicated green burial ground, it reflects a growing movement in the Midwest toward burial practices that honor both loved ones and the land.

At Heartland, there are no embalming fluids, vaults, or non-biodegradable caskets. Graves are hand-dug, and only biodegradable containers or shrouds are used. The result is a return to the earth that supports the prairie’s natural cycles.

The cemetery’s mission is rooted in conservation. Over time, graves become part of a restored tallgrass prairie, providing habitat for native plants, pollinators, and wildlife. Families find peace in knowing that each burial strengthens the ecosystem.

Hybrid Offerings:

(hybrid cemeteries are existing cemeteries that decided to open a section or allow unvaulted and unembalmed burials. Many cemeteries have finally added this option because they see a way to convert cremations back to burials.)

�� Elmwood Cemetery - Kansas City, KS

��Historic Topica Cemetery - Topeka, KS

��Oak Hill Cemetery - Lawrence, KS

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Iowa

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:50:45 GMT

Iowa

�� Back to the Ground Initiative - Decorah, Iowa

BTG is working to bring natural burial back to the state, creating opportunities for families to choose simplicity, conservation, and connection to the land. As Iowa’s first nonprofit dedicated to this cause, their vision is to establish natural burial grounds that protect ecosystems while honoring life’s end with dignity.
Iowa law allows for natural burial, but access has been limited. Back to the Ground is building awareness, offering education, and partnering with communities to develop green and conservation cemeteries across the state.

Other options:

1. Ask About Hybrid Cemeteries

Even if a cemetery in Iowa doesn’t advertise green burial, state law does not require embalming or vaults. You can ask a local cemetery if they’d be willing to designate a “green section” or allow burial without embalming, vaults, or metal caskets. This is how many hybrid cemeteries get started.

2. Work With Funeral Directors

Connect with a funeral director who is open to natural practices. Some will support families in skipping embalming and choosing biodegradable containers or shrouds. If one funeral home resists, ask another, it’s about finding someone aligned with your wishes.

3. Start With the Land

If you or someone you know has land and a vision, Iowa law does allow for private family cemeteries (with some county-level zoning restrictions). A small, private, or nonprofit conservation cemetery could grow from there. It starts with zoning approval and setting aside land permanently for burial.

4. Build Community Support

Many green cemeteries around the U.S. began because one or two determined people gathered local allies, land trusts, conservation groups, faith communities, or even other families who wanted the same thing. Together, you can present the idea to town or county officials.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Indiana

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:44:52 GMT

Indiana

Indiana’s woodlands, rolling farmland, and small-town communities make it a perfect setting for natural and conservation burial grounds. W hile traditional cemeteries dominate, the state has strong potential for growth in eco-conscious burial options.

�� Acres of Hope - Salem, In (Conservation Burial)

This space provides a dedicated natural burial ground where families can return to the earth simply and sustainably. Operated by Indiana Green Burials, this site is the state’s first conservation cemetery certified by the Green Burial Council.

Every burial here helps protect and restore the land. No embalming fluids, concrete vaults, or non-biodegradable caskets are permitted. Instead, the ground is kept natural, encouraging the return of native plants and wildlife to thrive across the preserve.

The Preserve at Spring Vale Cemetery -Lafayette, In (Hybrid)

Spring Vale Cemetery has created a dedicated natural section called The Preserve, offe ring families a space for green burial in harmony with the land. Here, burials are simple and sustainable, no embalming, no vaults, and only biodegradable caskets or shrouds.

The Preserve is designed to blend seamlessly with nature. Graves return gently to the soil, markers are kept low to preserve the view, and the surrounding landscape is maintained as open green space. Families are invited to participate in the process, making each burial personal, hands-on, and connected to the earth.

�� Hybrid offerings in existing cemeteries: https://indianacemeteryassociation.org/green-burials/

including Calumet Park

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Illinois

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:31:41 GMT

Illinois

�� Casper Creek Natural Cemetery - Elizabeth, Il

In the Driftless hills of Jo Daviess County, Casper Creek Natural Cemetery offers families a final resting place rooted in conservation. Partnering with the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, every burial here, body, cremated remains, or ash scattering, directly supports prairie restoration, oak woodlands, and local land stewardship.

Set beside the Casper Bluff Land and Water Reserve, the cemetery is surrounded by sweeping views of the Mississippi River, wildflowers, and oak savannas. Instead of vaults or monuments, graves return gently to the earth, blending into the landscape as part of the living ecosystem.

Casper Creek welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds who want their farewell to reflect care for both community and land. Here, remembrance becomes legacy, a way of protecting the Driftless region for generations to come.

�� How to Start a Green Burial Cemetery in Illinois

Illinois is rich in prairies, oak savannas, and conservation-minded communities, all ideal conditions for natural burial. Yet, the state still has relatively few dedicated green burial grounds. If you feel called to create one, here’s a clear step-by-step guide on how Illinois residents, landowners, or nonprofits can establish a green or conservation cemetery tha t honors the land and the dead equally.

�� 1. Choose the Right Land

Start by identifying land that meets both ecological and zoning requirements.

Acreage: At least 5–10 acres is ideal to allow for future burials, access roads, and buffer zones.
Soil & Terrain: Choose land with well-drained soil , no high groundwater, and minimal flood risk.
Ecological value: Aim for areas that can support native plant restoration, prairie, oak savanna, or woodland are perfect.
Accessibility: Must have road access for family visits and emergency vehicles.

�� Tip: Partner with a land trust or conservation organization early on to explore conservation easements and permanent land protection options.

⚖️ 2. Understand Illinois Cemetery Law

Illinois regulates cemeteries under the Cemetery Care Act and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) .
If you plan to inter human remains, you’ll need to:

Establish a legal cemetery authority, usually a nonprofit (501c3) or corporation (LLC/Corp) .
Apply for a Cemetery License through the IDFPR Cemetery Oversight Division .
Create a Perpetual Care Trust Fund:
Illinois requires cemeteries to deposit a percentage of plot sales into a trust to guarantee long-term maintenance.
For a natural cemetery, you can align “maintenance” with ecological stewardship rather than mowing or landscaping.
Record the land as a cemetery with the County Recorder and provide plat maps of burial sections.

�� Tip: Work with a funeral attorney or cemetery consultant familiar with green burial and conservation easements (some specialize in Illinois).

�� 3. Decide Your Model

There are three main approaches:

A. Green Burial Section within an Existing Cemetery
Partner with a local cemetery to dedicate a section for natural burials—this is the easiest and least regulated option.

B. Standalone Natural Cemetery
Establish a private cemetery licensed by IDFPR, focused on green practices only.

C. Conservation Burial Ground
Operate under a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or land trust , using burial fees to fund long-term habitat restoration.

�� 4. Align with Green Burial Standards

To ensure recognition and consumer trust, follow Green Burial Council (GBC) standards:

✅ No embalming with formaldehyde or toxic chemicals
✅ No vaults or outer burial containers
✅ Biodegradable shrouds or caskets only
✅ Natural, native landscaping—no pesticide use
✅ Simple, natural markers (flat stones, plants, GPS mapping)

�� Tip: Seek GBC certification once established. It’s the national benchmark for ethical and ecological burial grounds.

�� 5. Develop Your Operational Plan

Before you open, outline how your cemetery will function day-to-day:

Burial process (grave digging, family participation, backfilling)
Recordkeeping (maps, GPS, deeds, burial logs)
Site management (pathways, habitat restoration, native planting)
Pricing structure (burial rights, opening/closing fees, memorial options)
Volunteer or staff training

�� 6. Build Partnerships

You’ll need allies across disciplines:

Funeral directors open to natural burial logistics
Conservation groups to help with restoration plans
Local health departments to review interment practices
Community organizations for education and outreach

�� Tip: Offer workshops on “How to Green Your Final Arrangements” to gauge community interest and attract early supporters.

��️ 7. Engage Your Community

Natural burial succeeds when it’s seen as a community benefit, not just a service.

Host open houses, volunteer planting days, or remembrance walks.
Create interpretive signage about the native species and burial process.
Partner with schools or nature centers to connect deathcare and ecology.

�� Tip: Frame your project as “protecting land through legacy.” Each burial becomes part of a living conservation story.

�� Illinois’ Opportunity

The Illinois prairie once stretched across millions of acres, today, less than 1% remains. A green burial ground can serve both people and planet: a sanctuary for remembrance and a haven for biodiversity.

By combining ecological restoration with end-of-life care, Illinois can lead the Midwest in conservation through burial.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Idaho

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:22:57 GMT

Idaho does not yet have an active green burial cemetery. Families here who want a natural burial currently need to look to neighboring states, Washington and Oregon, where green and conservation burial sites are established and available.

�� Nearby Choices

Washington offers several Green cemeteries and hybrid options, where families can choose simple, eco-conscious burials without vaults, embalming, or metal caskets.
Oregon also has multiple green and conservation burial grounds, especially near Portland and in rural conservation areas. Families in western Idaho often find Oregon to be the closest option.

�� Creating a Green Burial Option in Idaho
Even though none exist yet, Idaho law does not prohibit green burial. Starting one, or converting a section of an existing cemetery into a hybrid, requires several steps:

Zoning and Cemetery Law : Review county zoning codes and cemetery statutes to determine where burial grounds are permitted.
Hybrid or Dedicated : Decide if you’ll designate a section within an existing cemetery (hybrid) or establish a full natural or conservation burial preserve.
Environmental Standards : Best practices include graves at least three and a half feet deep, no vaults, no embalming, and only biodegradable shrouds or caskets. Sites should maintain safe distances from water sources and use native vegetation for restoration.
Partnerships : Work with funeral directors, land trusts, conservation groups, or faith communities to build support. In some cases, perpetual care funds or conservation easements help secure the land for long-term protection.
Certification : For credibility, seek certification through the Green Burial Council once the cemetery or section is operational.

�� The Path Forward
For now, Idahoans must cross state lines for green burial. But with rising awareness, Idaho has the opportunity to create its first natural or hybrid site, one that could reflect the state’s wide-open landscapes and values of land stewardship.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Hawaii

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:19:38 GMT

Hawaii

Amid the islands’ lush forests, volcanic soil, and ancestral reverence for the land, Hawai‘i is uniquely poised to lead the Pacific in eco-conscious, land-honoring burial practices. Here, returning to the earth means becoming part of the ʻāina—the land that feeds us, sustains us, and welcomes us home.

�� Īpuka Natural Burial Sanctuary — Kea‘au, Hawai‘i Island (Conservation Burial Ground)
The first and only dedicated natural burial sanctuary in Hawai‘i, Īpuka rests on ten acres of tropical forest just outside Hilo. Families are invited to participate in the process of burial, lowering, filling, and adorning graves with native flowers and leaves, ensuring that death care remains intimate, hands-on, and restorative.

Īpuka’s founders envisioned a place where burial directly supports reforestation and the regeneration of native ecosystems. No vaults, embalming, or metal caskets are permitted; instead, burials are done in simple shrouds or biodegradable containers. Each grave becomes part of the soil’s healing process, nourishing the forest and fostering new growth.

“In Hawai‘i, to return to the ʻāina is to return to life.”

�� How to Establish More Green Burial Grounds in Hawai‘i
While Īpuka leads the way, Hawai‘i’s potential for additional natural burial sanctuaries is vast, from upcountry Maui to Kaua‘i’s forest reserves. Here’s how individuals, landowners, and communities can help bring more sites to life:

Start with the Land ��

Choose land zoned for cemetery use or rural/agricultural parcels suitable for re-zoning.
Prioritize areas with native vegetation, well-drained soil, and low flood risk.
Partner with local land trusts or conservation groups to explore perpetual protection through easements.

Understand the Legal Pathway ⚖️

Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs oversees cemetery licensing.
File a cemetery authority application if you plan to sell plots or inter human remains.
Collaborate with environmental attorneys familiar with conservation or nonprofit models, many conservation cemeteries operate under 501(c)(13) or 501(c)(3) status.

Ground in Culture & Community ��

Consult Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and local kupuna (elders) early in the process.
Integrate traditional practices of mālama ʻāina (care for the land) and ho‘oponopono (balance and harmony) into the mission.
Consider creating community advisory councils that represent local values and lineages.

Design for Ecology & Access ��

Incorporate native reforestation plans with species like koa, ʻōhiʻa lehua, and milo.
Use natural markers (lava stones, driftwood, native plants) and maintain minimal impact trails.
Create gathering areas for ceremony and reflection, blending Hawaiian cultural protocol with diverse spiritual traditions.

Partner & Educate ��

Join national organizations like the Green Burial Council or Conservation Burial Alliance for guidance and certification.
Partner with funeral directors open to natural burial practices to expand accessibility.
Host community workshops and volunteer workdays for planting and maintenance.

With land stewardship rooted in aloha ʻāina and community-driven restoration, Hawai‘i can model a future where death nourishes life and where each burial is an act of regeneration, remembrance, and reverence.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Georgia

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:15:15 GMT

Georgia

In Georgia, where magnolias bloom beside longleaf pines and red clay paths wind through old family plots, the movement toward green burial feels like a homecoming. Across the state, families are seeking a return to simpler, more natural traditions, choosing rest in the embrace of the land rather than beneath layers of concrete and steel. Green burial in Georgia honors both heritage and the environment, offering a way to continue Southern traditions of care, kinship, and connection while restoring balance to the earth. From the rolling foothills of the Appalachians to the quiet coastal plains, the message is clear: we belong to the land, and the land belongs to us.

�� Honey Creek Woodlands - Conyers, GA (Monastic Conservation Cemetery)

In Conyers, Georgia, nestled within 2,300 acres of protected woodland at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, lies Honey Creek Woodlands, the nation’s largest conservation burial ground. With forests, meadows, and streams, this sacred preserve feels more like a living sanctuary than a cemetery.
Burials here are simple and natural: no embalming, no vaults, and only biodegradable shrouds or caskets. Cremated remains are placed in natural containers, and grave markers are modest fieldstones that blend into the land.

Honey Creek is a preserve first, cemetery second. Trails wind through forests and meadows where burial sites are scattered like wildflowers among trees and pines. Over time, the land heals, grows, and thrives with native species and wildlife.

As the country’s largest conservation burial ground, Honey Creek ensures perpetual protection of its land. Graves are hand-dug and designed to be low-impact, while an endowment supports the long-term stewardship of the preserve.

�� Milton Fields - Milton, GA (Natural Burial Ground)

In Milton, just north of Atlanta, Milton Fields is Georgia’s only dedicated green burial perpetual-care cemetery. Set on rolling meadows behind a historic farmhouse, the landscape offers a simple, natural resting place where the focus is on harmony with the land.
Unlike many conventional cemeteries, Milton Fields keeps costs intentionally modest. Traditional burials can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but here, natural burials are designed to be accessible and budget-friendly while maintaining ecological integrity.
Behind the farmhouse, graves are nestled into open fields and meadows rather than manicured lawns. The setting feels timeless, part historic homestead, part sanctuary, where families can gather in a space that feels both intimate and natural.

�� Whispering Hills Preserve - North Georgia (Natural/Conservation-Aligned)

I n LaGrange, Georgia, Whispering Hills Memorial Nature Preserve offers families a Green Burial Council–certified cemetery set within a protected natural landscape. Rolling hills, streams, meadows, and tall trees surround this sacred space, creating a setting where life and memory meet in harmony.

Burials here follow natural principles: no embalming, no vaults, and only biodegradable caskets, shrouds, or blankets. Families may also choose to scatter ashes, which are blended with compost-rich soil to nurture plant growth.

Loved ones are invited to be part of the farewell, placing flowers or notes in the grave, choosing sustainable containers, and even assisting with the lowering or covering of the casket. These rituals make the process deeply personal and grounded.

Whispering Hills is permanently zoned as a natural cemetery and operates with perpetual care. A portion of burial proceeds goes directly toward maintaining and protecting the land, ensuring it will remain a sanctuary for generations to come.

��Potts Mountain Burial Ground - Jasper, GA (conservation burial)

Located in Marble Hill, PMBG is Georgia’s first dedicated green cemetery on perpetually conserved land, protected forever under a conservation easement held by the Atlantic Coast Conservancy (ACC), a nonprofit land trust that has safeguarded over 125,000 acres across 18 states since 2010. This partnership ensures that every burial supports long-term ecological balance, water protection, and habitat conservation.

At Potts Mountain, burial means becoming part of the forest again. Family and friends are encouraged to take part in the process, lowering their loved one by hand and covering the grave with local soil, flowers, and memory. The surrounding 1,378 acres of preserved land are home to birds, deer, and native wildflowers that thrive undisturbed, ensuring that each burial contributes to the continued health of the ecosystem.

Potts Mountain Burial Ground welcomes people of all faiths, identities, and backgrounds to rest within this living landscape. Families can visit, walk, and even host small ceremonies surrounded by the sounds of nature, a reflection of Georgia’s timeless connection between land and life.

��Just Love Forest - Rome, GA (Green Burial)

In Poetry, Georgia, just outside of Rome, lies Just Love Forest, a sacred sanctuary where nature, healing, and community come together. This green burial ground honors the cycles of life and death with profound reverence, offering both green burial and cremation burial for beloved humans and pets. Here, surrounded by the timeless beauty of the forest, families are invited into a partnership with the earth, a return that celebrates life itself.

Converting Existing Cemeteries:
Many established cemeteries in Georgia are beginning to consider adding hybrid or natural sections , and this is one of the most accessible ways to expand green burial statewide. If you’re exploring this path, start by meeting with the cemetery board or sexton to discuss waiving vault requirements and allowing biodegradable caskets or shrouds . Georgia law does not require embalming or vaults, so change can begin at the local level. Review bylaws together and share examples from successful hybrid cemeteries like Honey Creek Woodlands or other Southern models. Encourage them to start small, even one natural section can create a ripple of awareness and community support. By transforming existing cemeteries, Georgia can honor its past while growing a more sustainable future for generations to come.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Florida

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:04:58 GMT

Florida

From the moss-draped oaks of the panhandle to the coastal hammocks of the south, Florida’s natural beauty makes it a perfect fit for the growing green-burial movement. Across the state, conservation cemeteries and hybrid grounds are offering families the chance to rest in harmony with the land, protecting ecosystems and honoring life’s natural cycle.

�� Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery — Trinity, FL (Conservation Cemetery)
Just north of Tampa, Heartwood Preserve is Florida’s first conservation cemetery, protecting 41 acres of longleaf pine flatwoods and oak hammock. Each burial directly supports land restoration and wildlife conservation through partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Graves are hand-dug, vault-free, and marked with natural fieldstones that return gently to the landscape.

�� Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve — DeFuniak Springs, FL (Conservation Burial Ground)

On 350 acres of forest and meadow, Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve has been pioneering natural burial since the early 2000s. Family-run and nonprofit, Glendale offers both full-body and cremated remains burials, each helping fund the long-term conservation of the land. Visitors describe it as a tranquil sanctuary where the pines whisper and the cycle of life continues uninterrupted.

�� Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery — Gainesville, FL (Conservation Cemetery)
Managed in partnership with the Alachua Conservation Trust, Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery (PCCC) is located within 1,200 acres of protected prairie and forest habitat. As one of the nation’s model conservation cemeteries, PCCC ensures every burial contributes to ecological restoration, reforesting native longleaf pines and preserving the watershed.

�� Hickory Preserve — Tallahassee, FL (Coming Soon!)
A new site in progress in Leon County, Hickory Preserve, will soon join Florida’s network of green-burial sanctuaries, offering natural burial in restored native habitat. As plans move forward, this project represents the next step in expanding access to conservation-minded options across the state.

�� Hope Eternal Gardens - Punta Gorda, FL

Hope Eternal Gardens is a family-owned cemetery rooted in over 30 years of expertise across horticulture, landscape architecture, design, and ecological sustainability. Their prices made me gag.

✨ Florida’s Green Legacy
Florida leads the Southeast in conservation burial, proving that deathcare can heal the land. Each sanctuary, from the pine flatwoods of Trinity to the prairies of Gainesville, embodies a shared vision: to let our last footprint nurture life.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Delaware

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:26:47 GMT

Delaware is one of the few states without a dedicated green burial ground. But families here still have options, by arranging natural burial in neighboring Maryland , New Jersey , or Pennsylvania , where green burial is fully legal.

�� Nearby Choices

Maryland allows natural burial using biodegradable caskets or shrouds, with the required permits and proper burial depths.
New Jersey permits green burial with minimal regulation, so long as families meet permit requirements.
Pennsylvania also allows natural burial, requiring only the proper death certificate and burial permit.

For Delawareans, this means it’s possible to have a green burial just across state lines while still honoring eco-friendly values.

�� Creating a Green Burial Ground in Delaware
Starting one here, or converting part of an existing cemetery into a hybrid section, is possible but requires planning and regulatory approval. Key steps include:

Reviewing Delaware’s cemetery laws and local zoning codes.
Deciding whether to establish a full natural burial ground or a hybrid section within an existing cemetery.
Partnering with local officials, funeral homes, and possibly land trusts to secure approval and land use permits.
Following best practices: shallow hand-dug graves, no embalming, no vaults, and maintaining safe distances from water sources.
Offering only biodegradable shrouds or caskets, natural stone markers, or GPS coordinates to preserve the land’s integrity.

�� A Path Forward
With growing awareness, Delaware could establish its first natural or hybrid green burial site. Until then, residents can look to nearby states, or begin the work of petitioning for a site closer to home.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Connecticuit

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:21:52 GMT

Connecticuit

In the lush hills and historic towns of Connecticut, a quiet transformation is taking root. Cemeteries across the state are embracin g green burial, offering families a simple, natural, and sustainable way to return to the earth. From restored woodland sections to long-standing community grounds, these cemeteries reflect Connecticut’s deep respect for nature and heritage alike.

�� Grove Cemetery — Naugatuck, CT (Hybrid Cemetery)
Founded in 1851, Grove Cemetery has served generations of families and now offers a natural burial section designed for those who want a simpler, earth-friendly farewell. The green section allows for unembal med interment without vaults, using only biodegradable caskets or shrouds. Families may choose simple natural markers that blend seamlessly into the landscape, honoring both history and habitat.

�� Hillside Cemetery — Wilton, CT (Natural Burial Section)
Tucked in Fairfield Coun ty, Hillside Cemetery has established a serene natural burial meadow, surrounded by stone walls and shaded by century-old trees. Burials here follow Green Burial Council principles: no embalming, no concrete vaults, and biodegradable burial materials only. Loved ones can take part in the lowering and closing of the grave, creating an intimate, healing ritual grounded in the beauty of nature.

�� Wooster Cemetery — Danbury, CT (Hybrid Cemetery with Green Burial Option)
One of Connecti cut’s most historic burial grounds, Wooster Cemetery now includes a dedicated green burial area where families can forgo vaults, embalming, and traditional headstones. Graves are marked with fla t, natural stones or native plantings, keeping the meadow-like environment undisturbed. Wooster’s green section offers a bridge between modern sustainability and timeless reverence, resting in nature’s quiet rhythm within the heart of Danbury.

From the meadows of Wilton to the historic grounds of Danbury and Naugatuck, Connecticut’s growin g embrace of green burial reflects a statewide renewal, a return to simpler traditions that honor both life and land.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Colorado

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:14:21 GMT

Colorado

Colorado’s vast landscapes, from the alpine forests to the high desert plains, have inspired a growing movement to protect land through green and conservation burial. Across the state, a handful of sanctuaries are redefining what it means to rest in peace by ensuring that every farewell gives back to the land.

�� Colorado Burial Preserve – Florence
Nestled along the Arkansas River Valley, this emerging conservation burial preserve se eks to protect wild habitat while offering natural burials free from embalming, vaults, or heavy machinery. The land is envisioned as a living ecosystem, where every interment restores prairie health and wildlife corridors.

�� Seven Stones Botanical Garden Cemetery — Littleton
A contemporary, garden-forward cemetery that blends art, native plantings, and memorial spaces. Families seeking a lighter footprint can ask for vault-free interment (where permitted), biodegradable caskets or shrouds, and simple, nature-fit memorialization—bringing green-burial values into a beautifully landscaped setting.

�� Roselawn Cemetery — Fort Collins (City Cemetery / Hybrid)
Municipal cemetery serving Northern Colorado families. Ask the office about green-friendly protocols: no embalming, biodegradable containers, and vault-free interment (when allowed) or alternatives that minimize concrete and metal. A practical option for those wanting simplicity within a community cemetery.

�� Crestone End of Life Project (CEOLP) – Crestone
In the small mountain town of Crestone, CEOLP operates one of the nation’s onl y open-air cremation sites, rooted in community and spiritual practice. Families and volunteers partic ipate in every step, honoring both ancient traditions and modern ecological consciousness. While not a burial ground, CEOLP provides an intimate, sacred experience in harmony with the natural cycles of fire, air, and renewal.

Colorado shows the spectrum, from conservation preserves and hybrid sections to a community pyre, each inviting families to choose less concrete, less metal, and more connection to land, ritual, and place.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial in California

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 03:58:27 GMT

California

California’s landscapes are as diverse as its people, and so are its green burial options. From coastal bluffs to redwood forests to desert valleys, families across the state can find meaningful, ecological resting places. Here are some of California’s key green and hybrid burial grounds:

�� Sacred Groves (H umboldt County)
A new conservation burial ground is taking root where oak savannah, hay field, and forest stewardship meet. This c emetery will blend burial with land care, offering single plots and family groves, hand-dug graves, biodegradable burial in the root zone, and even ceremonial tree plantings nourished by harvested rainwater. Rather than displacing the working landscape, the vision is for burial to exist alongside grazing, habitat restoration, and forest health. Even portions of hay field could transition back to oak savannah. It’s an example of green burial being imagined not just as disposition, but as ecological relationship. I’ll be sharing more about this emerging project and what makes its approach so interesting.

�� Joshua Tree Memorial Park (Joshua Tree)
In the Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree offers one of Southern California’s few natural burial grounds. Graves are hand-dug and capped with native soil and rocks, while families may choose biodegradable shrouds or wicker caskets. Over time, each site blends back into the desert, reflecting the stark beauty of the landscape.

�� Fernwood Cemetery (Mill Valley)
Nestled beside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fernwood is one of the nation’s pioneering green cemeteries. Its 32 acres are both burial ground and certified wildlife habitat, where graves are hand-dug, embalming is prohibited, and markers are modest or replaced with GPS coordinates. Families here become part of a living landscape of trees, grasses, and wildlife.

�� Morgan Oaks Eternal Preserve (Lincoln)
Set in the Sierra Foothills, Morgan Oaks blends burial with land conservation. Burials are limited to a few hundred per acre, ensuring soil health and habitat preservation. Families may choose natural burial for both people and pets, or tree memorials that restore the land while honoring loved ones.

�� Creston Cemetery (San Luis Obispo County - hybrid)
This historic pioneer cemetery now offers natural burials amid oak groves and rolling hills. Options include full-body burial, cremains interment, or the “Tree of Life” memorial, where ashes nourish a native tree. Simple fieldstone markers connect memory with place.

�� Purissima Cemetery (Half Moon Bay - hybrid)
First opened in the 1860s, this cemetery was lovingly restored and now offers natural burial along coastal bluffs. Families can choose from sites overlooking farmland, forest, or ocean views, with graves hand-dug and marked only by native stones or plantings.

�� Tulocay Cemetery (Napa – Hybrid)
Founded in 1859, Tulocay is a historic cemetery that includes the Cayetano Natural Burial Ground, a hybrid section certified for green burial. This offers Napa families the choice of natural interment within a traditional cemetery setting.

�� Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery (San Diego - Hybrid)
The Masonic Cemetery Association of Fallbrook is a Hybrid Burial Ground, one of only two cemeteries in Southern California to hold this designation.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial in Arkansas

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 03:50:44 GMT

Arkansas

In Arkansas, fittingly called The Natural State, the forests, rivers, and rolling Ozark hills remind us daily of life’s connection to the land. Green burial here feels like coming home. It’s a way to rest in harmony with nature, to allow the body to return gently to the soil without the interference of chemicals or concrete. Families across Arkansas are rediscovering that simplicity is sacred, that a final resting place beneath the trees or beside a meadow can be both healing and life-giving. Whether near the Delta or deep in the Ozarks, natural burial honors the landscape that shaped generations before us and will cradle those yet to come.

��Tucker Memorial Cemetery, Green Burial Section - Mountain Home, AR

Kirby & Family has become the first funeral provider in Arkansas to offer green burial services. Their Tucker Memorial Cemetery is certified by the Green Burial Council and features a dedicated section of land set aside specifically for natural burials.

Green burial here means simplicity and sustainability: no vaults or liners, biodegradable shrouds and caskets, and the use of essential oils in place of toxic embalming fluids. Each interment is designed to minimize environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and allow the grave to return gently to the surrounding countryside. Flat limestone markers sourced from Arkansas stone are placed low in the landscape, blending seamlessly into the natural setting over time.

For families seeking an alternative to conventional burial or cremation, Kirby & Family provides compassionate guidance, eco-friendly options, and even no-cost pre-planning for green burial. It’s a thoughtful way to honor both loved ones and the land of the Ozarks.

If your community cemetery doesn’t yet have a natural section, start by reaching out to the sexton, board, or church trustees. Many Arkansas cemeteries are family- or congregation-managed and open to dialogue when they understand what green burial truly means. Ask about waiving vault requirements or permitting biodegradable caskets and shrouds. Share examples from regional hybrid cemeteries or those in neighboring states to show that this practice is safe, sustainable, and meaningful. With education and collaboration, even small rural cemeteries can help restore Arkansas’s legacy of care for both people and the land.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

As public awareness grows, more cemeteries are beginning to advertise green burial options, but in many cases, what’s being offered is little more than a pacifier for those asking for change. These are what I call “shades of green” burials: small gestures toward sustainability that lack true understanding or practice of natural burial values.

In my own experience, I’ve called cemeteries claiming to offer green options, only to be met with confusion, once even being told they could provide a “tree pod burial” (a concept that doesn’t exist in any practical or legal form). It’s clear that in many established cemeteries, these offerings are being added to appease public demand rather than to honor the principles of ecological restoration, community connection, and authenticity that define green burial.

If you’re exploring green burial for yourself or a loved one, approach these claims with caution . Ask questions, lots of them. Who manages the green section? Do they require vaults, liners, or embalming? What kind of caskets or shrouds are permitted? How often do they actually conduct natural burials?

Many truly committed natural and conservation cemeteries have worked for years to integrate ecological care into every step of their process, from land preservation to family involvement. These are the places where your choice makes a lasting impact. The rest, unfortunately, may still be catching up.

Gracelawn Memorial Park

Van Buren, AR

Green Burial Arizona

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 03:45:39 GMT

Arizona

In Arizona, where red rock meets endless horizon and saguaro stand like sentinels of time, life and death are part of the same sacred cycle. Green burial here reflects that truth, a return to simplicity and harmony within the desert’s quiet strength. Families are discovering that a natural burial in Arizona’s arid landscape isn’t just about environmental consciousness, but about belonging: to the sand, the stone, and the wind that carry memory across generations. Whether among mesquite and wild sage or beneath the shadow of the mountains, it’s a farewell that honors both spirit and soil.

�� Marana Mortuary & Cemetery (hybrid) - AZ

In Southern Arizona, surrounded by desert skies and saguaro landscapes, Marana Mortuary & Cemetery provides families with the region’s only green burial option. Unlike conventional cemeteries, this space allows burials that embrace simplicity and respect for the land, no concrete vaults, no embalming, and only biodegradable materials.

Here, families can choose a path that reflects their values: a return to the earth that is both natural and compassionate. For many, it’s not just about lowering environmental impact, it’s about creating a farewell that feels true, personal, and connected to place.

As one of the few cemeteries in the state offering this choice, Marana stands as an important option for those in Pima and Pinal Counties who want to honor their loved ones in a way that also honors the desert itself.

��Bisbee Memorial Gardens (hybrid) - Bisbee, AZ

Bisbee Memory Gardens sits just outside downtown, surrounded by the majestic Mule Mountains and views of Northern Mexico. In 2024, Ed Bixby and Rich Wong acquired the property with the intention of protecting and preserving Bisbee’s unique history and breathtaking natural landscape.

If there isn’t a natural burial ground near you, many traditional cemeteries in Arizona are beginning to explore more sustainable practices. Start by speaking with local caretakers or boards about dedicating a vault-free section designed for biodegradable materials and native desert plants. Emphasize the ecological fit, in a region already shaped by natural cycles of drought and renewal, green burial offers beauty without waste. Share examples from neighboring states and resources from the Green Burial Council to demonstrate feasibility. With collaboration and care, Arizona’s cemeteries can evolve to reflect the desert’s enduring lesson: that everything living must someday return to the land that gave it life.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

In my own experience, I’ve called cemeteries claiming to offer green options, only to be met with confusion — once even being told they could provide a “tree pod burial” (a concept that doesn’t exist in any practical or legal form). It’s clear that in many established cemeteries, these offerings are being added to appease public demand rather than to honor the principles of ecological restoration, community connection, and authenticity that define green burial.

Sunwest Cemetery

El Mirage, AZ

National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

Phoenix, AZ

Green Burial Alaska

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 03:37:23 GMT

Alaska

��Alaska Natural Burial - Anchorage, AK

A heartfelt, community-driven project creating Anchorage’s first natural burial cemetery. Instead of stone and concrete, this resting place will be formed of living land, where everything goes back to the earth in time.
Guided by values of connection , respect , sustainability , and service , the board is made up of Anchorage locals deeply rooted in nature, finance, ritual, and care. The emerging site, near Potter Marsh, could become beautiful green space, used for reflection, walking, or even birdwatching, by families now and generations to come.
I believe in honoring life through endings that nurture, rather than take. If you care about environmentally conscious death care or Anchorage’s natural landscape, this is a project worth watching and supporting.

If your community doesn’t yet have a natural burial option, start by reaching out to local caretakers, borough officials, or tribal land stewards. Many Alaskan cemeteries are small, community-managed spaces that may be open to setting aside a section for vault-free, natural burials. Discuss how permafrost, soil composition, and wildlife considerations affect burial depth and placement, these are key factors in Alaska’s unique environment. Share examples of hybrid cemeteries and the environmental benefits of natural burial in northern climates. With collaboration and respect for the land, Alaska’s cemeteries can become places that honor the cycles of life in harmony with the wild that surrounds them.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

Green Burial Alabama

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 03:30:16 GMT

ALABAMA

In Alabama, where rolling hills meet pine forests and red clay roads wind through generations of family land, the idea of returning to the earth feels deeply natural. Green burial here isn’t a trend, it’s a return to the simplicity and reverence that once defined Southern funerary traditions. Families are rediscovering that the most meaningful goodbyes are often the simplest: a body wrapped in a shroud or laid in a wooden casket, buried directly in the soil that raised them. From the foothills of the Appalachians to the quiet Gulf Coast, Alabamians are finding peace in knowing that their final resting place can give back to the land they’ve always called home.

��The Good Earth Natural Burial Cemetery - Hazel Green, AL

This is a place where burials return to simplicityno embalming, no vaults, no concrete, just earth, biodegradable materials, and a focus on letting the land stay natural.

What I appreciate about The Good Earth is how much it encourages families to be involved. Loved ones can take part in the burial process, even digging and closing the grave if they choose. It turns what could feel like a distant, clinical event into something meaningful and grounded in care.

Plots are offered in the meadow or woods, and there’s space for both full-body and cremation burials. It’s a reminder that natural burial isn’t just eco-friendly, but also rooted in compassion.

I support The Good Earth because it reflects what green burial is meant to be: simple, sustainable, and human. For anyone in Alabama looking for an alternative to conventional cemete ries, this is a place worth visiting and learning about.

If your local cemetery doesn’t yet offer green burial, begin the conversation with the sexton or board about setting aside a section for vault-free burials. Many small rural cemeteries in Alabama are family- or church-run, and open to thoughtful dialogue about natural options once the process is explained. Ask about waivers for vaults and embalming, and share resources from the Green Burial Council or neighboring states with successful hybrid models. With community support and a little education, even long-standing Southern cemeteries can embrace a return to earth that honors both tradition and sustainability.

If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!

As public awareness grows, more cemeteries are beginning to advertise green burial options, but in many cases, what’s being offered is little more than a pacifier for those asking for change. Thes e are what I call “shades of green” burials: small gestures toward sustainability that lack true understanding or practice of natural burial values.

If you’re exploring green burial for yourself or a loved one, approach these claims with caution. Ask questions, lots of them. Who manages the green section? Do they require vaults, liners, or embalming? What kind of caskets or shrouds are permitted? How often do they actually conduct natural burials?

Sunset Memorial Park
Midland City AL 3635

Tallapoosa County Memorial Gardens

Dadeville AL 36853

Ashes2Earth

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 20:51:13 GMT

Artist Spotlight: Ashes 2 Earth

Every so often, I meet creators whose work embodies exactly what I fight for in deathcare: bringing heart, heritage, and humanity back into the way we remember our loved ones.

Meet Wendi Spiers and Carlos Oropeza , the husband-and-wife team behind Ashes 2 Earth , born from their studio Mean Pony Pottery in Fiddletown, California.

After Wendi lost her beloved aunt, she wanted to create something more personal - remembrance vessels that could hold not just ashes, but love. Together, she and Carlos began handcrafting urns inspired by his Mexico City roots and the spirit of Día de los Muertos , celebrating the bond between the living and the dead through art and clay.

Despite their heartfelt work, many funeral homes, crematories, and even veterinarians refused to let them share their flyers or products, a reminder of how corporate deathcare often silences small, soulful makers who are trying to offer families something real and meaningful.

So, I’m sharing them here, because independent artists like Wendi and Carlos deserve to be seen. Their pieces transform loss into light, reminding us that remembrance can be as unique and beautiful as the life it honors.

Explore their work at Ashes2Earth.com

New Paragraph

The Last Acts of Petra and Michael

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 22:57:48 GMT

The Last Thing Petra and Michael Wanted

When Petra and Michael Mathers decided their time had come, they did what they had always done, they did it together, quietly, and with care.

They’d been married more than forty years. Petra was a children’s book author and illustrator with a gentle, whimsical touch. Michael was a photographer known for capturing fading corners of the American West. Both carried themselves with the kind of calm that comes from knowing who you are and what matters.

So when handwritten letters started showing up across Oregon and Washington, signed, stamped, and sent to friends and familiar places, no one realized right away they were the couple’s final words.

One envelope arrived at Paramount Drug in Astoria, where Petra and Michael were regulars. It was addressed to the staff by name. Inside, Petra had written on yellow legal paper:

“When Michael and I got together some 40 plus years ago, we’d always planned on checking out together when the time comes. It did, and our resting place is in the graveyard in Oysterville… Come see us sometime… We’ve had a great run.”

Next to her signature, Michael had added a single line:

“I hope they’re playing ‘50s music where we go.”

Later that day, police found the couple at home on their wooded hillside. Petra was lying peacefully on a small sofa. Michael sat nearby in a chair. On the floor was a clear plastic bag, a canister marked compressed nitrogen, and a note to the officers who would find them.

“We apologize for this unpleasant task,” it said. “But since we want to quietly die together at home, this seemed the only solution.”

There were no flashing lights, no chaos. They had left instructions to keep things calm. Even the cats were safely boarded ahead of time.

Petra went first. Michael made sure she was gone, arranged her body gently, and followed using the same method. It was the kind of exit chosen by people who study their options closely — clean, quiet, and deliberate.

They weren’t ill. They weren’t broke. They were, by every account, still deeply in love. Friends called them “complicated,” but never unhappy. The only clue came years back when Petra once said, “It was Michael’s idea, and Michael is always right.”

Their graves rest beneath old trees in Oysterville Cemetery, a small seaside burial ground. On their curved headstone is a simple question mark.

When someone once asked about it, Michael smiled and said, “Because we don’t know what comes next.”

That was the heart of it, not despair, not drama, but mystery. The same sense of wonder that ran through Petra’s illustrated worlds and through Michael’s quiet photographs.

They lived with curiosity, and in the end, they stepped into the unknown the same way- side by side.

Nia Emberly Memrial Jewelry

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:17:43 GMT

The Story of Nia Emberly Memorial Jewelry

✨ I wanted to share this beautiful story from a small, independent memorial jewelry studio turning loss into art. Their journey began with love, grief, and one dog named Roody, and what they’ve created is something truly special. ��

Our story begins with my dog, Roody. He wasn't just a pet; he was my best friend. When he passed, receiving his ashes felt like a final, heartbreaking full stop. I was desperate to find a way to keep him with me, not in a box on a shelf, but in a way that felt alive, beautiful, and enduring.

I reached out to a local clay studio, Viva Clayworks, with a wild idea: could we blend his ashes into something wearable? That's where I met Sebastien, our ceramist. What started as a personal project of grief quickly became a shared mission. We spent the next two years in his studio, experimenting, failing, and slowly perfecting a unique, all-natural formula to solidify cremated remains. We launched Nia Emberly just three months ago, creating handcrafted memorial jewelry that transforms loss into a tangible connection.

But the path hasn't been easy. The most surprising challenge hasn't been the chemistry or the craft; it's been reaching the families who need us. As a small, independent studio, we've found it difficult to connect within an industry where a few large players control most of the pathways to grieving families. It’s a system that can unintentionally overlook small makers, no matter how heartfelt their work.

Growth is slow but steady, fueled by the families who find us and tell us, "This makes me feel like they're still with me." That’s why we keep going. We’re here for everyone who believes remembrance should be as unique and beautiful as the life it honors.

With gratitude,

Dave & Sebastien

Co-founders, Nia Emberly

https://niaemberly.ca/

@niaemberlymemorials

The Yin and Yang Afterlife

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 19:08:04 GMT

A Unique Display- guest post by Kendra Holliday

My mom died in 2019.

My dad died in 2023.

Thankfully, my family is death-positive (or morbid, depending on how you define it), and we were prepared for it.

In 2018, we got their end-of-life paperwork in place. We met with an estate lawyer who helped us with Power of Attorney and Wills.

A lifelong fan of true crime, my mom wanted to give back to the community, so she filled out paperwork for her and my dad to have their bodies donated to The Body Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Unfortunately, she died of sepsis, so they couldn't accept her body for forensic research, so we had to go with a backup plan - to cremate her and bury her at our rural family cemetery.

But she wanted her ashes mixed with my dad's (so did he), so we held on to her cremains until it was his time. We did not embalm either one of them.

My sisters and I witnessed her cremation. It took place in a local cemetery's crematorium.

A few days later, we picked up her ashes from the funeral director. We each saved a little bit of them in miniature urns, but the bulk of her remains were waiting for my dad.

On her deathbed, she asked me to look after my dad, and I was glad to honor her wish. He had dementia, and it got a lot worse after she died, and he moved into an assisted living facility right as the pandemic hit.

By the time he died of Congestive Heart Failure in 2023, we had learned about aquamation, so we decided to go that route with dad. We're fortunate to have a good facility right here in St Louis (families have shipped bodies from Texas and other states to get aquamated), and the funeral director allowed the entire family to witness dad's aquamation.

I even got to turn the wheel on the steel chamber to get the process started.

After a body is cremated or aquamated, it's reduced to a pile of bones, which they place into a cremulator to grind them up into a sand-like consistency, the "ashes".

It hadn't occurred to me to ask with my mom, but for my dad, we asked if we could see his remains before they were ground up. To our morbid delight, the funeral director said yes!

So a few days after my dad was aquamated, my sisters and I went to view his bones.

Here I am, holding his thigh bone. It's quite surreal handling the remains of your parents, but we did so with great reverence and awe.

When we got his cremains back, we held a celebration of life for the both of them. We couldn't resist putting googly eyes on their cremains boxes - dad's aquamation box was green, mom's cremation box was black.

After the celebration, we mixed them together, but before we did that, we made a beautiful yin and yang design - dad's ashes are sandy colored, mom's are grey. They're separated with a toy earthworm, to symbolize going back to the earth. The two marbles contain ashes from my mom.

When the ashes were mixed together, they turned a lovely lavender color.

Then we planned a trip to the family cemetery, where we buried them at the grave of my baby brother, who died in 1980. We did it ourselves, taking turns digging.

Our parents would've been SO proud we honored them in such a personal way. We spent countless hours in that country cemetery, it was one of their favorite places.

Since it's located an hour away, I arranged to have a memorial bench installed in my neighborhood.

I walk to it and visit "them" everyday, but of course I carry them in my heart wherever I go.

They are both so much a part of me.

Kendra Holliday, daughter of Ken and Rita Prouty

https://www.osfuneralhomes.com/obituary/rita-ferguson-prouty

https://www.osfuneralhomes.com/obituary/kenneth-raymond-prouty

View all photos on Instagram

Tips

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 04:02:08 GMT

�� Money-Saving Secrets for Funeral Planning

A helpful guide curated by the online community of�� The Modern Mortician

I asked my facebook community for their money-saving secrets they'd pass along to a friend planning a funeral, and after over 100 comments and one month, here's what they said:

�� Most Popular Tips

1️⃣ Pre-plan, but think carefully before pre-paying.
Use a trust, insurance, or POD account instead of paying a single funeral home directly.

2️⃣ Shop around & compare General Price Lists.
If a funeral home does not have their prices online, request it emailed. Ask what’s legally required vs. what’s just policy.

3️⃣ Bring your own casket or urn.
It’s your right under the FTC Funeral Rule . �� Titan , Costco, Walmart, eBay, Amazon, or local makers can save thousands.

4️⃣ Skip embalming when not required.
Refrigeration or quick timelines can do the trick.

5️⃣ Choose simple disposition.
��Direct cremation or ��green burial both save money and the planet.

6️⃣ Avoid fancy vaults or gasketed caskets.
Nothing is waterproof, and a basic liner works fine.

7️⃣ Remember: Price ≠ Love.
A meaningful goodbye doesn’t require overspending. ❤️

�� Mid-Level Tips

✨ DIY where you can: write the obituary, use a blanket instead of flowers, host at home or in a church.
✨ Consider body donation: many programs cover transport & cremation entirely.
✨ Ask: “Show me where this is required by law.”
✨ Use direct cremation providers or cremation societies.
✨ Home or backyard burials may be legal, check your state codes.

�� Pro Tips & Lesser-Known Savings

�� Buy headstones from the vendor directly and skip the commission; programs & guest books can be found at Craft Stores, or on Etsy or Canva.
�� Avoid Saturday Services (some homes charge $500+ more).
�� Don’t order an abundance of death certificates, discuss immediate need, you can request more later.
�� Religious or community burial groups often help families for free or low-cost.
�� If prepaying, make it irrevocable to protect it from Medicaid or lawsuits.

�� Humor & Perspective

�� “Don’t die.”
— Still the cheapest funeral plan known to man.

⚰️ “Live forever, your family might not appreciate the inconvenience.”

�� “If you’re planning your own funeral, you’re already ahead of the game, literally.”

�� “He wanted a burial at sea… so we flushed his ashes in the guest bathroom.”

��️ “Nothing says ‘I loved you’ like a $12,000 mahogany box you’ll never see again.”

�� “Skip the casket, throw me in a ditch. At least I’ll finally be organic.”

��️ “DIY funeral? Just don’t use duct tape. That’s not what they meant by ‘closure.’”

�� “Remember, the dead don’t care, but your wallet does.”

�� “You can’t take it with you, but you can make sure your family keeps theirs.”

�� “Love isn’t measured in lilies and lace; it’s measured in the laughter left behind.”

�� “Green burial: because even in death, you can still go green before you go gray.”

�� “Write your wishes down now, because haunting your relatives later is such bad manners.”

�� “Ask to see the price list, not the priest list.”

�� “Don’t let guilt write the check. Grief’s expensive enough already.”

�� “And if all else fails, just have the dog scatter your ashes at the park. He’ll know what to do.”

The Science of Scattering Cremains- Flame v Water

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 18:30:18 GMT

Why Water Cremains and Flame Cremains

React Differently on Grass and Soil

(image of a vial of water cremains on the left, and flame cremains on the right)

When families choose cremation, whether by flame or water (alkaline hydrolysis), they often imagine scattering ashes as a simple return to nature. But what happens after scattering depends heavily on how those cremains were created. Flame cremains and water cremains look and behave differently because of their chemical composition, texture, and pH balance. Understanding these differences helps families make informed decisions about where, and how, to spread them responsibly.

Flame Cremains: Dry, Alkaline, and Mineral-Heavy

Flame cremation reduces the body to bone fragments through high heat (1400–1800°F). These are then mechanically processed into the fine, sandy powder most people recognize as “ashes.”

Composition : Primarily calcium phosphates, carbonates, and trace minerals.

pH Level : Strongly alkaline.

Texture : Dry, coarse, and gritty.

When spread on grass or soil:

The high alkalinity can burn grass or inhibit plant growth by disrupting the soil’s natural balance.

Because they don’t dissolve easily, flame cremains can sit on top of soil like a chalky layer.

Without dilution or mixing, they can create concentrated “hot spots” that damage lawns or plants.

This is why families are often advised to blend flame cremains with soil amendments (like peat moss, compost, or bio-urn additives) before scattering.

Water Cremains : Softer, Neutralized, and Soil-Friendly

Water cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis, uses a gentle mix of water, heat, and alkaline salts to return the body to bone. The bone fragments are then dried and processed, just like flame cremation, but the outcome is chemically distinct.

Composition : Calcium phosphate in a purer, more uniform form.

pH Level : Closer to neutral once processed, less caustic to soils.

Texture : Softer, finer, almost like powdered chalk.

When spread on grass or soil:

Water cremains tend to integrate more easily with the soil.

They’re less likely to scorch plants or disrupt microbial life.

Families often find them gentler for scattering in gardens, forests, or natural burial grounds.

Because of these qualities, water cremains are often described as the more “earth-friendly” option when considering scattering directly on soil or near vegetation.

Why This Matters:

Many families picture scattering ashes under a favorite tree or in the family garden as a beautiful tribute. But if flame cremains are applied heavily without preparation, the soil may suffer, and plants can die back. Water cremains, on the other hand, are less harsh and tend to harmonize with the environment more naturally.

Best Practices for Scattering Either Type:

Mix cremains with topsoil or compost before scattering.

Scatter lightly over a wide area rather than concentrating in one spot.

For gardens, use a buffering product or planting urn designed to balance pH.

Consider scattering in conservation areas, memorial gardens, or with a green burial provider who can guide you.

In Summary :

Flame cremains are heavier, drier, and more alkaline, which can harm grass or soil without preparation. Water cremains are softer, finer, and more balanced, making them less disruptive to natural environments. Both methods can be meaningful ways to honor a loved one, but knowing the differences ensures that the tribute also nourishes, rather than harms, the earth. - Melissa Meadow

Articles & Sources on Flame vs. Water Cremains

Eternal Tides – Problems with Cremated Remains
https://www.eternaltidesfmwf.com/blog/cremationproblems3
Be a Tree Cremation – Water vs. Fire Cremation Ashes
https://www.beatreecremation.com/learn/water-vs-fire-cremation-ashes
Carolina Memorial Sanctuary – Options for Cremated Remains (Green Burial & Scattering)
https://carolinamemorialsanctuary.org/cremated-remains-options-green-burial-scattering/
Mornington Green – Are Human Ashes Bad for the Environment?
https://morningtongreen.com.au/are-human-ashes-bad-for-the-environment/
Better Place Forests – Aquamation vs. Cremation
https://www.betterplaceforests.com/blog/aquamation-vs-cremation/
Endswell Funeral Home – Guide to Alkaline Hydrolysis (Aquamation)
https://endswellfuneralhome.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-alkaline-hydrolysis-aquamation-a-gentle-and-eco-friendly-alternative-to-cremation/
Wikipedia – Cremation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cremation
Wikipedia – Water Cremation (Alkaline Hydrolysis)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_cremation

Water Cremation Locations

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:31:26 GMT

Water Cremation in the U.S. :

Where It's Legal and Available Facilities

*current to January 2026, please contact us if there is a location not listed.

The internet has let me down with over the years is providing an up to date list of providers with access to a water cremation facility. I sat down and poured over each state to find out who has it, and who to call.

What is Water Cremation?

Water cremation involves placing the body in a pressurized vessel filled with water and a small amount of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. The mixture is gently heated, dissolving soft tissue and leaving behind clean white bones (processed into ashes) and a sterile liquid byproduct. Unlike traditional cremation, it produces no harmful emissions and has a significantly lower carbon footprint.

States Where Water Cremation is Legal

Alabama

Legalized : 2017
Facility :
Alabama Aquamations , Oxford AL
Miller Funeral Home , Oxford, AL

Arizona

Legalized : 2023
Notes : No current human facilities available.

Georgia

Legalized : 2010
Facility :
Miller Funeral Home, Tallapoosa, GA

Hawaii

Legalized : 2022
Facility :
Aloha Mortuary, Honolulu, HI

Idaho

Legalized : 2014
Facility :
English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, ID

Illinois

Legalized : 2012
Facilities :
Cremation by Water, Arlington Heights, IL
UC Davis Callahan Funeral Home, Morris, IL
Aquagreen Dispositions, South Holland, IL
Caring Cremations, Chicago, IL

Indiana

Legalized : July 1, 2025
Notes : No facilities available yet

Kansas

Legalized : 2010
Notes : No facilities available; neighboring states like Missouri offer services.

Maine

Legalized : 2009
Facilities :
Direct Cremation of Maine, Belfast, ME

Maryland

Legalized : 2011
Facility :
Joseph H. Brown Funeral Home, Baltimore, MD

Minnesota

Missouri

Legal Status : Included under general cremation law.
Facilities :
Hughes Funeral Alternatives, St. Louis, MO
Schrader Funeral Home & Crematory, Ballwin, MO
Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services, St. Peters, MO
Shepard Funeral Chapel, St. Louis, MO

Nevada

Legalized : 2017
Facility :
AFTERALL Kraft-Sussman Funeral & Cremation Services, Las Vegas, NV
Green Farewells, Clark County, NV
AFTERALL Vegas Valley Cremation, Las Vegas, NV

North Carolina

North Dakota

Legalized : 2023
Notes: No facilities available yet

Oklahoma

Legalized : 2021
Facility :
McElyea and Owens Funeral Group, Shawnee, OK

Oregon

Legalized : 2009
Facilities :
River View Cemetery Funeral Home, Portland, OR
Rose City Cemetery & Funeral Home, Portland, OR
Cascade Cremation & Burial, Klamath Falls, OR
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Corrage Grove, OR
Pearson's Funeral Home, Roseburg, OR
Discount Cremation, Portland, OR

Tennessee

Legalized : 2013
Notes : No facilities available yet

Utah

Legalized : 2018
Facilities :
Tate Mortuary, Tooele, UT
Starks Funeral Parlor, Salt Lake City, UT

Vermont

Legalized : 2014
Facilities :
Minor Funeral Home, Milton, VT
Leaf and Water Direct, Bennington, VT

Washington State

Legalized : 2020
Facilities :
Bonney Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, WA
The Co-op Funeral Home of People's Memorial, Seattle, WA
Washington Cremation Centers, Kent, WA

West Virginia

Legalized : Legal but no facilities available.

Wyoming

Legalized : 2014
Notes : No facilities available.

States Without Water Cremation

One thing to keep in mind, ANY funeral home can offer water cremation, even if they do not have a facility. It is as simple as planning arrangements to be transported to the nearest facility, which may be as simple as the next state over.

Unfortunately, in several states, water cremation remains illegal or unregulated. These states include:

Alaska
Arkansas
Delaware
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire (previously legal but repealed)
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
Virginia
Washington D.C.
Wisconsin

Why Choose Water Cremation?

Water cremation offers numerous benefits:

Environmentally Friendly : Reduces emissions and energy consumption.
Gentle Process : Mimics natural decomposition.
Cost-Effective : Comparable pricing to traditional cremation.

As demand for sustainable end-of-life options grows, more states are recognizing the importance of legalizing water cremation.

Final Thoughts

Water cremation is a growing trend across the United States. With its environmental benefits and gentle process, it's no surprise that more families are considering this alternative. If you're in a state where water cremation is legal, reach out to one of the facilities listed to explore your options.

For those in states without legal water cremation, advocacy and education can help pave the way for future changeIn recent years, water cremation (also known as alkaline hydrolysis or aquamation) has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame-based cremation. This innovative method uses a water and alkaline solution to gently break down the body, mimicking natural decomposition in an accelerated process. It's more sustainable, producing fewer emissions and consuming less energy.

If you know of a facility that has not made this list, please let us know! EMAIL

FAQ: What’s the Greenest Way to Die?

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:24:05 GMT

�� I Get Asked This All the Time: What’s the Greenest Way to Die?

Let’s talk real.

One of the most common questions I get in my inbox, in comments, at events, and sometimes even at the dog park is, "What’s actually the most eco-friendly way to handle a body after death?"

The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But if we’re stacking them up environmentally, yes, there are greener options. And there’s also a lot of greenwashing out there. So let me break down what’s what when it comes to green burial, human composting, flame cremation, and water cremation.

�� Flame Cremation

The old standby. It's what most people are offered, especially if they’re in a rush or on a budget. But it’s got a major downside.

�� Facts:

Each flame cremation = over 500 lbs of CO₂ into the air.
Also releases mercury, carbon monoxide, and other toxins.
The ashes? They’re inert — they don’t enrich the soil.

�� Best for: Accessibility. But not the Earth.

�� Water Cremation (Alkaline Hydrolysis)

This one’s gaining traction, it uses water, heat, and alkali (like baking soda) to gently break down the body. The result? Sterile liquid and clean bone fragments.

�� Facts:

Uses about 90% less energy than flame cremation.
No air pollution. No mercury emissions. Nothing released into the sky.
What’s left? Pure white bone ash and sterile liquid, often returned to the water system.

�� Best for: People who want a clean, low-impact option that still feels similar to cremation.

�� Human Composting (Natural Organic Reduction / NOR)

This is where your body is placed in a vessel with wood chips, straw, and airflow for about 45 - 60 days until it turns into rich mulch. It’s not just “dump me in the dirt”, it’s done in a controlled facility.

�� Facts:

You turn into about 3 cubic yards of soil.
It requires energy input and machinery, so not as green as burial, but way better than cremation.
Gases produced (CO₂, ammonia) are filtered before release.
Some people choose to keep part of the soil, and the rest is donated to conservation.

�� Best for: Folks who don’t have access to a green burial site but still want to give back to the Earth.

�� Green Burial

This is the one where I light up. Green burial means no embalming, no plastic caskets, no vaults. Just a body, a biodegradable shroud or box, and the Earth.

�� Facts:

Your body decomposes naturally, and stays in one location.
Zero chemicals, zero emissions.
Often done in conservation cemeteries, meaning your death helps protect wildlife habitats and green space.

�� Best for: The truly Earth-loving minimalist.

�� Final Thoughts From Your Modern Mortician

I’m not here to shame anyone, but I am here to tell the truth.

If your goal is to leave the planet better than you found it , green burial is still the most natural, low-impact option. It’s literally the oldest way we’ve done it. After that, I’d rank human composting and water cremation as great middle-ground options for folks without access to a natural cemetery.

Note: Prices vary a lot depending on location, provider, and add-ons. Some funeral homes overcharge even for "simple" services.

Pay to Play is not the answer for Transparent Funeral Planning

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:48:45 GMT

The Problem with Funeralocity and similar sites:

Why It's Time to Look Elsewhere for Transparent Funeral Planning

When a loved one dies or when you're planning ahead for your own farewell, the last thing you need is a website feeding you half-truths. That’s why I want to talk openly about Funeralocity, a funeral comparison site that claims to help families make informed choices… but often falls short.

I’ve worked in this industry for nearly two decades, and I've seen firsthand how misleading tools can impact grieving families. Funeralocity is one of those tools. Here’s why:

1. Pay-to-Play Listings Skew the Results

Funeralocity isn’t a neutral, community-driven directory. Funeral homes can pay to be "Verified" or to appear more prominently in search results. This means the funeral homes you see first on the site may not be the best fit, they’re just the ones who paid for visibility.

Families deserve an unbiased look at all options, not just the ones with the biggest marketing budgets.

2. The Pricing Is Often Outdated or Incomplete

Funeralocity promotes price transparency, but the devil is in the details. Many listings show generic packages or stale pricing pulled from outdated public documents. Funeral homes don’t always update their info on the site, and many don’t even know they’re listed.

That means families might get a false sense of cost and sticker shock later when hidden fees or required add-ons appear.

3. Green and Alternative Options Are Sidelined

If you’re looking for something outside the box, like home funerals, natural burial, alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation), or culturally specific practices, Funeralocity likely won’t help you. The site is built around traditional funeral models and corporate service packages, with little space for innovation, ritual, or cultural nuance.

That’s a huge disservice to the growing number of people who want sustainable, meaningful end-of-life care.

4. Listings Are Often Auto-Generated and Unverified

Many funeral homes listed on Funeralocity haven’t claimed or updated their profiles. Some didn’t even consent to be listed. So while it looks like a full directory, you’re often dealing with stale, auto-populated data, not real-time insight into who’s available, what they offer, or whether they’re a good match for your needs.

5. Corporate Chains Dominate the Site

Like many consumer platforms, Funeralocity tends to amplify corporate-owned funeral homes, which can afford the pay-to-play model. That leaves smaller, independent funeral homes buried in the listings, even if they offer more personal, affordable, or community-based care.

In short: what looks like a broad comparison is often just an ad for the biggest fish in the pond.

What to Do Instead?

Start by asking someone you trust in the end-of-life space, whether it’s a death doula, hospice worker, or independent funeral consultant (hi, I’m here for you). You deserve transparent options that match your values, your budget, and your cultural or spiritual needs.

Funeralocity may be a place to start, but it’s not the full story, and it’s definitely not the finish line.

If you're looking for real help navigating this space, my BEST suggestion is through your local affiliate of The Funeral Consumers Allliance .

Because the end of a life deserves more than a marketing algorithm.

��Similar Directory Sites like Funeralocity to be cautious of:

1. Parting.com

Claims to offer transparent funeral pricing by zip code.
Offers comparison tools and package overviews.
Downside: Like Funeralocity, funeral homes can pay to be featured, and listings may be outdated or incomplete.

2. Ever Loved

Allows families to create memorial pages and crowdfund funerals.
Also lists funeral homes, cremation services, and cemeteries by area.
Downside: Service providers can pay for premium placement. Some listings are not verified or maintained by the businesses themselves.

3. Funeral Finder

Simple online directory of funeral homes and cemeteries.
Downside: Basic listings with very little detail; most do not include pricing or reviews.

4. Legacy.com Funeral Homes Directory

Better known for obituaries, but it has a funeral home search function.
Downside: Very limited functionality — no pricing, no service breakdowns.

5. Gathered Here (Australia)

For users in Australia — a price comparison tool and directory for funeral providers.
Downside: Same pay-to-play and limited data transparency as U.S. sites.

Mycelium Marketing: Mushrooms in Deathcare

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 17:37:04 GMT

When the “mushroom shroud” first hit the funeral industry, I was intrigued, albeight briefly.

A burial garment laced with spores that claimed to neutralize toxins and help decompose the human body faster?

It sounded revolutionary.

But I was closer to the mushroom suit than most. I was in the room, so to speak. I watched the marketing balloon inflate, and I saw who benefited. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t the consumer, and it certainly wasn’t the planet.

That early mushroom shroud turned out to be more PR than practicality. It relied heavily on the public's love for nature-inspired innovation but had very little transparent science to back up its promises. I didn’t see any peer-reviewed data or detailed decomposition timelines. I saw branding. I saw $$$. I saw hashtags. I saw funerary folklore dressed up as eco-tech.

So, yes, my involvement left me deeply skeptical of any product touting mycelium as a miracle solution for green burial.

Then came Loop Biotech , with slick design and viral marketing. Their “living cocoon”, a coffin grown from mycelium, was being shared widely across social media, lauded as the future of sustainable burial. It looks futuristic, soft, and gentle...a decomposable cradle for the body. People in my inbox were tagging me constantly, excited by the idea.

But once again, I had questions. Loop Biotech is based in the Netherlands. These mushroom coffins, as lovely as they are in theory, are being shipped across oceans to American consumers. That’s not sustainable—that’s greenwashing . When your "eco coffin" travels 3,000+ miles in a box, your carbon footprint isn’t shrinking. It’s just hidden under compostable packaging.

It was after a respected casket supplier shared about offering Loop Biotech coffins, that I was then introduced to Setas Mushrooms in the comment section. Quietly working out of Pennsylvania , this small business is making mushroom coffins right here in the U.S. Their approach is humble, local, and genuinely rooted in regenerative design. Setas isn’t trying to dominate the market with buzzwords—they're cultivating solutions, literally.

Their coffins are grown, not built, using mycelium and agricultural waste. They’ve focused on keeping things local and sustainable from beginning to end. No flashy campaigns, just a small American company doing the actual work.

And that’s what frustrates me. The funeral industry has a habit—whether from laziness, ignorance, or greed—of looking overseas for flashy solutions while ignoring what’s growing in our own backyard. Why are we giving clicks and dollars to Dutch startups when there’s a team in Pennsylvania already offering better, more accessible alternatives?

As someone who has spent years fighting for transparency, ethical pricing, and environmental responsibility in deathcare, I’ll say this plainly:
If we’re going to go green, let’s go local first.

Because compostable doesn’t mean ethical, and biodegradable doesn’t mean better—unless you’ve taken the time to know the source, the science, and the story behind the shroud.

Home Funeral Guide for Pet Companions

Sat, 31 May 2025 04:02:44 GMT

I understand facing the death of a companion can be overwhelming and heartbreaking. If it brings you comfort and guidance, I share the home funeral and burial of my beloved cat here for you to read my first hand experience.

Please do not hesitate to contact if you have a pressing question.

This information is collaborated and provided at no cost to you, however, if you appreciate and benefitted from this information or Melissa directly,

Tips are graciously accepted through PAYPAL , VENMO , and CASHAPP .

The Truth About Scattering Cremated Remains: Why Ashes Don’t Return to the Earth Naturally

Wed, 21 May 2025 21:50:09 GMT

The Truth About Scattering Cremated Remains:

Why Ashes Don’t Return to the Earth Naturally

It’s a common image—someone gently scattering ashes in a forest, over water, or across a grave, believing the remains of a loved one will softly merge back into nature. It feels sacred. Peaceful. Healing.

But the truth is: cremated remains don’t behave the way we think they do.

What Are Cremated Remains, Really?

Despite the term “ashes,” what we receive after a cremation is not soft ash at all. Cremated remains are actually pulverized bone fragments, processed down to a fine, sand-like material. Chemically, they are nothing like the fertile ashes left after a campfire.

Cremains are extremely alkaline, with a pH often above 11. They contain high levels of salts and calcium phosphate—and when they come into contact with moisture, they can form a hard, cement-like crust on the soil. This hardened layer creates a barrier, preventing water absorption, suffocating soil biology, and killing plant life underneath.

What was intended as a healing gesture becomes, unintentionally, harmful to the very earth we hoped to return to.

Real Consequences: What Happens When You Dump Ashes on a Grave

The image included in this post shows the result of cremains poured directly over an existing grave. People often think they're “blessing the site” or “returning” a loved one to rest—but without preparation, what’s left is a scorched, impenetrable surface that disrupts soil health, damages plant roots, and changes the landscape.

Even worse, in cemeteries, this can violate regulations or disturb nearby graves. And in parks or natural areas, it may be against the law to scatter remains without permission.

Why This Matters for the Environment

Cremation is often chosen for its perceived simplicity or eco-friendliness—but what you do with the remains matters just as much as how the body was handled.

When cremains are dumped without any preparation:

Soil pH becomes unbalanced, leading to die-off in surrounding vegetation

Water runoff can carry concentrated salts into nearby water systems

Wildlife may be exposed to foreign material their environment can't process

A sacred site may be unintentionally desecrated or chemically damaged

So, What Can You Do Instead?

If you’ve chosen cremation—either for yourself or a loved one—there are better, more sustainable ways to return those remains to the earth:

✅ Mix with Soil Conditioners

Before scattering or burying cremains, blend them with compost, peat moss, or soil to buffer the pH and reduce the harsh mineral concentration. This creates a more hospitable environment for plant and microbial life.

✅ Choose a Biodegradable Urn

Urns made from paper, salt, cornstarch, or tree-based materials are designed to break down naturally and support the integration of remains into the soil.

✅ Plant with Purpose

If planting a tree or garden in memory, use specially designed eco urns or mix cremains with biochar and amendments that help nurture plant life, rather than harm it.

✅ Consult a Professional

Talk to a funeral consultant, green burial advocate, or soil scientist who understands both the chemistry of cremains and the ethics of land use. They can help you create a plan that honors your values and respects the earth.

Sacred Doesn’t Mean Simple—It Means Informed

Scattering or burying cremated remains is a deeply personal act. But if we want to be part of the life cycle—to “return to the earth” in a true and respectful way—we have to engage with the science as well as the symbolism.

Ashes don’t become soil on their own. But with the right guidance, they can help nourish a landscape, support biodiversity, and truly merge with nature in a meaningful way.

If you're not sure where to start, I’m here to help. As a funeral consultant and green burial advocate, I offer sustainable planning for cremated remains that considers science, legality, and legacy.

Let’s create a plan that honors life—yours, your loved one’s, and the earth’s.

Healing Through Creation: Carolyn’s Journey to Sacred Embers

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 17:50:57 GMT

Healing Through Creation:

Carolyn’s Journey to Sacred Embers

✨ Artist Spotlight: Creative Forces by Carolyn & Sacred Embers ✨

I want to introduce you to someone whose work goes far beyond art, someone who creates healing, memory, and connection with her hands and her heart.

Carolyn has been an artist her entire life. Even while navigating “real life” careers like Corrections Officer, sign shop owner, art gallery owner... but her creativity always pulled her back home. She paints, draws, works in fused glass, creates one-of-a-kind jewelry… she’s one of those people who simply creates because it’s in her blood.

Over time, her love for animals led her into pet portraiture, and many of her pieces became memorials. But the story of how Sacred Embers was born… that one will stay with you.

When her brother was dying of cancer, the two of them had a conversation that would change her life. He loved glass, loved entrepreneurship, and loved her. She shared with him the idea of creating art infused with the ashes of loved ones, be they humans or pets, as a tangible, sacred way to honor a life.

He encouraged her to do it.

He told her it made sense.

He teased her for being able to talk to people “in the next realm.”

And with his blessing, Sacred Embers was born.

Creating these pieces helped Carolyn heal and now she uses that same gift to help others heal. She sits with families, listens to their memories, hears their stories, and co-creates a piece of art that carries their love forward. She says she’s watched people transform right in front of her when they receive their Sacred Ember.

Her art is her heart work.

Her calling.

Her way of helping people through one of the hardest moments of their lives.

And in her words:

“It doesn’t get better. It only gets different.”

If you want to see her work or support her small business, here are her links:

�� Creative Forces by Carolyn

Website: creativeforcesbycarolyn.com

Facebook: facebook.com/creativeforcesllc

Instagram: instagram.com/carolynlosborne

�� Sacred Embers

Website: sacredembers.com

Facebook: facebook.com/sacredembers

Instagram: instagram.com/sacredembers_carolyn

If you or someone you love is looking for a meaningful way to honor a beloved human or pet, Carolyn is someone I truly recommend with my whole heart.

#SacredEmbers #MemorialArt #CreativeForcesByCarolyn

*Not an ad, just a fan. If you are a small creator or business in the death care space, and our values align, I would love to share you and your work as well! Reach out via email ��

The Home Funeral of Bella Lugosi

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:01:02 GMT

Bella Lugosi ~ written in 2015

I don’t know when she was born… when I adopted her, she was estimated to be about a year old, and that was back in 2001, putting her around the age of 15. Over those 14 years, I spent more time with this creature than any human companion in my life. She understood me better, too. She knew when I was sad; becoming the pillow for my face, allowing the tears to soak her fur, my arm in a vice grip around her warm body. She knew when I was happy; we had a special song… “My Bella My Bella”. I’d sing it to her, as she would sit on the counter watching me go through my morning routine. She was a calm and comforting being in my life.

She wasn’t “just a cat”.

Bella Lugosi was diagnosed with the C word in June, and the next day, my Bella was dead.

When the doctor uttered that word, cancer, I felt my stomach freeze and begin descend into a thick, black hole. Like I was hurtling into darkness and no one could see it, but I could feel it. My core went numb. I could feel the emotion drain from my face. He guessed she had three weeks… if I didn’t choose to attack it aggressively with tortuous procedures that wouldn’t necessarily prolong her existence, but might, at least I’d be doing something, right? Wrong. As much as I loved her, I loved her enough to know when to let her go. To let her comfort and needs come above my own selfish ones.

We went straight home. I turned on the YouTube series, “Ask A Mortician”, and watched Caitlin Doughty, founder of the Order of the Good Death, tell me how she performed an in home euthanasia and wake for her cat, The Meow. I wanted to be ready. I wanted to give Bella the Good Death. But I didn't need this information after all... it came naturally as I dipped into my human death care knowledge.

I called my friend Ellen, owner and caretaker of Eloise Woods Community Natural Burial Park. We would get together to pick a spot for Bella’s body in the next few days. I begin to reach out to mobile vet technicians, leaving messages, emailing… looking for someone who could come to us. I didn’t want Bella to go back into the car and to an unfamiliar place. I wanted her to die comfortably, in my arms, in her home.

That night, I sat up on the couch with Bella sleeping on my chest. I slept sporadically, monitoring her labored breathing, making sure she was comfortable. She shuffled off to her bed around 5am, her gait wobbly. I watched her struggle from the couch, and my eyes began to fill with hot tears. I shrugged the thought away, certainly we have more time… he said 3 weeks. I went about getting ready for work. I looked in on her at 7:30am that morning. She was curled up in her cat bed, and seemed restless. She shifted positions a few times before settling down. I opened a whole can of tuna, set it at her bedside, and left for work.

When I came home at lunch, it was clear my Bella was rapidly deteriorating. I began reaching out to the mobile veterinarians again. It was time, and if I didn’t act quickly, she would continue to suffer and decline. I finally got an appointment, and set about spending the last hour of her life doing everything she loved most. I called my roommate, Jessica, who came home to be with us. Bella and I sat outside on the concrete, and she sunned herself. She nibbled a little tuna, though she hadn’t touched what I left out for her that morning. She watched the birds and the squirrels. Then the vet arrived. We all went inside.

I positioned myself on the couch where we spent the night before. I had a towel, and her favorite blanket. The vet was very soft spoken, very reassuring. She explained every step of the process about to take place. Then she began the first injection.

Bella took her final breath comfortably in my arms. I don’t know how long I sat there, holding her limp body. The vet continued to talk… soft, soothing. Uh-huh. I don’t know what I was agreeing too… uh-huh is my default answer. The vet gently excused herself and exited the home.

I remember going into autopilot. The tears had stopped. I positioned Bella in her bed, favorite blanket beneath her. I went about double bagging ice packs to lay under her for the night. I called Ellen, we agreed to meet at Eloise Woods at 7:30am. I ran an errand for work, eager to take my mind of the lifeless body off of my best friend laying out in the living room. Several hours later, emotions took hold, as I found myself alone at home with Bella’s body. It started with simply being seated at her side, softly stroking her fur for what I knew would be the last times. I had a human fingerprint kit at the ready, knowing I wanted to secure her paw print for a future memorial tattoo, and a pair of scissors to trim fur from her tail. What would have been a simple task of inking and pressing her paws to paper turned into sobbing child’s art project gone awry, as I distressed over the ink not coming clean of her soft fur and jelly bean toes. I found myself mumbling apologies to her incoherently, crying and mourning. After what felt like hours, but was certainly no more than 45 minutes, I pulled it together enough to realize I would not be spending the final night at home with Bella’s body. I would never get any suitable sleep. I was grief stricken and couldn’t keep my hands off her soft body, which was now stiffly posed in full rigor, a good 6 hours after her last breath. I placed her bed upon mine, where she used to sleep, closed my bedroom door, and retreated to the comfort of a friend for the remainder of the night.

I woke early after a surprisingly deep 5 hours of sleep, and drove home to take Bella to her final resting place in Eloise Woods.

Upon arrival, Ellen and I walked around the park, contemplating where I would bury her body. I finally settled on a place at the base of a towering tree, and Ellen began to break ground with a pick axe and her hands, shoveling large amounts of dirt out of the hole. She paused and let me take a turn before I eventually caved and let her finish the dig around some heavy roots and chunks of rock. When she was satisfied with the depth and width of the hole, I placed Bella and her blanket into the hole and positioned her collar with the name tag facing out, nested her toy mouse between her paws, then gently enveloped the rest of her body in the blanket before covering her- layer after gentle layer- with soil.

Ellen helped me pick a flat, flagstone marker for the grave, which had a paw already etched into it. She would later add Bella’s full name, Bella Lugosi.

I left my best fur friend at a place I love. I did it exactly the way I had hoped to. I gave my cat, Bella, a Good Death. As I drove away, my heart felt heavy, but my spirit felt lighter. I had given her a beautiful life and death- but the life she gave me I will never forget.

Life Forest offering Single Cremation Burials

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:13:39 GMT

Life Forest Single Cremation Burial Offerings in a Wool Burial Shroud

As someone who is interested in eco-friendly and sustainable funeral options, I was excited to come across The Life Forest's article about wool cremation burial shrouds. They have a unique offering for anyone who may not have a final resting place for cremated remains that may be hanging around the home.

Why wool cremation shrouds? They provide a natural and biodegradable alternative to traditional funeral materials, and they can be a great option for those who want to reduce their impact on the environment. They contain the reduced remains inside the heart of the bedding, keeping plant life roots safe from the alternative pH in the remains.

What are wool cremation burial shrouds? These wool cremation burial shrouds from Life Forest are provided with every single cremation placement. They are made from natural wool fibers that are woven together to create a soft and comfortable material. Unlike traditional funeral shrouds or caskets that are made from synthetic materials or hardwoods, these wool shrouds are completely biodegradable and will break down over time, returning the remains to the fabric of the earth in the most natural way.

Wool shrouds are also a great option for those who want a more natural and organic funeral experience. The soft wool fibers provide a comforting and warm cocoon for the body, and they can be decorated with flowers or other natural materials to create a beautiful and personalized final resting place.

If you are interested in finding out more about Life Forest, click here ! They will answer any questions you have and walk you through the process to help you choose the best option and location for your loved one.

In conclusion, these wool cremation burial shrouds by Life Forest are a natural, sustainable, and beautiful option for those who want to reduce their impact on the environment and create a personalized and organic final resting place. By choosing a wool shroud, you can honor the memory of your loved one in a way that is respectful, meaningful, and environmentally responsible- and place them to eternally rest in a beautiful sanctuary in nature.

The Price of Being a Whistleblower

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:16:51 GMT

Retaliation, Corruption, and a Fight for Justice

The Modern Mortician’s Legal Battle: Retaliation, Corruption, and a Fight for Justice

For over two decades, Melissa Meadow, known as The Modern Mortician, has dedicated her life to ethical, transparent, and sustainable deathcare. When she took a job at Penttila’s Funeral Home in Long Beach, Washington, efforts to improve practices quickly put her in the crosshairs. What began as consumer advocacy spiraled into wrongful accusations, retaliation, and a deeply flawed legal process that ended with a felony conviction for a crime she did not commit.

A Career of Advocacy Turns into a Target

Since 2015, Melissa has spoken openly about price gouging, misleading marketing, and corporate greed in deathcare. Despite criticism, she stayed in the field to push reform from within.

In April 2022, she was hired by Anderson, the owner of Penttila’s Funeral Home, after being transparent about her social media and advocacy. Soon she began documenting serious issues, including unlicensed cremations, improper body handling, and even cremations done on Amazon boxes instead of proper trays. Her attempts to fix problems were dismissed or mocked.

Her role included administrative work, updating price lists, and ordering supplies for three locations. Business credit cards were provided and saved in her Amazon account; she also used personal supplies for families; stationery, keepsakes, memorial items-without reimbursement.

By August 2022, tensions escalated. After she posted an educational Titan Casket unboxing (explaining families can buy directly), Anderson demanded she delete it. She refused. While on scheduled medical leave, she was fired by text on August 31.

Retaliation Begins

Retaliation followed. Anderson blocked her from packing her own things and had staff do it instead. When she arrived to retrieve belongings, she photographed a pile of Amazon boxes used as makeshift cremation trays, one of many practices she’d tried to correct.

Over the next months, Anderson told unemployment officials she’d been fired for harassing a colleague (a claim later overturned in her favor), filed a complaint with Washington’s funeral licensing authorities, and warned local funeral homes not to work with her. She was openly confronted in public.

By December 2022, while volunteering at the Long Beach post office during the holiday rush, Anderson allegedly demanded her removal, claiming she was under investigation. Days later, a local officer questioned her about Amazon purchases tied to Penttila’s. She explained that the business cards were saved to her account with Anderson’s knowledge and that many items had already been returned. She was not Mirandized, was pressured to provide a written statement, and left believing the matter was resolved.

A Wrongful Conviction

In March 2023, she received a court summons-not an arrest-charging theft in the second degree (alleged “theft by misdelivery”) for a casket that had been provided to her for social media marketing, not for the funeral home. She obtained a letter confirming this and prepared to present it. At her first hearing, she was assigned a court-appointed attorney, Justin Kover , who refused to meet outside brief courthouse encounters, ignored exonerating evidence, and repeatedly delayed proceedings.

As the case dragged on, prosecutors escalated from a single count to 14 counts of second-degree identity theft, each tied to individual Amazon transactions while employed and shortly thereafter. The actual total of genuinely personal, non-business purchases was under $300, yet she was never allowed to present the receipts and supporting documentation. What should have, at most, been a misdemeanor was strategically inflated into multiple felonies. She is willing to share documentation with legitimate legal aid or reporters.

On September 29, 2023, after months of delays, intimidation, and exhaustion, she signed a plea under duress, protesting even as she signed, “This isn’t what happened. This isn’t right.”

The Toll on Mental Health

The ordeal devastated her mental health. Already navigating disability and the compounding stress of job loss, financial instability, and industry burnout, the harassment and public defamation pushed her into survival mode. Having spent years advocating for better practices, she became a target of the very system she sought to improve.

Fighting Back

Melissa has filed a grievance against her attorney with the Washington State Bar, compiled extensive evidence of her innocence, and is eligible to seek expungement in 2028, which she intends to pursue. She continues to speak out about industry corruption, pushing for stronger oversight and protections for families and professionals.

Her podcast, Exposing Deathcare , has become a platform for others who have faced similar retaliation.

A System Rigged Against Whistleblowers

Melissa’s case shows how small-town power, legal inertia, and industry gatekeeping can be used to silence a whistleblower. She wasn’t punished for wrongdoing, she was punished for telling the truth.

Justice for The Modern Mortician

Melissa’s story isn’t over. After a year-long fight to defend her funeral director license and clear her name, she’s chosen not to maintain the license going forward, removing one more target for those trying to stall her work. She continues advocating for national regulatory reform and provides support and education in ethical deathcare. The industry may have tried to silence her; it underestimated her resilience.

Ongoing Silencing and Healing

Melissa’s fight for justice did not end with the courtroom. She continues to face efforts to silence her voice through anti-harassment orders issued by judges who, in many cases, are connected as clients of the very people who targeted her. These legal maneuvers serve not as protection, but as tools of intimidation, another way to keep her quiet and discredited.

Despite these obstacles, Melissa is actively working on her healing. She attends therapy to process the trauma and rebuild her sense of stability, while still pushing forward with her advocacy. Speaking out remains dangerous, but she refuses to give up. Her determination is rooted in a belief that transparency in deathcare is worth fighting for, and that others facing similar retaliation deserve to know they are not alone.

For more details, join our Patreon to read.

Could Human Compost Be A Contaminant?

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 18:49:09 GMT

Could Human Composting be a Contaminate?

Concerns Surrounding Human Composting

Human composting, also known as natural organic reduction (NOR), is a method of transforming human remains into nutrient-rich soil through a controlled process. While it is often promoted as a sustainable alternative to conventional burial and cremation, this practice has raised significant environmental, ethical, and regulatory concerns. The issues encompass chemical contamination risks, regulatory inadequacies, and public misconceptions. This essay explores these concerns comprehensively, focusing on chemical risks, regulatory gaps, public perception, and technological advancements.

Environmental Concerns: Chemical Contamination and Soil Safety

A significant concern with human composting is the risk of environmental contamination. Human bodies frequently contain harmful chemicals such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), medications, and heavy metals. PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," are pervasive in modern life and accumulate in human tissues over time. These substances resist degradation and, if present in composted human remains, could leach into the soil, contaminating groundwater or being absorbed by plants. Medications such as chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, and antidepressants, along with heavy metals from dental work or medical devices, exacerbate these risks. Current practices in human composting lack stringent protocols for testing and mitigating such contaminants, raising questions about the environmental safety of the resulting compost.

Biosolids: Definition and Relevance to Human Composting

Biosolids are defined as organic matter recycled from sewage, used as soil amendments in agriculture. The similarity between biosolids and human compost lies in their potential to improve soil quality while presenting contamination risks if not properly managed. Human composting produces material functionally equivalent to biosolids, given the inclusion of human-derived organic matter and the possible presence of persistent chemicals. This classification underscores the necessity for rigorous testing and regulation to ensure safe application in agricultural or environmental settings.

Regulatory Oversight: Gaps and Misalignments

Human composting is primarily regulated by funeral licensing boards, which focus on operational aspects of the process but lack expertise in environmental impact assessment. This misalignment has created gaps in oversight, particularly concerning soil safety and the long-term effects of compost application. Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and agricultural departments are better suited to establish standards for human composting. These agencies could address contamination thresholds for PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals, bringing the regulatory framework in line with standards for biosolids and agricultural compost.

Technological Innovations: STAs and MMDS

Specialized Transformation Agents (STAs) and Managed Microbial Decomposition Systems (MMDS) represent advancements in the field of human composting. STAs are additives or microbial inoculants designed to accelerate decomposition and neutralize harmful substances. MMDS are structured systems that control environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and microbial activity, ensuring consistent and safe decomposition. Together, these technologies offer solutions to contamination and variability challenges, potentially setting new benchmarks for safety and efficiency in human composting practices.

Ethical and Public Perception Issues

The promotion of human composting as an eco-friendly alternative has garnered public interest, but it also raises ethical and practical concerns. Public apprehensions often stem from the idea of using human-derived compost in agricultural contexts, especially for food crops. Ethical considerations also revolve around transparency and informed consent. Providers must ensure that consumers understand potential risks and the measures taken to mitigate them, fostering trust and acceptance.

Recommendations for Improved Practices and Policies

To address these challenges, several steps are recommended:

Enhanced Regulatory Oversight: Shift oversight from funeral boards to environmental and agricultural agencies with expertise in contamination and soil health.

Comprehensive Testing Protocols: Establish mandatory testing for contaminants such as PFAS, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals in composted human remains.

Integration of Advanced Technologies: Adopt STAs and MMDS to improve safety and efficiency, setting a higher standard for the human composting industry.

Transparency in Marketing and Practices: Educate the public on risks and benefits, emphasizing the safety measures implemented to protect environmental and human health.

Alignment with Biosolid Standards: Apply existing standards for biosolids to human composting, ensuring consistency and addressing contamination concerns.

Continuous Research and Development: Support ongoing studies to enhance understanding of the environmental impacts and refine decomposition technologies.

Conclusion: Human composting presents a promising alternative to traditional burial and cremation, aligning with modern sustainability goals. However, the practice must evolve to address its environmental, regulatory, and ethical challenges. By aligning with biosolid standards, adopting advanced technologies, and fostering transparency, human composting can become a safe and widely accepted option for end-of-life care, contributing to both ecological health and public trust.

Mental Health & Suicide Awareness Week- Kurt Cobain

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:39:43 GMT

Mental Health & Suicide Awareness Week Post- Kurt Cobain

April 1994: Suicide of an Icon

I was 15 years old when I heard the news. I can’t tell you the exact date I found out that Kurt Cobain had died — I only know that it was April 1994, and I was in the back of a van, riding home from school. I was residing in a Baptist children’s home at the time, obviously against my will. The house parent driving always had the radio on, usually tuned to talk radio, and that day was no different. But that afternoon, instead of the usual droning political chatter, I heard something that has never left me.

The host was Rush Limbaugh, a voice I recognized but never really listened to. His words cut through the hum of the van as he delivered the news in a tone dripping with disdain.

“Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, has committed suicide.”

And then — he laughed.

I don’t remember his exact words after that, but I remember the feeling. The mocking tone, the sneering dismissal of a man whose music had become the voice of an entire generation. I sat there, stunned. Even at 15, I understood that death was serious, that losing someone to suicide wasn’t something to joke about. But here was this adult — this man with a powerful microphone — treating it like a punchline.

I stared out the window, the world blurring past. A sick, hollow feeling settled in my stomach. I wanted to speak up, to say something, but I knew better. No one in that van cared how I felt about Kurt Cobain. No one was going to turn off the radio just because a kid didn’t like what was being said.

A 15-Year-Old’s Understanding of Loss

I didn’t grow up in a world where my feelings were particularly valued. I was living in a children’s home, shuffled between routines and rules, surrounded by kids like me — lost in the system. Nirvana’s music had been one of the few things that made me feel like someone out there understood.

By 1993 and early 1994, Nirvana was everywhere. Heart-Shaped Box from In Utero was still getting massive airplay. All Apologies had just been released as a single that December. MTV was still running clips from their Unplugged session, and Pennyroyal Tea was slated to be their next single — until Kurt died.

Even songs from Nevermind (1991) were still holding strong. Smells Like Teen Spirit hadn’t left the cultural consciousness. Come As You Are and Lithium were songs you couldn’t escape, whether you were a die-hard fan or just a kid flipping through radio stations. Nirvana wasn’t just a band — they were a movement. And at 15, I was right in the middle of it.

Hearing the news of Kurt’s death was devastating enough. But hearing an adult — someone with authority, with influence — mock him for it? That was something else entirely. It was the day I learned that adults could be cruel just because they could be.

Rush Limbaugh and the Mockery of Pain

Looking back now, I know that Limbaugh’s attitude wasn’t unique. The ’90s were ruthless when it came to mental health. Suicide was seen as selfish, depression was something you just had to “get over,” and addiction was a personal failing, not an illness. If you were struggling, it was your fault. And if you lost the battle? Well, people like Rush Limbaugh made sure you knew they never cared to begin with.

I wasn’t old enough to understand the politics of it then, but now I see it clearly. Limbaugh’s brand of talk radio wasn’t about nuance or compassion — it was about ridicule and division. He saw Cobain not as a person but as a symbol of everything he despised: grunge, counterculture, vulnerability, and rebellion. To him, Kurt was just another “worthless shred of human debris.”

But to me? He was a voice that mattered.

The Lasting Impact of That Day

I think about that moment often, about how a single sentence from a man on the radio changed the way I saw the world. It made me more skeptical of authority, more aware of the way people in power can dehumanize others for entertainment. But it also made me more empathetic. It made me want to be someone who doesn’t laugh at suffering, who doesn’t dismiss pain just because I don’t understand it.

Kurt Cobain has been gone for 30 years now, but his music, his words, his pain — they still resonate. The world has changed a lot since that day in April 1994. Conversations about mental health have shifted. Suicide is no longer the taboo, shame-filled topic it once was. We recognize addiction as an illness. We try, at least, to be better.

But that moment in the van, that voice on the radio, still lingers. It reminds me why these conversations matter. Because somewhere out there, another 15-year-old kid is hearing someone laugh at their pain, and they’re wondering — just like I did — if their feelings, their struggles, their grief, even matter.

They do. They always have. And I’ll never stop reminding people of that.

Bullying in the Funeral Industry: a silent crisis

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:58:10 GMT

Bullying in the Funeral Industry: a silent crisis

The Hidden Culture of Bullying

Bullying in the funeral industry takes many forms. It happens within funeral homes, between colleagues and management, and it extends into online spaces like Facebook groups and Reddit forums where professionals congregate. While workplace bullying is not unique to this field, the close-knit and often secretive nature of the funeral industry makes it particularly insidious.

From gossip and character assassination to professional gatekeeping and outright harassment, the industry has a long history of ostracizing those who challenge the status quo. Women, in particular, often face additional barriers, as the field has been traditionally male-dominated. Innovators who introduce new methods or advocate for alternative funeral practices—such as green burial or transparency in death care—can become prime targets for smear campaigns and exclusion.

The Impact of Social Media Attacks

In today’s digital age, bullying has transcended the workplace and entered the online realm. Funeral director groups on Facebook, as well as anonymous Reddit threads, have become breeding grounds for negativity. Those who speak out against unethical practices or question industry norms can find themselves ridiculed, defamed, or even blacklisted.

For example, I have personally experienced targeted harassment in professional forums and social media spaces where funeral professionals gather. Individuals have taken to Reddit and Facebook groups to spread misinformation, creating a hostile environment for those who advocate for ethical and sustainable practices. Rather than fostering constructive debate and professional growth, these platforms are often used to intimidate and silence dissenting voices.

The Toll on Mental Health and Careers

The consequences of bullying within the funeral industry are severe. Many who endure harassment suffer from anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Some are forced out of jobs, unable to find work due to industry-wide blacklisting. Others continue to work in toxic environments, fearing retaliation if they speak up. The emotional burden of navigating an already emotionally heavy profession becomes unbearable for many.

Moreover, when industry professionals turn against one another, it not only harms individuals but also weakens the overall integrity of funeral service. If the goal is to support grieving families, then infighting and hostility among professionals only serve to create a fractured and toxic environment.

Fighting Back: Advocating for Change

Addressing workplace bullying in the funeral industry starts with acknowledging that it exists. Silence and denial allow toxicity to fester. Industry leaders, professional organizations, and educational institutions must take a stand against harassment and discrimination.

What Can Be Done?

Stronger Workplace Policies : Funeral homes should implement clear anti-bullying policies with enforceable consequences.
Industry Accountability : Professional organizations should monitor and address harassment in both real-life and online spaces.
Mental Health Support : Access to counseling and peer support networks can help professionals cope with the emotional toll of workplace bullying.
Whistleblower Protection : Those who speak out against unethical practices should be protected, not punished.
Creating a Culture of Respect : Encouraging open, professional dialogue rather than online attacks fosters a more ethical and supportive industry.

The funeral industry is built on the premise of caring for others in their most vulnerable moments. If we cannot show the same respect and care for our colleagues, how can we expect to serve grieving families with integrity? It is time to shed light on this silent crisis and demand change from within.

The OG Funeral Influencers

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 16:36:38 GMT

OG Funeral Influencers, 2016 - 2020;
Those that paved the way for today's "Funeraltainer."

In a world where tradition often overshadows innovation, the funeral industry is undergoing a quiet but impactful revolution, driven by voices that dare to question the status quo. Social media has become a powerful tool for education, advocacy, and transparency in deathcare, offering families new options and insights during one of life’s most challenging moments.

As a funeral service professional deeply rooted in this transformation, I want to shine a light on the influencers who are changing the conversation about death, burial, and cremation—making the industry more accessible, eco-friendly, and compassionate.

The Rise of Social Media in Deathcare Education

Death and dying were once topics reserved for whispers, but platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and blogs have opened the door to broader conversations. These influencers have embraced the opportunity to share their knowledge, bridging the gap between traditional funeral homes and modern consumers. Through their work, they've advocated for transparency, eco-friendly alternatives, and consumer empowerment.

Their voices are helping families make informed decisions, shifting the industry toward more sustainable and personal practices.

Pioneers in Green Burial Advocacy

Caitlin Doughty (@TheGoodDeath)

Caitlin Doughty, a funeral director and author, is one of the most recognizable faces in the death positivity movement. Her “Ask a Mortician” series on YouTube brings humor and humanity to taboo topics, including decomposition, alternative burial practices, and green funerals. Caitlin’s work has made deathcare more approachable and sparked global conversations about sustainable funeral options.

Elizabeth Fournier (@TheGreenReaper)

Known as “The Green Reaper,” Elizabeth Fournier champions green burial as an alternative to traditional funerals. Her book, The Green Burial Guidebook, provides practical advice for families seeking environmentally friendly end-of-life options. Elizabeth's advocacy continues to inspire families and professionals alike to consider greener choices.

Melissa Meadow (@The_Modern_Mortician)

As a co-founder of Green Cremation Texas and a funeral director dedicated to transparency, Melissa Meadow worked to make eco-conscious options like green burial and alkaline hydrolysis more accessible. Alongside Kermit, the first therapy dog in funeral service in Texas, her work centers on creating compassionate, sustainable end-of-life experiences for families.

Educators in Alkaline Hydrolysis (Water Cremation)

Joe Wilson (Bio-Response Solutions)

Joe Wilson’s expertise lies in developing the technology behind alkaline hydrolysis, also known as water cremation. His company, Bio-Response Solutions, is a leader in this field, and his educational efforts have helped funeral homes adopt this greener cremation method.

Jeff Jorgenson (Elemental Cremation & Burial)

As the founder of Elemental Cremation & Burial in Seattle, Jeff Jorgenson has been a vocal advocate for water cremation. Through blogs and social media, Jeff explains the environmental benefits of this process and why it’s a better option for the planet.

Recompose (@Recompose_Life)

Recompose, a company specializing in human composting, has also helped educate the public about alkaline hydrolysis. By promoting sustainable deathcare practices across social media, Recompose has broadened awareness of alternative methods like water cremation.

Influencers Shaping Funeral Industry Ethics and Transparency

Kari Northey (@KariTheMortician)

Kari Northey’s approachable YouTube videos offer an insider’s perspective on funeral care. Her transparency about costs, processes, and consumer rights has empowered families to navigate the funeral industry with confidence.

Caleb Wilde (@CalebWilde)

Caleb Wilde’s candid and often humorous approach to deathcare on social media has helped normalize conversations about death and grief. As a sixth-generation funeral director, he uses his platform to challenge misconceptions about the funeral profession.

Barbara Kemmis (Cremation Association of North America)

Barbara Kemmis leads CANA’s efforts to educate funeral professionals and families about cremation, including eco-friendly options like water cremation. Her advocacy has been instrumental in driving change within the industry.

From the timeline of 2016 to 2020:

Here are 10 influential social media personalities that actively teach and advocate for green burial practices:

Caitlin Doughty (@TheGoodDeath)
Creator of the "Ask a Mortician" series on YouTube, Caitlin Doughty is a prominent advocate for natural deathcare and green burials. She also founded The Order of the Good Death, an organization that promotes death positivity and environmentally friendly burial options.
Melissa Meadow (@The_Modern_Mortician)
Known online as The Modern Mortician, Melissa Meadow was a key figure in promoting green burial and natural deathcare, offering insights and education through social media platforms and public presentations.
Elizabeth Fournier (@TheGreenReaper)
Known as “The Green Reaper,” Elizabeth Fournier is an outspoken advocate for green burials and home funerals. She’s the author of The Green Burial Guidebook and shares practical advice on social media and her blog.
Sarah Chavez (@TheGoodDeath)
As a co-founder of The Order of the Good Death, Sarah Chavez is a voice in the death positivity movement, often discussing the cultural implications of death, dying, and eco-friendly burial options.
Kari Northey (@KariTheMortician)
Kari Northey, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, shares educational content on YouTube and Instagram, focusing on various funeral practices, including green burial, home funerals, and the impact of traditional funerals on the environment.
Recompose (@Recompose_Life)
Recompose, founded by Katrina Spade, is a human composting company that teaches about natural organic reduction (NOR). They actively share information on their Instagram and other social media platforms about this alternative green burial option.
Amy Cunningham (@AmyCunninghamFD)
Amy Cunningham is a licensed funeral director based in Brooklyn who advocates for green burial and home funerals. She often shares educational content through her blog and social media about environmentally friendly deathcare.
Shaina Garfield (@ShainaGarfield)
An eco-conscious designer, Shaina Garfield created a biodegradable coffin, "Leaves," that supports green burials. She uses social media to promote the environmental benefits of green burial and sustainable design.
Lee Webster (@LeeWebster)
Lee Webster is a well-known author and advocate for home funerals and green burial. She shares educational content about natural deathcare practices and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional funerals.
The Green Burial Council (@GreenBurialCouncil)
While not a singular personality, the Green Burial Council is a key resource on social media for promoting and educating the public about the standards of green burial. They certify green cemeteries and funeral homes, sharing their mission widely on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

These influencers and organizations played a significant role in educating the public and raising awareness about green burials through various social media platforms.

Here’s a list of 10 influential social media personalities and advocates in funeral care from 2016 to 2020, who were key voices in promoting discussions about funeral practices, death positivity, and alternative burial methods:

Caitlin Doughty (@TheGoodDeath)
Caitlin continued to be one of the most prominent voices in funeral care during these years. Her "Ask a Mortician" YouTube series and work with The Order of the Good Death remained central to the death positivity movement, challenging conventional funeral industry practices.
Elizabeth Fournier (@TheGreenReaper)
Elizabeth Fournier’s work as "The Green Reaper" gained momentum during this time. She advocated for green burials and authored The Green Burial Guidebook, becoming a well-known figure in the eco-friendly funeral care community.
Melissa Meadow (@The_Modern_Mortician)
Melissa Meadow was a trailblazer and played a significant role during this period, actively advocating for natural deathcare and green burial, while sharing her experiences as a funeral director. Her voice and presence in the industry grew, emphasizing transparency and eco-conscious practices.
Jeff Jorgenson (Elemental Cremation & Burial)
Jeff Jorgenson became a key advocate for green funerals, especially with his Seattle-based company, Elemental Cremation & Burial. His focus on water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) and green burial practices gained attention during these years.
Kari Northey (@KariTheMortician)
Kari Northey’s educational YouTube channel grew in popularity during this time. She provided insight into the funeral industry from the perspective of a funeral director, discussing embalming, cremation, and green burial options.
Lauren LeRoy (@LittleMissFuneral)
Lauren LeRoy, aka Little Miss Funeral, was a young funeral director who used her blog and YouTube channel to discuss funeral care from a personal and professional standpoint. She shared tips for aspiring funeral directors and answered common questions about funeral services.
Caleb Wilde (@CalebWilde)
Caleb Wilde’s blog and social media presence as a sixth-generation funeral director became increasingly influential between 2016 and 2020. His book Confessions of a Funeral Director and his candid, sometimes humorous posts about the funeral industry resonated with a wide audience.
Jeffrey Tucker (Choice Mutual)
Jeffrey Tucker, through Choice Mutual, became a notable voice for discussing funeral insurance and financial planning for funerals. His company also provided educational resources about end-of-life planning, funeral costs, and how to navigate the industry.
Brian & Ryan (@UndertakingThePodcast)
Brian and Ryan, co-hosts of Undertaking: The Podcast, became an influential voice through his interviews and discussions with industry professionals about modern funeral practices, challenges, and the future of the industry.
Louise Winter (@LifeDeathWhatever)
Louise Winter, a funeral director and the founder of Poetic Endings, used her platform Life. Death. Whatever. to explore creative approaches to funerals, death care, and grieving. She was a prominent advocate for meaningful and personalized funeral experiences during this period.

The Impact of Influencers on the Funeral Industry

These individuals are more than just educators; they are changemakers, advocating for sustainable, transparent, and compassionate practices. Thanks to their work:

Green burial and water cremation have gained visibility as viable alternatives to traditional methods.
Families are more informed about their rights and options, empowering them to make choices that align with their values.
The funeral industry has been challenged to innovate and adapt to modern consumer demands.

Through their efforts, the once-taboo topic of deathcare is now being discussed openly, creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for the industry.

Eco Options Free PDF Download

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 21:18:59 GMT

Educational PDF of Eco Friendly Options for End of Life Education

Free resource for Doulas, Directors, and Educators.

Download the PDF on Eco Friendly Options here .

Patreon

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:17:57 GMT

Exposing Deathcare the Podcast, now on Patreon

When I launched Exposing Deathcare, my mission was simple yet bold: to uncover the truths that lie hidden in the shadows of the funeral industry. Over the years, I’ve heard countless stories of manipulation, corporate greed, and unethical practices that harm grieving families and compassionate funeral professionals alike. Through this podcast, I’m bringing those stories into the light, pushing for change, and amplifying the voices of those who’ve been silenced.

But to keep this work going, I need your help. That’s where Patreon comes in.

What Is Exposing Deathcare All About?

If you’re new to the podcast, welcome! Exposing Deathcare is where we take a deep dive into the untold realities of the funeral industry. From unethical upselling practices to exploitative work environments, we talk about it all. The stories are real, often raw, and always anonymous to protect the brave people sharing them.

Each episode is designed to educate listeners, support those who’ve experienced harm, and advocate for a better, more transparent future in deathcare. Whether you’re a grieving family member, a funeral professional, or just someone who’s curious about the industry, there’s something here for you.

Why Patreon?

Creating Exposing Deathcare requires time, resources, and a lot of emotional labor. I’ve poured my heart into this project because I believe in its mission, but to keep it sustainable, I’m inviting listeners like you to join me on Patreon.

By becoming a patron, you’re not just supporting the podcast—you’re becoming part of a movement. Your contributions allow me to:

Produce high-quality episodes regularly
Interview more guests and share diverse perspectives
Cover costs like editing, hosting, and research
Expand the podcast’s reach to educate and impact more people

What You Get as a Patron

I want to give back to those who support Exposing Deathcare, so I’ve created exclusive perks for my patrons. Depending on your tier, you can enjoy:

Early access to new episodes
Bonus content, including extended interviews and behind-the-scenes updates
Exclusive Q&A sessions where I’ll answer your questions about the funeral industry
A chance to have input on future episodes

Your support not only helps keep this podcast going but also ensures that these vital conversations continue to reach the people who need them most.

Join the Movement

Exposing Deathcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a mission to make the funeral industry a place of compassion and integrity. With your help, we can keep the momentum going and create lasting change.

Visit our Patreon page today to learn more about how you can support this work. Whether you contribute a little or a lot, know that every bit helps, and your support means the world to me.

Together, let’s expose the truth, demand better, and build a future in deathcare that serves everyone with dignity and respect. Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Exposing Deathcare, the Podcast

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:53:23 GMT

**Uncovering the Truth: Behind the Scenes of Exposing Deathcare**

Welcome to *Exposing Deathcare,* a podcast created to shine a light on the hidden, often dark realities within the funeral industry. I'm Melissa Meadow, (your host M) or as some of you may know me, *The Modern Mortician.* This podcast is a platform to expose unethical practices, harmful experiences, and shady dealings that have plagued grieving families, funeral staff, and the industry as a whole. By bringing these stories to light, *Exposing Deathcare* aims to push for transparency, support those affected by trauma, and encourage necessary reforms in the way deathcare operates.

**Why This Podcast?**

For years, I’ve worked behind the scenes in the funeral industry, witnessing the good, the bad, and the shocking. Too often, families face unnecessary upsells, hidden fees, and sometimes outright manipulation when they’re at their most vulnerable. Meanwhile, funeral professionals who truly want to help people are too often pressured by corporate greed or unsustainable business practices. This isn't just about exposing what’s broken – it’s about acknowledging the pain caused by these wrongs and fostering a deathcare environment that respects the dead and the living alike.

Through anonymous interviews, real-life stories from funeral directors and staff, and deep dives into specific issues, *Exposing Deathcare* tackles the taboo topics that don’t often make it into the public eye. From high-pressure sales tactics to the consequences of toxic workplace cultures, no topic is off-limits.

**Join the Conversation**

If you or someone you know has experienced unethical practices or painful situations within the funeral industry, consider sharing your story with *Exposing Deathcare.* Whether you’re a funeral director, a mortician, or someone who has dealt with a funeral home during a difficult time, your story matters. By speaking out, you can help bring accountability to the industry and protect others from facing similar experiences.

Submit your stories confidentially, and together, let’s work toward a world where deathcare is about compassion, dignity, and truth. Join the conversation by tuning into *Exposing Deathcare,* and if you have a story to tell, reach out to us. Let’s bring ethics back into deathcare.

exposingdeathcare@gmail.com

linktr.ee/exposingdeathcare

Top TikTok Influencers Redefining the Funeral Industry

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:52:21 GMT

Top 2024 TikTok Influencers Redefining the Funeral Industry

Social media platforms like TikTok are giving rise to a new wave of deathcare professionals who are making the funeral industry more transparent, engaging, and accessible. Among the most notable influencers are @funeralbabe, @hollisfuneralhome, and @laurenthemortician, each offering unique perspectives on life, death, and the work of funeral professionals.

@funeralbabe

With over 944,500 followers and 16.8 million likes, @funeralbabe captures the attention of audiences by sharing insights into the life of an undertaker. Her content blends education and relatability, covering topics like grief, the logistics of funerals, and the emotional weight of working in deathcare. By shedding light on the profession, she helps normalize conversations about death and funerals for a wide audience.

@hollisfuneralhome

Based in Syracuse, New York, @hollisfuneralhome has garnered over 925,600 followers and 21.5 million likes by offering an authentic and often humorous look at life inside a funeral home. Their content resonates with audiences by showing the human side of funeral professionals, blending moments of levity with respectful, insightful discussions about death and grieving.

@laurenthemortician

With a massive following of over 2.7 million followers and 79.5 million likes, Lauren Eliza (@laurenthemortician) is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who uses TikTok to educate her audience on deathcare practices and funeral industry insights. Lauren’s candid and educational approach makes her a standout figure on the platform.

However, in 2023, Lauren faced controversy over a public dispute with a multiple fellow TikTok creators, which raised questions about professional conduct. Despite this, her work continues to spark conversations about death and funeral services with the help of those managing her, regurgitating others original content as her own in an attempt to demystify the industry for her millions of followers.

Why These Influencers Matter

These creators are helping to reshape how people view and understand the funeral industry. By leveraging TikTok’s platform, they bring transparency, education, and humanity to a profession that is often shrouded in mystery. From the heartfelt and educational to the humorous and relatable, their contributions are fostering a broader cultural conversation about death, mourning, and the professionals who guide us through life’s final transitions.

Green Goodbyes, A Picture Book

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:32:00 GMT

First Published Book by The Modern Mortician

Green Goodbyes offers a visual journey into the world of green burial and natural end-of-life care. Through images and brief, insightful descriptions, this book highlights sustainable practices and intimate moments that honor loved ones while respecting the earth. Each page presents a thoughtful look at topics like shrouded burials, natural cemeteries, family-led rituals, and eco-conscious farewell choices, illuminating the beauty and simplicity of returning to nature. Green Goodbyes serves as both a gentle guide and a source of inspiration for anyone seeking meaningful, environmentally-friendly ways to say farewell.

Writing and photography by Melissa Meadow, the Modern Mortician.

Buy it here from Amazon

A tisket, a tasket, you can buy a yellow casket!

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 07:03:15 GMT

The benefits of being savvy in death care arrangements from a licensed Funeral Director.

Online casket shopping... and why I love Titan Caskets.

First, a quick review of the things you should know if you choose burial!

The Funeral Rule as set forth by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ensures that consumers have the right to provide a casket by their own means , without penalty. This means that:

Buying a casket or coffin for sale online and arranging delivery to your selected Funeral Home for use in a Funeral Service is legal in all 50 States
Funeral providers cannot refuse to use a casket or coffin you bought online , or put unreasonable or onerous restrictions on when it must be delivered or who must receive delivery
You cannot be charged an additional fee if you supply the casket - federal law prohibits funeral directors from charging “casket-handling” or other fees for people who purchase their casket online
Other kinds of misrepresentations, such as to the quality of caskets or coffins bought online, or the likelihood of damages in transit, are also illegal. Consumer protection laws in most states also prohibit such deceptive practices. State Licensing Boards in all 50 states have the right to (and do) discipline Funeral Directors for dishonesty and misrepresentation, and Federal law also prohibits dishonest, deceptive, and unfair acts and practices

As a director with over 15 years of experience in the funeral home, I have seen my fair share of shitty funeral directors aimed at the sale- the most recent being a slug named Joe in Seattle who would target families of culture shipping their dead overseas, telling them their "people" only bought "this" casket, and would gesture at the mid level priced top tier casket while looking down his smug face. In addition to witnessing commission driven sales in death care, the sleaziness of the casket sales reps and their flaunting of money at conventions made me sick over the years. When online casket sales became a thing, I was quick to compare arrivals from Costco to our in house brands, like Batesville or Matthews, never seeing the shoddy craftsmanship my employers always would elude to. Then one day, I saw a Titan Casket. I was thrilled to find out they were bucking the traditional system, much like myself, and they we're a huge company either. They were a rebel in the industry.

Titan Casket was founded with a singular mission: to offer designer caskets at revolutionary prices, while driving affordability and transparency in the funeral industry. Sweet. Already better than Costco.

But working in the traditional funeral business, we as employees were not allowed to mention outside vendors. It was so hard, I often found myself making a show of whispering to the families in my arrangement conferences that they could look online if our in house stock wasn't fitting their needs, which it often didn't at the big corporate funeral home. Not only would families get good quality casket options, but they were priced SIGNIFICANTLY better and offered faster, free shipping than many of our casket reps could provide. Then, when working in a remote community I saw the selection AND quality of caskets available when compared to local casket reps of huge companies vs the Titan Casket selection, availability, and price. BOOM.

Add in the VARIETY available at Titan Casket cannot be beat. I encourage you to peruse their website on your own, where you can literally design your custom casket, color and all. And with Halloween right around the corner, this could always be a killer alternative to the 7ft Home Depot Skeleton for your yard this holiday season if you want to impress ALL your neighbors.

Did I mention you can get them in Yellow? Or Purple? Or Baby Blue? Or Hunter Green? Check it all out HERE .

Pictured below, local Funeral Home offering vs online retailer. Both models come in both colors.

The Grave Suprise

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 02:05:33 GMT

The Grave Surprise

Kermit accompanied me to dig my first pet client grave since opening our pet funeral home, The End Companion Care . After observing a years worth of human graves dug in the same area, I had psyched myself up for an easy task, as the client was relatively small and most definitely NOT human size. All the groundbreaking I've seen thus far out here has been comprised of wet beach sand, so imagine my suprise when I drove the shovel head into the green, mossy ground and hit what sounded and felt like concrete! Lo and behold, this area was a bed of discarded oyster shells.

I plowed ahead, placing each shovelful on a mat of cardboard to protect the existing ground cover. Once I dug the right amount, I went to a section of the yard that WAS actually sand and dug a secondary hole. I collected about 2 square feet of sand, and put an equal amount of shells into the new hole and covered it after crushing it down. The sand from this hole is needed as the final 2 inches of grave cover, especially considering the shells will not cover the same way soil or sand would, which is an important consideration in this case for proper burial.

Rather than leave the grave raw and rough, I filled the bed with rhododendron petals and leaves, and adorned the sides of the grave with additional wild spring flowers I collected on the way to the home.

My client doesn't use the internet, and was referred to me by a friend. She has asked that I share her texted accolades to express the impact we made ��

Memorials in Ink - Papa Joe

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:04:13 GMT

Memorials in Ink - Papa Joe

MARCH 29, 2015 ~ THE MODERN MORTICIAN

I used to come home from school with reminders and notes written on my hands, maybe a doodle or two, depending on how the day went. Without fail, every time my grandfather saw this, he would take my hand or hands in his, and gently scold me not to write all over myself. It’s a little ironic that I would forever ink his handwriting on my body as a special memorial to him.

Papa Joe knew almost right away he had a wild one on his hands. I have letters and birthday cards from early in my life where he would include the phrase “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me” somewhere in the body or near the end of the notes. The card that produced my tattoo was from around my 6th birthday. It features a group of scraggly cowboys, eating from tin cups around a campfire. Inside, Papa Joe had made mention of “not getting myself into a stew”, and how even at the age of six, he was already worried about where my curiosities would lead me.

Papa Joe was not only my grandfather, but my father figure as I grew up. I spent many a summer and weekend on the farm under his watchful eye. He taught me amazing life lessons that I will treasure and continue to learn from, but the most important one was to know and BELIEVE that “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.”

*** Hello, friends.

Initially, when the call went out via facebook and the twitterverse, I knew I wanted to write a piece on memorial tattoos, and wanted to include the stories and art of people I knew that were open to share.

I received an overwhelming response… so much so, that I will be visiting this topic on multiple writing installments as stories are shared with me.

If you would like to share your Memento Mori tattoo in a future Memorials in Ink blog post, please email me photos and your story at themodernmortician@gmail.com.

Comforting Closure with Traci Arieli & The Modern Mortician

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:54:51 GMT

Comforting Closure Interview with Traci Arieli

In this interview with 'Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula,' Traci Arieli discusses the evolving landscape of the funeral industry with Melissa Meadow, known as the Modern Mortician. Together, they explore the concept of green funerals and how they can provide a more sustainable and ethical approach to honoring our loved ones. Melissa shares her journey into the death care industry, the challenges she faced, and her passion for transparency and education in funeral practices.

Key takeaways include understanding the various eco-friendly options available, such as Alkaline Hydrolysis and conservation burials, and the importance of making informed decisions in an industry that can often be profit-driven. This episode aims to destigmatize conversations around death and dying, providing valuable insights for both professionals and those new to the topic.

Links/Resources:

Guest: The Modern Mortician Website - https://www.themodernmortician.co m

Host: Traci Arieli's Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.co m

Resources:

Titan Casket for affordable, biodegradable caskets - https://titancasket.com/

Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park for conservation burials - https://www.eloisewoods.com/

#DeathDoula #EndOfLifeDoula #GreenFunerals #EcoFriendly #SustainableLiving #FuneralIndustry #ComfortingClosure #TheModernMortician

Merylthon 2024- a fundraiser by Cinema for Good

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:46:35 GMT

Fun with a Funeral Make Up Tutorial, inspired by Death Becomes Her

Merylthon:

A Unique 3-Day Film Marathon Featuring Meryl Streep in Some of Her Most Iconic Roles

Coming Soon:

Tacoma: June 14-16, 2024 @ The Grand Cinema Los Angeles: Fall 2024 @ Vidiots Foundation

Cinema lovers and Meryl Streep fans, get ready for an unforgettable cinematic experience! The Merylthon, a unique 3-day film marathon, celebrates the illustrious career of Meryl Streep by showcasing some of her most iconic roles. Whether you're a long-time admirer of her work or a newcomer eager to explore her filmography, this event promises to be a delightful journey through the exceptional talent and versatility of one of Hollywood's most esteemed actresses.

The Merylthon kicks off in Tacoma from June 14-16, 2024, at The Grand Cinema, before heading to Los Angeles in the fall, where it will be hosted by the Vidiots Foundation.

What to Expect

During the Merylthon, attendees can expect a carefully curated selection of Meryl Streep's most memorable films. From her powerful performances in dramatic roles to her captivating turns in comedies and musicals, the marathon will offer a comprehensive look at the breadth and depth of Streep's career. While the specific lineup of films is yet to be announced, you can anticipate seeing classics such as "The Devil Wears Prada," "Sophie's Choice," "Mamma Mia!," "Out of Africa," and many more.

The Brilliance of Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep's acting brilliance lies in her unparalleled ability to fully embody diverse characters, bringing them to life with authenticity and depth. With a career spanning over four decades, she has earned a record 21 Academy Award nominations and three wins, a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft. Streep's transformative performances, whether as the fiercely demanding Miranda Priestly or the tormented Holocaust survivor Sophie Zawistowski, have cemented her status as a cultural icon and an inspiration to aspiring actors worldwide. Her unwavering commitment to her roles and her ability to convey profound emotion and complexity make her one of the greatest actresses of all time.

Supporting Cinema for Good

The Merylthon is not just a celebration of cinema; it's also an event with a cause. Produced by Cinema for Good, all proceeds from the marathon will be split between the organization and the local repertory cinemas hosting the festival. Cinema for Good is dedicated to promoting social justice and cultural awareness through the power of film, and by attending the Merylthon, you'll be contributing to this mission while supporting local independent theaters.

Venue Details

Tacoma:

Dates: June 14-16, 2024
Location: The Grand Cinema
The Grand Cinema is known for its commitment to showcasing independent and classic films, making it the perfect venue for the Merylthon. With its cozy atmosphere and passionate community of film enthusiasts, attendees are sure to have a memorable experience.

Los Angeles:

Dates: Fall 2024
Location: Vidiots Foundation
Vidiots Foundation, a beloved cultural hub in Los Angeles, will host the Merylthon in the fall. Renowned for its dedication to preserving the communal experience of cinema, Vidiots Foundation provides an ideal setting for this celebration of Meryl Streep's work.

What is a Death Doula?

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 22:40:20 GMT

What is the role of a Death Doula?

A death doula, also known as an end-of-life doula, is a non-medical professional trained to provide holistic support to individuals nearing the end of their life as well as to their families. They play a unique and essential role in bridging the gap between the medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical aspects of dying. Here are several ways in which a death doula helps:

Emotional Support:

A death doula provides a listening ear and a comforting presence for individuals and families navigating the end-of-life journey. They help normalize the emotions surrounding death and provide a non-judgmental space for sharing fears, concerns, hopes, and memories.

Education and Advocacy:

Doulas can offer information about the dying process, potential decisions that may need to be made, and rights the individual and their family have in various healthcare settings. They can serve as advocates in ensuring the dying person's wishes are respected.

Creating a Death Plan:

Similar to a birth plan, a death plan outlines the dying person's preferences for their end-of-life experience. This can include decisions about medical interventions, location of death, rituals they'd like to have, and how they want their body cared for after death.

Legacy Work:

A death doula can help individuals explore and create legacy projects that allow them to leave behind a tangible or intangible piece of themselves, such as letters, art, recordings, or other mementos.

Guidance on Practical Matters:

This can range from assistance with funeral planning and understanding the legal aspects of dying to helping families organize personal affairs and belongings.

Spiritual Support:

Depending on the individual's beliefs, a death doula can provide or facilitate spiritual or religious rituals, help explore existential questions, or simply be a comforting presence during this profound transition.

Vigil Planning:

As the individual approaches the active phase of dying, a death doula can help create a plan for how those final hours or days might look, including who is present, the setting, music, readings, or other preferences.

Support for Families:

The end-of-life journey is challenging for loved ones as well. A death doula provides bereavement support, helping families cope with the anticipatory grief before death and the mourning process afterward.

Resources and Referrals:

Doulas often have a network of other professionals and services they can recommend, such as hospice care, therapists, legal assistance, or funeral services.

Complementary Therapies:

Some doulas may have training in complementary therapies like reiki, aromatherapy, or guided visualization, which can offer comfort and relief to the dying individual.

In essence, a death doula brings a deep sense of humanity and personal touch to the end-of-life experience, ensuring that individuals and their families feel supported, heard, and empowered during one of life's most profound transitions.

Response to Reddit; Melissa Meadow, The Modern Mortician

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:34:54 GMT

The latest on the Modern Mortician, aka Melissa Meadow; A Response to the defamatory and false thread on Reddit

My name is Melissa Meadow, I am The Modern Mortician. I am a consumer advocate and eco-funeral educator, a self proclaimed whistleblower. I have worked in the funeral industry since 1999 and had a social media presence since 2016 as The Modern Mortician. Kermit the Dog is my sidekick.

In October of 2023, a Reddit thread was posted about me in the r/askfuneraldirectors forum with some incredibly incorrect, exaggerated, and defamatory information in it.

I was unable to respond to all of the accusations before the thread went Archived. It took six months of therapy to be able to talk about what happened to me over the last 2+ years, and when I was ready to address what I had not, I could not.

I was able to reference the original thread, and I would like to address it now.

First, I just want to bring to light, it is awful suspicious the amount of brand new accounts created the same day the post was made. Significant_Crow5054, ValCurie, CremationCreations, Additional_Good_2803, among others, all giving their "first hand" experiences with me to embellish the story.

u/beneficent_don and Boxandbury are coworkers for a business that I have publicly questioned about greenwashing. Boxandbury and I were friends at one point, though I now know it was not a mutual friendship looking back, and my behavior during a mental health episode awarded me an anti-harassment order for 1 year, which ended November 2023. This individual would take a verbal assault via voice memo, and manipulate the scene into something far bigger than it should have been, contacting my employer and being the reason that employer gave Unemployment for terminating me. Suspiciously after I had reported to the state licensing board about misconduct (cremating bodies on broken down amazon boxes) for which this employer got a slap on the wrist and I became enemy #1.

The first accusation u/beneficent_don levies is “Bet it sloshed.” There was NO WAY I was going to address this initially until I had contact with the mother in question and apologized privately. What I said is between me and her. Despite what I am about to explain, I took full responsibility and apologized genuinely. This was completed in November of 2023. Now- I don’t believe that was my account that left that comment. I initially thought, if this was me, I must have thought I was on the account of one of the gravediggers I follow. There’s absolutely NO WAY I would intentionally say something that vile to a grieving mother. Looking back at a sreen shot of the post, it does not show the @, only the typed in name The Modern Mortician. The profile photo used is not a profile picture I have ever used on tiktok, I have only featured it in my instagram feed and my website. I do not have any other explanation.

Next up, former coworker Steidler. For those of you who have followed my instagram, you may have seen him when I first moved to Seattle. He and I bonded over the stress that our manager put us through. We had an agreement that I would meet families for him, if he would focus on being the embalmer. He wanted to work Back of House. I wanted to work Front of House. It was a win win, though it did not take long for our piss poor management to push back. I NEVER took credit for Steidler’s work. I have always been a team player and would praise him often in morning meetings when he had worked on a client family of mine. Oh, yes, as accused, I wore a skeleton onesie over clothes in the winter to the funeral home when I was off work and it was closed to the public. I lived a few blocks away and would be the go to person if something needed to be tended to off hours. Claims I avoided work hiding out… I did not hide in the crematory, or anywhere else for that matter. Kermit hated it there, it was hot and loud, and I would not hang out with my dog somewhere he wasn’t comfortable. On the one Saturday Funeral where I failed to order a casket spray., I DID order it, the awful part is I didn’t get the sheet from the FAX MACHINE that said Completed. I faxed the order in. even called about what they wanted while in the arrangement conference. But because I failed to confirm the fax went through, I fully accept my fuck up. I panicked, and I got angry when I felt like Sawyer had thrown me under the bus. Had he been in my shoes, I would have called him to collab to correct the error before involving management, which wasn’t on site anyway.

There were some really toxic things said about my mental health. I had a breakdown for which I was hospitalized in August of 2023. After months of therapy, psych appts, gene tests, doctor and specialist visits, we finally found medication that works, and began treatment for my CPTSD.

Someone made the comment “There’s a reason she’s worked at no less than 7 different firms since she left Texas.” Excuse me, where? At the time of this post and even now, I worked for 1, 2 , 3. King County, Pierce County, and Pacific County. Yes, I absolutely let my dog run the trails through cemeteries. We have done that since he was a pup and needed to run faster than my fat ass. I don’t think it’s funny, I usually laughed because he brings me joy.

Did I get a felony charge in 2023? Yes. I had a terrible court appointed atty, that kept waiving speedy trial, while charges against me changed from Theft of a Casket by misdelivery, to 13 counts of Identity Theft- one for each time the business credit card had been used WHILE employed, and accidently AFTER employment. I wasn't given the opportunity to defend myself. I was in the midst of a mental health crisis, just coming out of inpatient treatment and being smacked with more legal abuse, I was coerced into signing a plea deal for ONE (not 13) count of identity theft. My court appointed idiot atty pulled me into a courthouse back office and told me this deal was all he would do, after dragging me out for months to believe he was actually researching and preparing for my case. I have a witness to this incident, a retired lawyer who accompanied me as a friend and support person. She heard me say through tears that “This is not what happened, I didn’t do this”. I didn’t understand what was happening in the court room when the judge ordered 20 days in county jail, and when asked by the judge if I had any comment, my babbling should have been enough to alert anyone with half a sense that I was not coherent and not ok. Shits done, and it’ll be on my record for at least another year and a half before I can apply to expunge it. And I will. I wasn't in the right mind to defend myself then, but I will tell everyone my side of the story now. Our justice system is flawed and weighted against the poor.

It is said I have three with Anti Harassment orders against me currently…. I am not ready to talk about the abuse I endured at the hands of those 3 individuals. When in court on this incident, I did NOT contest the anti-harassment, and openly told the entire courtroom I didn’t want to be anywhere near them, and I accepted it as is. They didn’t win because of evidence of anything. In fact, I could have presented evidence that countered every accusation they put down under penalty of perjury, but I was not well. I did not have the ability to do what I am able to do now after some time to heal. Trauma is trauma. These individuals have claimed animal abuse, but this is not true. Anyone who knows me, knows of my love for animals, especially Kermit. I have recently been awarded a protection order against the leader of this group, in fact, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, so it will be in effect for a solid year. Prior to that, I had to get one against an employee of the funeral home that made accusations about me, after this individual FOLLOWED me into a store, made a scene, and assaulted me verbally outside. That order just expired June 5, 2024. She had the sense to stop using her name to harass me online. Someone still makes it a point to email anyone I collab with or have worked with to discredit me by sharing the Reddit post. I attempted to post this essay on Reddit June 27, 2024. It was brutally downvoted, and by morning, it had been deleted by the mods. I am being silenced.

There you go. My side of the story.

I am a whistleblower. I am an advocate. I will not be silenced.

My Mental Health Journey

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:54:31 GMT

Mental Health and the Break of 2023

The Funeral Industry is toxic, my colleagues crossed boundaries to humiliate, defame, and destroy me- let’s talk about it.

For a career that is supposed to be compassionate and so in tune to others feelings, the mockery and comments in public and behind closed forums speaks volumes.

Most would think anyone drawn to work in death care would be empathetic.

For as many of us that fall into that category, just as many are cut-throat, money driven, and behind the scenes toxic to deal with.

My name is Melissa.

I have worked in funeral care since 1997, and the experiences I share are real.

After becoming a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 2013, I began to question the status quo of funeral offerings, openly questioning upselling and marketing I began to see as I was immersed in the funeral service field. Around 2015 I established an online presence known as The Modern Mortician and my “platform” has been education and advocacy for those wanting alternatives that resonate with them at end-of-life.

As we come to a close on Mental Health Awareness month of 2024, I wanted to share something that happened to me personally, and hopefully help others struggling to recognize their burnout before it becomes a breakdown.

I have been suffering with challenges from an undiagnosed disability for the last 6 years. If you've ever followed me on social media or worked with me, it's been obvious.

If you reached out with concerns, you were a light in the darkness.

The last 4 years, my mental health has been in noticeable decline. Bad business partners, Low Pay, No PTO, and little or no Medical Insurance have taken their toll, coupled with a pandemic that rocked the foundations of the funeral industry to its core.

Timeline-

2015: start up in ATX, DL- great insurance, good job.

2016-2019: After DL failed, I had already established a reputation, therefore traditional employers wouldn’t hire me. I had to work for what I now term as The Undesirables. Removal Companies, Strip Mall Crematories, Decedent Transport. I even worked overnights one Texas summer at a crematory.

2019- 2020: GCT start up, Covid not taken seriously, no time off, only employee, driving ATX to SA. No insurance. Paid for therapy with a UT grad student, made me realize I had to look out for me. Started reaching out to online connections to look for work out of Texas. Made a list of what I wanted, legal options, good temperature, nature. I needed healthcare to address old concerns and new emerging concerns.

Oct 2020 moved to WA, for the good insurance, double the pay, more traditional job, but HORRIFIC management. Verbally abusive, patriarchal. One weekday off every 14 days, and oftentimes those off days didn’t have enough staff coverage, so you had to work or be prepared to be called in. We were not allowed to make dr appts M-F working hours. I found a therapist and I had just started seeing specialists and getting medicated when….

Summer 2021 FIRED.

Fall 2021 HIRED at Corporate. Good insurance, awful management, excessive overtime.

Early Spring 2022 FIRED 2 days shy of Union protection.

Late Spring 2022 HIRED rural area, no insurance or PTO.

Fall 2022 FIRED. He would not disclose why. Here’s why.

WSFDA had a call out for nominations for FD of the year, etc. I reached out to 4 families I had cared for and asked for their nominations to the association. The night of the awards came, and I was not even recognized via email to even consider attending the awards. I texted an individual I had been friends with. Asked about the selection process. Their curt answers cut quick that night, and after my second glass of wine, I sent venomous voice memos. Called the awards rigged (I still think they are) Called them a See You Next Tuesday. Never threatened violence. Just said a lot of FUCK YOUS and closed with ending the “friendship”.

This person reported to my current employer that I threatened them, and now I was unemployed and isolated.

I was on my way to Maryland when Unemployment told me why I was fired. I called the person responsible for my termination and told them I knew what they did, and it was ON SITE when I saw them at the convention.

Despite me coming to my senses after my flight and texting a curt note to this same snake saying we had to work and exist in the same professional spaces, so they no longer existed to me, apologies only for my outburst.

They turned around and filed an anti-harassment on me two weeks later, claiming I threatened their life. I took it on the chin, as I wanted to be nowhere near them.

Now go back to early 2022…. Before I was hired for the CORPORATE gig, I interviewed for a start up funeral provider that offered an alternative service. In my interview, in an effort to be transparent, I divulged information about my mental health, which would later be disclosed publicly to other professionals in a facebook forum. After this interview, I did not feel this company would be a good fit for me, and I withdrew my application. I then coached the person who would go on to interview after me and accept the position. This individual would later gaslight me, GET ME FIRED, then utilize legal abuse to silence me. Unfortunately for them, the first few times THEY weren’t smart enough to post their allegations Anonymously.

The state licensing department began to get complaints on my professional license from my former employer and this former friend. I had moved forward and started a non profit called The End Foundation, and was working toward establishing an entity that could eventually help others establish conservation burial parks for people and pets. In addition to this, my former employer made a claim to the local authorities that I had stolen a casket from him by way of misdelivery. The reality is that NEVER happened. Instead of being asked outright by any legal authority, and given the opportunity to present proof of who provided the caskets in question to me, the county prosecuting atty had me summoned into court and I found myself entangled in the legal system. Never given a chance to speak for myself, only through an overworked and inexperienced court appointed defense did I have any hope of getting a word in edgewise, who ended up failing me time and again, dragging something with a simple explanation into an 8 month ordeal. I had wanted to go to court. I wanted to proclaim my innocence and answer to only the mistakes I had genuinely made. All the while I was losing my housing, my income, my non profit, and suffering attacks both professionally and personally.

I was hospitalized for the first time to address my mental well being in August of 2023. I would come out with three additional anti harassment orders thrown my way in another attempt to hush me, and I conceded, not fighting back or defending myself, as, again, I wanted NOTHING to do with the individuals involved.

In October of 2023, in Pacific County Courthouse backrooms, I was coerced into signing a plea agreement for one felony out of the 14 they had levied against me over this ordeal. Clearly under duress, crying, and repeatedly stating “this is not what happened, I didn't do this”. I actually do have a witness to that incident with my public defender, however it doesn't help much beyond having someone to say, Yes I saw that happen.

While serving 25 days in local jail as a result of my plea and the addition of blasphemous letters from the “community” -which in truth was nothing more than my (4) abusers who silenced me twisting the knife. At this point my haters joined forces and left scathing posts on Reddit and multiple Facebook Groups. Once released and even after settling back into safety, it took me months to be able to read, much less respond to a few of the defamatory statements and allegations. Guess who was the leader of the posts. Mr CEO themself.

At the conclusion of 2023, I gave up trying to save my small business, and closed my non profit. I made my mental health and my dog my number one priority.

I am now able to see a psychiatrist once a month, and speak to a therapist 2xs a week. This has helped start to scratch the surface of the trauma I also endured by my employers throughout the covid pandemic from mistreatment and mishandling of remains, to total disregard for personal time and boundaries.

My plight isn't over but things are certainly much more stable. Some of my burnout and trauma symptoms manifested as illness, reclusive tendencies, tremors, crying when speaking, trouble sleeping,. Ruminating, experiencing executive dysfunction and moments I felt frozen. My biggest lesson is that not everyone that you are a friend to is a friend to you. Some people want to see you fail. There’s nothing you can do about it. Jealousy converts to hatred, and when you’re making a difference, haters gonna hate hard.

Some of the coping mechanisms I have learned through this experience and practice now are following a routine. I wake with sunrise, roll onto the floor for stretches and dog scritches, then make my way onto the porch for birdsong and morning coffee. I write my to do list for the day, consult with my calendar for appointments, and will sometimes spend a few minutes in meditation. Daily walks or enrichment activities with my dog are always a bonus to my new days of caring for myself.

Being a Funeral Professional and an activist… those things didn't work in tandem for me as I had hoped. Speaking up will make you lose followers, opportunities, and rub some the wrong way, especially when you're honest. My passion lies in activism and education, I don't need to maintain a funeral director license for that.

In closing, what did not kill me certainly made me stronger. Those who set out to destroy me only cleared a path for new and better things to come to me.

I don’t need gratification from others, I recognize it all around me. I have and always will be here as a resource to those that need me. The best is yet to come. Take care!

New title: End of Life Doula

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 22:03:29 GMT

Death Doulas; explained by GenX to the Baby Boomer Generation.

Melissa has put in over 500 hours to earn mastery of end of life coaching care. So, what is a Death Doula?

Alright, writing from a Gen X mortician with your best interests in mind as if I were speaking to my Boomer mentors and friends , sit down, gather around. While you were busy watching color TV and swooning over The Beatles, we Gen Xers were bridging the gap between analog and digital, W oodstock and Lollapalooza. And now? We’re tackling something that transcends generations—D EATH! No, not in a morbid way, but in a "let’s make this process meaningful and peaceful" kind of way.

Enter the scene: the death doula.

First Off, What's a Death Doula?

You might remember the term "doula" in the context of birth—those awesome individuals who help women usher life into this world. Now, imagine the same support, but for your grand exit. A death doula, or end-of-life doula, is someone trained to assist in the individual and family surrounding them in the process of dying. They're your guide, your support, and sometimes, your chief storyteller during the final chapters.

Breaking Down the Benefits:

A Customized Goodbye: Remember when you customized that '60s VW van with psychedelic paint? It’s like that but for your life’s final journey. A death doula helps tailor the end-of-life experience to reflect personal wishes, beliefs, and values.

Emotional Backbone: Death can be, well, heavy. A death doula provides the emotional scaffolding, ensuring nobody is navigating the tumultuous waters alone.

Guidance Galore: Think of them as the trusted guidebook you’d use on a cross-country road trip (before GPS took over). From healthcare decisions to funeral arrangement navigation, a death doula knows the ins and outs.

Holistic Touch: Beyond the paperwork and planning, many doulas infuse holistic practices into their services. It’s a bit of that flower-power ethos for today’s world, offering a bridge between medical processes and spiritual comfort.

Sealing Memories: Remember the family stories told around campfires or on the porch? A death doula helps ensure these stories find their rightful place, facilitating closure for families and loved ones.

Why This Chat Matters?

Hey, I get it. This is new terrain. But Boomers, you were the generation of revolution and change. And as we, your Gen X offspring, find ourselves smack dab in the middle of life, facing the challenges of aging parents and our own mortality, we reckon it’s a worthy conversation. The way we approach the end-of-life deserves the same innovation and heart that defined so many milestones of your era.

Parting Thoughts:

Okay, Boomers. Here's this Gen Xrs perspective: We've always been about redefining the status quo, and we think it’s high time the conversation about death gets a modern makeover. You deserve better, you love personalization and uniqueness. So, while we still cherish those classic rock vinyls and sepia-toned memories, maybe it's time to embrace a newer, gentler way of approaching life’s final journey—with a death doula leading the way. Rock on and peace out. ��

Big Sleep Productions

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 22:29:33 GMT

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Orion Magazine

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 18:44:42 GMT

Orion Magazine- The Mushrooms that Ate Luke Perry by Casey Lyons

THE MUSHROOM BURIAL SHROUD that covered Luke Perry’s face and famous forehead was black as night, or perhaps it was white as bone, made of organic cotton, and inlaid with white crochet tubes that resembled lightning and pointed from the shoulders, hips, feet, and hands toward his heart, which was still in his chest. Each tube contained mushroom spores that had been trained to eat his flesh. He was to be consumed, in the shallow grave of his choosing, and return to the quiet embrace of the earth at his farm in Tennessee, dead of a stroke at fifty-two.

I can’t say how Luke Perry looked before he was buried because I wasn’t invited to watch. The ceremony was a private affair for his family and closest friends, and I am neither. But I have heard descriptions of him emerging from the hearse, his face covered by the shroud, his hands gloved and crossed over his chest. And I have imagined what happened from there. The ground would close around him, sealing out light, then sound. His consumption would begin with erasure. It must have appeared like seeing him first through a fogged shower door, then tissue paper, those soft eyes now blankly open to the earth. Fungal growth tips, called hyphae (the Greek word for “web”), would emerge, following the lightning pattern inward toward his heart. The fungi would then expand outward and entangle with plant roots in an exchange of nutrients as old as life on the dry parts of the planet. The poisons inside his body would be neutralized by the fungi and Luke Perry would travel through mycelium to roots in a sprawling, if poorly understood, exchange that underwrites life. The edges of him would become blurry, then meaningless, as mushrooms reorganized his body toward life again. Then he’d push back into the sunlight of his farm, where he was happiest, maybe as a leaf or an insect, soil or bird, snake or rabbit. In practically no time, he would be gone and yet everywhere. Joined. Connected. Safe.

WE ALL KNEW Luke Perry from his breakout role on Beverly Hills, 90210 , a teen drama from the 1990s. For years, his image was inescapable, sleeveless, hair coiffed into the second coming of James Dean. The lines of his forehead added with the thinnest paintbrush imaginable. He played Dylan McKay, the brooding, broken loner who exuded the kind of self-possession that is only ever won through tragedy, the kind that always leaves a mark. He of the white T-shirts and the too cool had eyes that shocked us with their softness, and a recklessness that made us worry for him. He wore vulnerability like an open secret. He taught a generation how to smolder.

The first episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 is pretty standard fish-out-of-water stuff. But episode two introduces a bit of restrained menace in Dylan McKay, who debuts from a dark corner, coiffed and leather-jacketed, to intimidate a pair of bullies. “Your friend’s pretty cool,” remarks Brandon, the show’s protagonist, and he was right. Luke Perry played Dylan as cool and self-possessed, which he somehow conveyed despite having auditioned for several hundred roles before landing his breakout.

The rest of the world was not quite as restrained in its response. The show’s viewers went berserk in a frenzy of crushes and emulation. Everywhere wanted to be Beverly Hills and everyone either wanted to be with Dylan McKay or to be like him. There is a famous story about Luke Perry’s stardom when it was peaking in the early 1990s. He was doing a public appearance for 90210 at a mall in Seattle when a crowd of young girls had become so rabid that they started to riot. People got hurt. It was as if the mass had become an organism unto itself, spreading out in all directions and at whatever cost to consume Luke Perry.

He had to be smuggled out buried in a laundry hamper. It was his last public appearance for the show. He knew he was an object of desire, but in an interview with Rolling Stone at the time, it seems like it rattled him . In subsequent interviews he started to talk more about 90210 as a way to get parents and kids to confront the difficult business of growing up in a world where guns and pregnancy scares, AIDS and social justice find their way into the enclaves of privilege.

He learned how to keep the great want of the world away by closing off access to his physicality, his actual body. He raised his kids, Sophie and Jack, to be respectful and work hard, and he drove them around in a minivan. He bought the farm property in Tennessee (he came from Ohio farming stock) and gave out food and clothing during a flood in 2010 . He worked to see and honor the humanity in all the folks around him, to separate the individual back out of the mass. He befriended a woman experiencing homelessness who lived near him in Los Angeles and let her use his shower. Everyone said he had a big heart and a strong desire to leave the world a better place. Many of the obituaries written about him say he cared about Earth, but I couldn’t find many specifics. Anonymous as a prolific philanthropist. Maybe that’s all we need to know.

So then perhaps it wasn’t a total surprise when he told his daughter about the mushroom burial shroud. He was around fifty then, seemingly far from death. He “was more excited by this than I had ever seen him,” she wrote on Instagram about six weeks after he died. “He was buried in that suit, one of his final wishes.”

THE SPORES INSIDE Luke Perry’s burial shroud had been trained by an artist named Jae Rhim Lee , who fed them her hair, skin, and fingernail clippings. She called them Infinity Mushrooms. “As I watch the mushrooms grow and digest my body, I imagine the Infinity Mushroom as a symbol of a new way of thinking about death and the relationship between my body and the environment,” she said in her 2011 TED talk . Her idea originated out of concern for what our bodies leave behind after a lifetime’s worth of bioaccumulating poisons in our fats, plastic in our lungs, and mercury in our dental fillings. It gets worse after all the fillers and formaldehyde and makeups that keep the sallowness out of our cheeks, restore color to our lips, and make the deceased shelf stable, so that the living may have pleasant final memories. We think of this as a denial of decay, if not denial of death itself. But it is more or less a debt to the distant future.

Death is life’s sturdiest muse. As Robert MacFarlane points out in Underland: A Deep Time Journey , the idea of what happens after death is the subject of our oldest recorded story, when Sumerian king Gilgamesh sent a warrior to the underworld for news of his deceased child around 2000 BCE. Nor did Beverly Hills, 90210 flinch from it, most notably in the second season when a hanger-on named Scott Scanlon accidentally shoots himself in the belly. World religions construct worldviews around the idea that there is something preservable and irreducible (a soul, maybe, or a spirit) that can be made to be durable against death.

He learned how to keep the great want of the world away by closing off access.

But that still leaves the body. It is a little indelicate to think of burials or cremations as body disposal, but that is what they are, dressed up in a bit of ritual. Unless you are the type to have your cremated remains put into orbit around the sun, your body is going to end up with the earth.

For the vast majority of us, there are two scenarios. You will either be reduced to carbon dioxide and ashes in a process that uses the same amount of gas as two tanks for an average car and draws oxygen into the crematoria like a vast, unrelenting inhale. Or you’ll be plumped with chemicals and fillers, slathered in makeup, and put in a hole in the ground that is deeper than most soil microorganisms—a sort of cold storage in the root cellar.

LUKE PERRY WAS A STYLE ICON and a trendsetter of the cool (sideburns, notably) and stayed out ahead of the rest of us in thinking about death. When he saw Jae Rhim Lee’s TED talk, he invested, and unknown to Lee at the time, he purchased a shroud for himself. A couple years later, after a cancer scare, he formalized his last wishes and told his family about them. Luke Perry, it seems, viewed death as a plannable eventuality worth being clear about, rather than a taboo. He could talk about his death.

Green burial, as such wishes are known, is gaining in popularity. In 2022, a study by the National Funeral Directors Association showed that 60.5 percent of respondents were interested in green burial, up 5 percent from the year before. USCatholic.org ran a poll in 2011 in which 80 percent said they’d prefer a greener burial if they had the option. People cite the lower cost (no embalming, simple caskets, no crematorium fees or cemetery maintenance), a lighter footprint (no embalming again, no fossil fuels or vaporized heavy metals), and a better connection to the earth (carbon dioxide is a pollutant). But the desire precedes the technology, and much of what’s being marketed today is the idea of a green funeral.

Most of us have seen the picture of a tree with the pod at its roots. Inside the womb-like pod, in the fetal position, is the deceased. The language promotes this as a way to feed and nourish a tree, although a body in early-stage decomposition releases enzymes that are harmful to plant roots and chase its life away. Maybe you’ve seen the tree with a compartment in the dirt for cremated remains, but those turn as hard as concrete when mixed with water. There has to be an intermediary.

Enter the mushroom burial shroud. Fungi are decomposers , and the easiest way to think of them is as a sort of expanding, underground plaster. They spread out in the seams of the soil and can become very large—those capped stalks we see are merely the small fruiting bodies. Over eons, fungi have learned to handle death and convert it into nutrients, which they then trade with plants for carbon and sugar. An estimated 90 percent of plants are connected to this network, but most of the trade is in plant-derived decay.

Animals die differently. Right now, inside you, are the very organisms that will begin to break down your body after you breathe your last. Carbon dioxide accumulates in your body, creating an acidic environment and rupturing cell walls, which release an enzyme that then digests the cells. The first stage of decomposition is autolysis, literally self-digestion, with the intestines and pancreas being the strongest actors. You carry your death with you everywhere you go. This turned out to be too much for Infinity Mushrooms.

In 2016, Melissa Meadow, known on Instagram as The Modern Mortician , and a researcher from the University of Texas at Austin were hired by Jae Rhim Lee to test the mushroom suit. Meadow found a candidate who was excited about the trial, shrouded her body, and buried her three feet deep at the bottom range of the soil’s life zone at Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park in Austin, Texas, after she died. They inserted a thin PVC pipe into the grave so they could thread in a camera to monitor what was going on.

Months went by, but no mushrooms were forming on the skin following any kind of lightning pattern toward the heart. There was just the normal, natural, unimpeded process down there in the loamy Texas dirt, ticking in the clockwork way that evolved alongside life.

That might have been it for the mushroom shroud. But Luke Perry died of a stroke three years later and his stardom and the tragedy of his early death resurrected it. Jae Rhim Lee spoke at his funeral. Today, if you Google mushroom burial shroud, his story comes up, as do tons of others promoting the virtues of this style of green funeral. You have to get deep before you learn the shroud doesn’t work.

Luke Perry knew about desire, having been buried in a laundry hamper to escape it. He also knew it as the holder of a notion about physical erasure from the planet, that our bodies don’t have to harm the earth when we die. We all know desire. Death is a muse, but desire is a blunter sort of thing. Maybe it doesn’t matter that the mushroom suit didn’t work; maybe it’s all that matters. Life crafts and carries its own death just the same.

THE ENDURING LEGACY of Beverly Hills, 90210 is the way it defined youth culture at a certain moment in time. It was the era of the first televised war (Operation Desert Storm), of Rodney King’s assault by the LAPD. We were witnessing history unfolding in real time on TV. The world was a terrifying place to be young and vulnerable. And it was onto this backdrop that the show’s producers let us see tragedy coming.

The scene is a birthday party in Beverly Hills. One of 90210’s main characters, David, is roped out of pity and a sense of loyalty into throwing a surprise party for his old friend Scott, whom he had known forever and who is no longer really his close friend. Most of the guests leave after a short time. Tension develops between Scott’s mom’s desire for a birthday party an eight-year-old might enjoy and the high school horndogs who simply must make out wherever they go.

No one can find a lighter for the birthday candles. Scott, with a sweep of blond hair and a rodeo belt buckle on his jeans, goes upstairs into his father’s desk to look for one. Then he gets curious, dumps out a container of pencils, and finds a key. The synthesizer music starts up, mysterious and kind of menacing.

Life crafts and carries its own death just the same.

Scott unlocks a drawer, finds a brown leather box, and opens it. He pulls out the black semiautomatic and flips it over in his hand a few times and his finger slides onto the trigger.

The scene switches back downstairs, where Scott’s father has found matches. David is dispatched upstairs to retrieve Scott. The synthesizer picks away at a few more notes.

David opens the door. “Scott, come on. They found some . . .”

“Hey David, check this out.”

He starts to spin the gun on his finger.

“Scott. Scott. Scott! Put that—”

The gun flies off his finger and smacks against the desk, discharging with a flash. David throws his hands to his head in shock. There is no blood. No screaming. There is just the empty surprise of someone who just saw too much, who saw a life whisked away, who saw death.

Luke Perry’s children rushed to his bedside after the stroke in late February 2019. Things weren’t looking good and they all knew. It took a few days to find recipients for his organs before they took him off life support. His lungs and liver and kidneys were dispersed by the most fundamental desire of all, which is the desire to go on living.

But they could not find a match for his heart. His heart, inside his chest, inside the mushroom burial shroud, was pressed against the silty soil left behind by eons of flood cycles in what we now call Tennessee but that has only been known by that name for a short time. The soil teems with the organisms that will convert his death back into life. It will return—even now, is returning—back to the full embrace of the earth.

After Scott dies of his gunshot wound, the 90210 gang dedicates its time capsule to him. We are informed that every fifty years, a group of students breaks into the West Beverly Hills High campus at night and buries a keepsake. They fill theirs with the accoutrements of the day: fluorescent pink Lycra spandex, a Corvette key chain. Dylan McKay throws in surfboard wax to “symbolize the waves that have been pounding the shores for thousands of years, when really it’s just a brief moment in time.”

“Yeah,” Kelly says, after Brandon and Steve have stepped out of the two-foot-deep grave for their time capsule, “but how do you know someone’s gonna be here in fifty years to dig it up?”

Dylan answers: “Time will tell.”

Luke Perry died at fifty-two. The final act is always a tragedy, but there is still room in the epilogue. In another ten years, more or less, all his earthly remains will be completely mined for life, given up to the embrace that would hold him at last and always has. He will be gone but returned, reunited, safe. Time always tells.

Casey Lyons lives in Colorado and is writing a book about dandelions. When he goes, he’ll go into the ground about three feet deep.

A Historic Cleanup at Ilwaco Cemetery: 1,800 Pounds of Progress

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 19:04:10 GMT

Ilwaco Cemetery in Pacific County, Washington, has long stood as a testament to the rich history and lives of the coastal community. Yet, like many cemeteries, it had fallen into disrepair, with overgrown weeds and scattered debris tarnishing its serene beauty. Recognizing the need to restore dignity to this sacred space, I spearheaded the largest cleanup effort the county has ever seen at the cemetery, a labor of love that brought together a dedicated group of volunteers with one common goal: to honor the past by preserving its resting place.

Rallying the Community

Organizing a large-scale cleanup wasn’t an easy feat, but it was one I knew had to happen. Cemeteries are not just places of burial; they are also spaces of reflection, memory, and respect. Over time, Ilwaco Cemetery had become overrun with weeds, trash, and natural debris, erasing the care and respect that the space deserved. It was time for action.

With the power of community in mind, I reached out through local networks, social media, and word of mouth. The response was overwhelming! Over 20 volunteers, from all walks of life, showed up, bringing gloves, tools, and an incredible spirit of giving back. Together, we formed a strong team, determined to restore the cemetery’s former dignity.

A Day of Hard Work and Transformation

On the day of the cleanup, we were met with the daunting sight of an overgrown cemetery. Yet, instead of feeling overwhelmed, the team saw an opportunity to make a difference. Armed with rakes, shovels, and sheer determination, we set to work. We spent the day removing tangled weeds, cleaning headstones, and picking up scattered garbage, all while sharing stories, laughter, and the satisfaction of working together.

By the end of the day, we had hauled away a staggering 1,800 pounds of garbage and weeds to haul to the county dump. It was an awe-inspiring moment to see how much we had cleared and how much beauty we had uncovered. Paths that were once hidden were restored, and headstones long neglected were given the attention and respect they deserved.

The Impact

This cleanup was more than just a beautification project—it was a reconnection to the history and people of Ilwaco. By restoring the cemetery, we honored the memories of those who rest there, ensuring that future generations can continue to reflect on the lives and stories held within its grounds.

The collective efforts of the volunteers made an immense difference, and the sense of accomplishment was palpable. It was a reminder of the power of community and what can be achieved when people come together for a meaningful cause. We didn’t just remove trash; we restored a piece of Pacific County’s history.

Closed

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 02:45:27 GMT

The mistreatment of J.F.

I am sharing this story as a lesson; the events and characters described in this story are based on my personal experiences and perception of events.

I opened my (mobile) pet funeral care business in February of 2023. I opened with no money- just my car, my experience, and a plan. I had access to refrigeration in my home for pets in my care up to 100 lbs. Upon receipt of a client, my procedure was each pet would be toe-tagged with identifying information, wrapped in a blanket (or 2), placed in hamper or box, and on their own shelf. I set the expectation of turnaround time to be 3 weeks- giving me time to transport the pet, or multiple pets, to my water cremation provider near Portland. Here, each pet is individually reduced, and I personally package and hand deliver the pets back to their homes at the conclusion of the services.

Through an educational grant, I fine tuned my contingency plans for success of my small business. Unfortunately, July of this year, my landlords let me know they would be selling the property I was living and working out of. Two other small business owners in the community offered housing in exchange for labor, one at their business, the other at their residence. Both locations were not in livable condition, but were the only options available.

I was exposed to conditions leading to a medical event that hospitalized me for a week. During this hospitalization, while I was incapacitated, a dog in my care was held hostage by the contractor supplying refrigeration during my move. This individual made promises to release this pet to transporters to take to cremation in my absence, then refuted multiple attempts for collection by multiple parties. The day I was released from the hospital, I was taken directly to my vehicle, and my first stop was to attempt to bring the stolen dog into my care. I arrived to find the facility locked and my access to both locations revoked. An attempt to request assistance from local law enforcement was denied. Multiple times. Over 5 days.

The next task was to contact the pet parents. I told them. They retrieved their dog. I offered to be on standby at the end of the street to follow thru with care, but they declined.

When this dog was placed in my vehicle at the vet clinic the day of its passing, it was wrapped in 2 blankets when it left the building, and was nestled into a THIRD blanket in my car. I transported the dog to the location I had arranged for refrigeration until my trip to the crematory later in the process. The refrigeration I had been granted access to was a chest freezer in a garage. The garage was filthy, but I had created a path to the cooler, and removed all of the contents of this cooler (individually packaged rabbit meat for human consumption) to a stand up freezer. I placed the dog and all three blankets into the chest freezer- because this dog weighed over 65 lbs, and it took the entirety of the third blanket to hoist the dog over the lip of the cooler unit to place it inside.

I know that the reports of the conditions the dog was retrieved from were not the conditions in which it was left by me.

Ill Will? Anger? I can understand hating me or wanting to hurt ME, to a degree, for whatever reason you may have. The world is in a pretty messed up place. But these selfish individuals were so driven to put their ego above all, that they did not consider the emotions or experience they were about to unleash on the owners of the dog caught in the crossfire.

Luke Whittaker of the Chinook Observer contacted me on Instagram messenger Thursday, September 26 and requested to speak to me about the complaints on my business. I replied with my phone number and was never contacted. I am sharing this to present the facts as they truly happened.

Sebaahstian's Journey

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 23:02:55 GMT

Sebaahstian Baach, the journey from birth to becoming an educational tool

In the small community in which I reside, on the coast of the Pacific Northwest, I was fortunate to find friends quickly at a yarn shop on the port in Ilwaco, WA .

The pirates of Purly Shell Yarn raise their own future wool makers, yall. Founded in 2014, after years of researching and planning, they opened up shop, taking on small business ownership head on. I love to introduce my crafty friends online to my IRL friends and what they create. Heather, Danielle, and Stacie strive to provide unique and creative yarns and fibers to their family of fiber artists. Like me, they break the mold of a traditional, their niche being a fiber arts shop! Not only that, they are also a studio, an open learning environment, and a safe place to be creative while bending or breaking all the rules! They focus on American-made yarns, small companies, hand-dyers, and inspiring artisans, and they have an eclectic feel to the high quality and unique products they carry. Plus, they let me put a casket on their patio for funsies not once, but likely 5 times... and on further thought, they're storing one for me right now. *thanks y'all<3*

With the joys and new births of spring, sometimes loss happens. Loss led me to care for my first lamb baby. I was elated that Danielle chose Water Cremation and to utilize his remains to educate people on the facts of water cremation care and options after. You can visit his obituary here.

So, this brings us to they journey for Sebaahstian the Lamb from after death, to water cremation, and concluding; documenting the process of choosing and arranging for a unique option many people don't know about, Parting Stone Solidified Remains!

After bringing Sebaahstian into my care, his little body inconspicuously nestled in a laundry basket, inconspicuously from Danielle's van to my car. I secured the basket with the seatbelt next to Kermit the dog, sidekick, scanned the parking lot for lookie loos, and closed the hatchback.

Purly Shell shared the story of his passing on their social media....

"This is our 2nd lambing. The first was amazing, and this year was set up to be even better. The ewes were in wonderful shape, there were cameras recording but unfortunately, no matter what happens you can't plan for every contingency.

This baby, Sebaastian was growing, and happy and loving life. Unfortunately his mother, a rescue ewe who probably for the first time in her life had plenty of food produced an overabundance of milk for her babies. We lost this baby when he overate and bloated. Poor mama is so sad that one of her twin boys is missing.

Thankfully a friend who is a mortician gave him the dignity every living being deserved. We always say no bad days at the farm, and every life should be remembered and cherished."

Sebaahstian's body was then transferred to my pet funeral home, The End Companion Care . I made the proper arrangements to schedule his reduction by water cremation , and not long after, he returned to me in his most simple form; ash, which is really bone, which is REALLY at this point just Carbon Phosphate. It looks like powder as opposed to what you see at the conclusion of a flame cremation, something resembling sand of varying consistencies.

From here, you can follow his journey through my instagram and tiktok posts, and once he returns as Stones , I will update this post entirely.

In the meantime, here is a video about Parting Stone.

Parting Stone, Solidified Remains

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:32:05 GMT

Parting Stone is a solid solution for what you can do after cremation....

I was one of the OG funeral professionals posting and talking about Parting Stone . This week, they will debut on ABCs Shark Tank, and I am so excited to see them get the recognition they deserve.

The founder of Parting Stone, Justin Crowe, was one of the first funeral industry journalists that wrote about Kermit and his role as a therapy dog in funeral care. When he debuted his idea for solidified remains I was an instant fan. This option solves a new question arising daily... what do I do with the ash?

I'd like to introduce you to one of many options... Parting Stone Solidified Remains.

Parting Stone is a company that specializes in transforming cremated remains into beautiful, solidified stones that can be kept as a permanent memorial to a loved one. Their process is unique in the funeral industry, and they have quickly become a popular choice for families who want a lasting and meaningful way to honor their loved ones.

So, how does it work? When you order from Parting Stone , they will send you a kit that includes everything you need to collect a small amount of your loved one's cremated remains. Once you have collected the remains, you simply send the kit back to Parting Stone , and they will use a proprietary process to transform the remains into a beautiful, solidified stone.

The stones come in a variety of colors and sizes, and can be personalized with engravings or other customizations. They are a wonderful way to remember a loved one, and many families find comfort in having a physical object that they can hold and cherish.

One of the things that sets Parting Stone apart from other companies in the funeral industry is their commitment to sustainability. They use eco-friendly materials and processes, and all of their stones are made in the USA. They also donate a portion of their profits to organizations that support environmental conservation.

Overall, Parting Stone is a company that offers a unique and meaningful way to honor the memory of a loved one. Their solidified stones are a beautiful and lasting tribute, and their commitment to sustainability makes them an excellent choice for families who want to make a positive impact on the world. If you are looking for a special way to remember someone who has passed away, be sure to check it out.

The following is from the company themselves:

A Clean Alternative to Cremated Remains.

Solidified remains are a complete alternative to cremated remains that allow you to live comfortably with your departed. The solidification process compresses conventional cremated remains into a beautiful collection of 40-60 “stones” that you can hold, share, scatter, and travel with.

The appearance of each collection of solidified remains is 100% natural. People can result in different hues and textures making each set unique. Parting Stone empowers families in their grief by providing a form of remains that can be touched and held.

Call or email us for additional information about this service.

At-need Arrangements

At the time of your arrangement, you may choose to have your loved one returned either as cremated remains or solidified remains.

Pre-need Arrangements

If you would like to update your pre-need plan to include solidified remains, please contact us by email or phone and we will update your arrangement.

Solidification of remains at-home

If you currently have the cremated remains of your loved one at home and want to have them solidified, you may place your order here .

Parting Stone, A Solid Solution for Pet Cremains

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:12:31 GMT

To hold once more.... introducing Parting Stone, Solidified Remains from your Pet

I was one of the OG funeral professionals posting and talking about Parting Stone . This week, they will debut on ABCs Shark Tank, and I am so excited to see them get the recognition they deserve.

I'd like to introduce you to one of many options... Parting Stone Solidified Remains.

So, how does it work? When you order from Parting Stone, they will send you a kit that includes everything you need to collect a small amount of your loved one's cremated remains. Once you have collected the remains, you simply send the kit back to Parting Stone, and they will use a proprietary process to transform the remains into a beautiful, solidified stone.

The following is from the company themselves:

A Clean Alternative to Cremated Remains.

Solidified remains are a complete alternative to cremated remains that allow you to live comfortably with your departed. The solidification process compresses conventional cremated remains into a beautiful collection of “stones” that you can hold, share, scatter, and travel with.

Frequently Asked Questions about Solidified Remains & Parting Stone

What is the cost of this process?

The total cost for solidified remains, including shipping, is $345 for dogs and $295 for cats, in addition to the private cremation charges through the shelter.

How can I be sure I am getting my pet’s remains back?

Parting Stone is a company of pet lovers and understands your concern. Every set of remains they receive is labeled and tracked throughout the entire processing. They have individualized equipment for each step of the process and the ashes are never mingled. A single Parting Stone technician handles your pet’s remains throughout the process.

How does Parting Stone turn the remains into stones, what are they actually doing?

Parting Stone worked with Los Alamos National Lab to develop the process to create solidified remains. They refine the cremated remains, add a small amount of binder (glass) and superheat the remains. You receive back the remains of your pet in a form that you can hold, share, scatter, display, or bury.

How long will it take to get my pet’s solidified remains?

It will take up to 2 weeks for the shelter to cremate your pet, and then about 8 weeks more for Parting Stone to process and return the solidified remains.

How long will the “stones” last?

Solidified remains look, feel, and behave just like stones. They can be broken with a hammer, but otherwise will last as long as a stone found in nature.

What color will the stones be?

The color of solidified remains is 100% natural. Many pets result in white stones, but some are a hue of blue, green, or a radical variation.

I am concerned about the environment – is this environmentally friendly?

Solidified remains are much gentler for scattering than cremated remains. Cremated remains can damage delicate ecosystems, but solidified remains look, feel, and behave like stones and don't damage or change the ecosystem at all.

What if I already have animal cremains that I would now like turned into Solidified Remains?

You can work directly with Parting Stone by visiting this link-> PARTING STONE

What is Greenwashing?

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 22:49:08 GMT

Greenwashing has entered funeral care.

Greenwashing is a marketing tactic that companies use to make their products seem more environmentally friendly than they actually are. It's a way for companies to appeal to consumers who care about the environment and want to make ethical purchasing decisions. But in reality, greenwashing is often just a way for companies to profit off of the growing trend of eco-friendliness without actually making any significant changes to their products or practices.

Think about all of the products that you see marketed as "green" or "eco-friendly" - from cleaning products to clothing to cars. It's easy to get swept up in the idea that we're making a positive impact on the environment by purchasing these products. But the reality is often much different.

For example, a company might market a cleaning product as "natural" or "green," but upon closer inspection of the ingredient list, you might find that it contains harmful chemicals that are damaging to the environment. Or a clothing company might claim that their products are made from sustainable materials, but in reality, they're still contributing to the massive waste and pollution problem in the fashion industry.

It's important to be skeptical of companies that use greenwashing tactics to sell their products. Do your research and look for third-party certifications that verify a company's environmental claims. Don't just take their word for it.

At the end of the day, we all want to make a positive impact on the environment. But we need to do so in a way that's grounded in reality, not in marketing ploys. By being mindful of greenwashing tactics and supporting companies that truly prioritize sustainability, we can work towards a better future for our planet.

Human Composting - The New Greenwashing of Funeral Care?

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:09:49 GMT

Human Composting - The New Greenwashing of Funeral Care?

The landscape of environmental responsibility is navigating a delicate balance between genuine sustainability and the rising tide of greenwashing manipulation. As consumers, stakeholders, and advocates for a healthier planet, it is imperative that we approach purported eco-friendly initiatives with a discerning eye. While businesses may employ eco-friendly rhetoric to bolster their image, true commitment to sustainability is evidenced through transparent practices, verifiable certifications, and a tangible reduction in environmental impact.

Composting humans, or human composting, refers to the practice of turning human remains into nutrient-rich compost. It has many trade names, including Terramation and Recomposition. There are currently 5 providers in the US. In order of licensing, the first in the US was Herland Forest in Klickitat County, followed closely by Recompose. They influenced Return Home, then Earth Funeral silently joined the scene, all of Washington state. The final being The Natural Funeral in Colorado. In the United States, human composting is legal in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, and Nevada.

While the idea may seem environmentally friendly at first glance, there are ethical and practical considerations that raise concerns about greenwashing in the human composting arena.

Greenwashing potential: Greenwashing occurs when an organization or practice is presented as environmentally friendly when it may not be as eco-friendly as claimed. Composting humans could be perceived as greenwashing if the environmental benefits are overstated, and the practice is used more as a marketing strategy than a genuine commitment to sustainability. Katey Houston, Micah Truman, Return Home Funeral

Energy and resource use: The process of composting human remains may involve energy-intensive procedures and the use of resources such as electricity , fuel for transport, and water. If the overall environmental impact of the composting process and transportation process is not carefully considered and minimized, it could lead to unintended negative consequences.

Emissions and transportation : If the composting facility is located far from where the deceased lived (which is the norm), transportation of the remains to the facility will contribute to carbon emissions. The environmental impact of transportation and associated emissions should be factored into the overall sustainability of human composting practices- from the medium to the end product placement.

Chew on this- The resource requirements for growing a crop of alfalfa can vary based on several factors such as climate, soil conditions, agricultural practices, and management techniques. Here are some key resources and factors to consider using this medium base as an example:

Water : Alfalfa is known to have relatively high water requirements compared to some other crops. The amount of water needed depends on factors like local climate, precipitation, and irrigation practices. Water use efficiency measures, such as drip irrigation, can help optimize water usage.

Land : Alfalfa requires arable land for cultivation. The amount of land needed will depend on factors such as yield expectations, planting density, and agricultural practices. Sustainable land management practices can help minimize the environmental impact.

Fertilizers : Alfalfa for example, requires fertilizers to support its growth. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are among the essential nutrients that may be supplemented based on soil nutrient levels and crop needs. Organic farming practices and precision agriculture can be employed to minimize the use of synthetic fertilizers.

Pesticides and herbicides : Depending on local conditions and pest pressures, alfalfa cultivation may involve the use of pesticides and herbicides. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies can be employed to minimize the environmental impact of these inputs.

Energy : Energy is required for various stages of alfalfa production, including planting, irrigation, harvesting, and transportation. The type of machinery used, as well as the energy sources for irrigation and other operations, can influence the overall energy footprint. What about the time you transform the decedent? Electricity from lights to music, and daily operations should also be heavily considered.

Transportation : The distance between the alfalfa field and its destination, such as processing facilities or markets, affects the environmental impact associated with transportation. Shorter transportation distances generally result in lower energy consumption and emissions.

Processing and storage: If alfalfa is processed or stored before use, additional resources may be required for these activities. Proper storage practices can help minimize losses and resource use.

Waste and byproducts: Understanding how waste and byproducts from alfalfa cultivation are managed is also important. Efficient use or proper disposal of residues can contribute to sustainability. Oftentimes, we see providers placing non biodegradeable keepsake material in the composting vessels. What happens to this trash?

It's important to note that true sustainability in agriculture involves a holistic approach, considering environmental, social, and economic aspects. Sustainable farming practices, precision agriculture, and technologies that optimize resource use can all contribute to reducing the environmental footprint associated with growing crops like alfalfa, regardless of the intended end use.

While the concept of human composting may align with the goal of sustainability, it is essential to critically evaluate the entire process START TO FINISH to determine its true environmental impact. Without careful consideration of ethical, energy, and emissions factors, human composting IS VERY susceptible to greenwashing accusations and activity.

As we continue to navigate an era marked by increasing environmental consciousness, let us remain vigilant against greenwashing tactics. A critical and informed consumer base is instrumental in holding companies accountable for their claims and fostering a culture of genuine environmental responsibility. By demanding authenticity and scrutinizing the practices of those who claim to be green, we contribute to a more sustainable future—one that goes beyond mere marketing ploys and resonates with tangible, positive change for our planet.

ASK QUESTIONS.

LGBTQ+ Rights in Death

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 21:42:18 GMT

LGBTQ+ and Securing Your Rights and Respect in Death

First suggestion, pick one or both of these forms and fill out with your people. Right meow!

Appointment of Agent Form with Witnesses Appointment of Agent Form with Notary

OK, now that is done- Why the urgency? If you do not have a document like this, or you are not married to your partner as seen by law in the state you live in (even if you are, rights are threatened daily, I still say have this on hand).

I am currently crafting another document with pronoun selection added and dead/legal name allocation for the form. It will be updated to the provided links when available. In the meantime, use your legal name for this to be recognized as a legal document.

You can update your document anytime, and email it to your people. This ensures everyone that must be in the know when you die have documents to ensure you are respected and cared for in the manner you deem desirable.

Forms like this are vital for those people who are separated from legal next of kin by choice. Appointment of a funeral agent trumps the normal next-of-kin rules as outlined by the state you live in (spouse, children, parents, living relatives, etc....). Appointed Agents can be anyone: executors of estates, your spouse, one of your children, a parent, another relative, or a friend with whom you trust to carry out your funeral wishes.

Those who may want to consider delegating an Appointed Agent are people who think their relatives may not honor their funeral wishes or pre-arrangements. Also, if a state's law outlines the next-of-kin as multiple people with a requirement that all agree, this may cause a conflict in decision making. In these scenarios, it is sometimes best to appoint just one person to override the state's policy.

Others who would benefit from appointing a designated Appointed Agent are: people who may be estranged from their spouse or next-of-kin, or do not know where the living relatives are located, or those who do not have any living relatives.

Trauma

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 22:52:10 GMT

I began to realize I wasn't going to be fortunate enough to work FOR someone who felt the way I did about death care. I had to be that someone for another.

Those of us who have worked any amount of time in funeral care know there are things you don't want to discuss with the general public. With this secrecy, comes additional with holding of information, and a whole lack of transparency in general which goes largely unchallenged and unchecked.

I recently separated employment with an entity that not only disrespected the dead in their care, but the living families members as well. From the inside, I was quick to get state licensing up to speed, update their offerings and price list... but some requests I was challenged on, and within months I was disgusted by the behind the scenes behaviors and activities.

I witnessed bodies cremated on amazon boxes. I saw bodies rot due to no accessible refrigeration. I heard the business owner say horrible things about the dead and their family members.

So when I could no longer improve things for the community within this business, I began to work on how I could fix things now.

Water Cremation

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:04:52 GMT

Water cremation is an eco-friendly alternative to flame cremation and I price it the same as flame.

Also known as Alkaline Hydrolysis, Water Cremation is a green cremation process which speeds up the way our bodies return to nature when they are buried. Under the earth, a similar hydrolysis process can take years, but with the appliance of science, very warm water and five per cent potassium hydroxide – a compound used in soap and shampoo – a water cremation takes around four hours. Despite its green credentials, the biggest selling-point, we've learned, is how it’s captured people’s imaginations as a ‘gentler’ way to go.

In recent years a number of states have legalized the use of Water Cremation, this form of disposition that is considered to be greener than traditional methods of burial and cremation. Water cremation is known by many names; Alkaline Hydrolysis, Aquamation, Green Cremation, or Resomation. No matter what you call it, the process is gentler on the environment from start to finish.

What Happens at a Water Cremation?

Your person will be wrapped in a material made of natural fiber, before being placed in the chamber. Once inside the chamber, it’s filled with approximately 80 gallons of water and an alkali solution that’s 5% potassium mix and 95% water. You can even request an essential oil, like lavendar, which I personally will anoint your person with, so we can consider this their "final spa day".

During the cremation, the alkali solution is heated to 300 – 350 degrees Fahrenheit and the pressure is increased. The temperature is high enough to kill bacteria. It also dissolves the soft tissue of the body leaving only the bones and medical implants, looking as fresh as the day they were installed (you absolutely can ask for these back if you want them!)

This solution is completely safe for people and the environment. Despite objections and the personal opinion of opponents (the usual suspects that like to tell us what to do with our bodies), the leftover solution after water cremation is safe enough to pour down the sink. In fact, the ingredients of the alkali solution can be found in liquid soap. And the liquid from the soft tissue is nontoxic and natural. It consists of mostly water, amino acids, salts peptides, soap and sugars. It resembles urine.

The bone fragments that are left behind are soft and very white, much more so than the bones that remain after flame cremation. These bones are made into a fine powder, and that is the cremains that the next of kin will receive. What’s left after the process is a pure white ‘ash’, fine particles of sterile bone. Water cremation results in slightly more powdered remains than flame cremation, which are given to loved ones in an urn as well. Nothing of your "person" goes "up in flames."

Although akin to traditional cremation and with the legacy of ashes, Water Cremation ultimately does what nature, unhindered, sets to work on when we die. Our bodies, made up of around 60 per cent water, are broken down by the water solution into their basic building blocks. Liquids which would seep into the soil after a burial, are sterilized through Water Cremation and drained away to be recycled.

How is the Remaining Solution Disposed?

Because the remaining solution is sterile it can be safely disposed of by pouring it down the drain into the sewage system. It’s this part of the process that many people object to. It’s hard for people to stomach the fact the dissolved tissue is in the water that’s processed at wastewater plants. Ironically, this procedure is actually the same way blood and fluids are disposed of during the embalming process before most traditional burials, so as an alternative, we have sod farmer's pick up the many gallons of effluent for dispersion on farms.

Benefits of Alkaline Hydrolysis

Many of the benefits of water cremation are the same or similar to those of a regular cremation.

Water Cremation is the most environmentally friendly method of cremation available. It offers several environmental advantages �� over traditional burial or flame-based cremation services.

Overall, the end-to-end process uses 90% less energy than traditional flame cremation.
Few to no harmful toxins are released into the atmosphere.
No toxins, metals or embalming fluid is put in the ground.
Medical implants are removed after cremation. They can be returned to the family or medically recycled, ensuring the mercury they contain is never released into the air.
Water cremation is safer for the operator and the community due to the lack of flames.
Helps solve the problem of overcrowded cemeteries and lack of burial plots.
Land is conserved by choosing water cremation.

A “Gentle” Alternative Funeral

In America, we can easily call this method a gentle, eco-friendly alternative to flame-based cremation or casket burials.

As the “third true method” of final disposition, the deciding factor for many people may simply be whether or not they love the idea of this alternative cremation, too. Perhaps a connection with the elements will play its part in the decision-making; earth, fire or water.

The End . Green Funeral Care for People & Pets

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 16:02:06 GMT

The Beginning of The End . Green Funeral Care and The End Foundation

I have worked in death care since the late 90s. Through that time, I have worked for corporations and family owned businesses, start ups, and established entities. I've learned and seen so much. And I know where changes need to be made in the business of death care. It should not be a business... it should be a community.

I am excited to announce I am in the beginning stages of establishing a non profit funeral entity that will ultimately provide conservation burial space to the Pacific North West, for people and pets. We will offer all forms of eco disposition, including water cremation and natural organic reduction. Affordable. Inclusive. Sustainable.

If you are interested in being a part of this endeavor, please email me ! We are currently filling board member positions, and expect to be hiring additional staff in the near future.

In the meantime, small donations are being accepted via Paypal and any purchases from our shop are supporting this venture as well!

More to come.

Melissa Meadow

The Modern Mortician

like nesting dolls...

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 06:00:14 GMT

What is the purpose of putting a casket into a vault or grave liner? Is it just an upsell?

While you probably understand the need of a casket, you may not know the importance of a burial vault/grave liner.

A burial vault is a lined and sealed concrete container designed to protect the casket from outside elements such as water, and downward soil pressure caused by backhoes or other heavy maintenance equipment at the grave site. They can be customized and sell for $4900-$18k on the Peninsula.

A grave liner is an unlined and unsealed concrete container that protects the casket from the downward soil pressure caused by backhoes or other heavy maintenance equipment at the grave site, and sell for $1400 on the Peninsula.

Both burial vaults and grave liners help preserve the cemetery by preventing the ground from collapsing or settling over time and most importantly, protect your loved one after burial by all marketing claims.

As someone who has been working in funeral care since 1997, I have seen my fair share of disinterments- that's when a casket is unearthed, be it because the family is moving and wants to rebury their person elsewhere, criminal investigations cause a need, or, in the case of Bonanza star, Hoss, your wife is tired of fans visiting and wants to have you cremated and brought home (yes this happened, and yes, I saw the body!).

There are 2 main benefits to a liner or vault in my opinion. Personal preference and maintenance.

On the Peninsula, all graves are hand dug, so there is no need to heavy equipment like backhoes to be plodding over plots, and no one out here would purposely drive their vehicle over a grave. So that eliminates the maintenance aspect for a potential requirement for a liner or vault.

Flashback...

I recall a representative from Taylor Cemetery in Ocean Park visiting the office in the spring to make arrangements for his father. As usual, I would pipe in on the conversation when engaged, and while in the room a comment about my Texas burials was made. I began to chat about green burials and the like, and how vaults weren't a requirement and thus it would be so easy to have green burials here. I literally saw the color drain from this man's face as he stammered and stated he was shocked this wasn't a law, as he had been misinforming many families over the years. The whole vault and liner business.... he was stunned. The man who wrote my paychecks shot me a look and I quickly exited the room.

Time and time again, I would ask if I could forgo the liner for a family, be it for financial constraints, or just in anticipation of them questioning me in the arrangements, and each time, it was stated to the effect of caskets and vault sales go hand in hand, you get one, and you expect to get the other. Instant $1400. Instant nausea.

Over the final days of the Summer of 2022, I orchestrated a beautiful (shades of) green burial in Oysterville Cemetery. The family did not want embalming, which is another electable item, not a requirement by law due to the availability of refrigeration. They selected a beautiful Seagrass casket, and the interior was adorned with hand embellished, lace edged quilts. Oysterville cemetery does not require a liner or vault in their bylaws either, however, once again, my hand was forced by he who wrote my paycheck, and the green burial was nestled forever into a poly liner below the sand. During the Graveside service, many guests engaged the family in discussion about this beautiful farewell, and more than once the family expressed their distaste for the poly liner present below the ground, like a toxic little pill waiting to encapsulate the casket.

So, what can be done? Well, I'm starting to do it... educate those around me. And should you find yourself making these choices, stand firm in your decision not to purchase a liner or vault if you do not find necessity in the purchase and it isn't a requirement by the cemetery of your choosing. Until they are a requirement in the bylaws of the local cemetery, they can only be a suggestion and should not have or ever have been a requirement when burying a loved one in Ilwaco, Ocean Park, Oysterville, or Long Beach.

Someday, there will be a cemetery that won't require any purchases at all- where you could be buried naked in the sand should you choose. The thing is... it's a choice. No one should force you.

The Core Values - A lesson in being fired.

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 01:53:59 GMT

Originally written in 2016.

My friends, change is a scary thing, but a necessary part of existing and growing. Just when you think you have a direction figured out, one butterfly effect can put so many new things into motion. Change is guaranteed, just like death.

In the late spring of 2016, I parted ways with my then current employer, as “our core values no longer aligned.” At the time, I was crushed. What had seemed so promising and progressive was not to be, and I was left struggling with what direction to take next and where to place trust. Depression ate at my creativity, and I found myself falling into writer’s block. I had so much I needed to share, but no drive or enthusiasm to share it. People were still reaching out with touching stories about their memorial tattoos, so I decided to find someone to take over the Memento Mori tattoo portion of The Modern Mortician page, so I could put focus into myself.

I worked through grieving the past and began preparing for the future. I spent the summer months volunteering and immersing myself in other aspects of my funeral career that get sidelined when the families you are serving come first. What evolved over the next few months was pretty amazing; new friendships and allies, and new ideas and inspirations.

Through strong connections and a network of people who believe in me, I am now able to take steps to nourish my passion, starting with providing home vigils and natural death care choices to the people and pets of Central Texas. I am thankful to have such supportive mentors in my life, as amazing things never happen on the shoulders of one person alone.

So, what are the Core Values of the Modern Mortician? My core values are to be transparent about funeral care, empower families in death, and “lift the veiled hood on the cloak of death”- which can be translated into, “This Mortician will NOT feed you smokey Bull Shit on a mirrored platter.”

I am looking forward to rolling out new information and sharing new things about death care and the direction of funeral service. What a sweet relief to say I do not answer to anyone but you, the reader. Your critique is far more important to me than that of those whose core values do not align with mine.

Death Becomes Her

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 01:47:44 GMT

Death Becomes Her Originally Written February 19, 2017

An early indicator that I might possibly have a future in death care was my practice of burying the family pets that had expired throughout my childhood at my grandparents farm.

Some of the early interments were beloved cocker spaniels that had been with me since birth, dogs that had seen my first steps, and adored my relentless petting and cuddling. Later, a duckling I had fostered was laid to rest in a child’s shoe box, lined with cotton balls and a silk swatch of fabric from the floor of my grandmother’s sewing room.

Once my mom became a certified cat lover, they too eventually would lay beneath the pecan trees. I remember receiving a distressed phone call from her in my mid twenties even, long after I had left the nest. Once of her foster failure kitties was suffering from feline leukemia, and the humane choice was euthanasia. She absolutely could not bring herself to take the cat for that final ride, and asked if I would. So I did. And I stayed with the kitty and held her while they administered the shot that would give her peace. Then, I took the cardboard container carrying her body to my grandparents house, and at sunset one fall evening, buried the kitty beside a cluster of purple daisies and beneath the nearly bare branches of the pecan trees.

I still bury my pets, the latest being sweet Bella (and in 2020, Luna to Countryside Memorial) who was nested near the roots of an oak tree at Eloise Woods . I am also now entrusted with the care of other people’s pet family members too, as a practitioner of whole family death care for both people and pets.

How does one write a proper tribute?

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 18:36:34 GMT

How does one write a proper Tribute (obituary)? Info for People and Pet Companions.

An obituary is one of the most personal things you’ll ever write for someone or yourself.

It can be brief or eloquent, simple or humorous... as long as it expresses the sentiment you want, that’s all that matters.

The obituary is something that will live on forever memorializing the life of your loved one. Today, obituaries are even searchable online, and with that in mind, it’s no surprise people feel anxiety at the thought of having to write an obituary. It’s a big responsibility that people take seriously. If you find yourself in that position, try to not let the anxiety get the best of you. An obituary can actually help you reduce stress by helping you communicate with numerous people at once, and encourage comfort from your community in the wake of your loss. With the tips below writing an obituary will be easier than you imagined and maybe even a little therapeutic.

What to Include in an Obituary

The first challenge is understanding what should and shouldn’t be included in an obituary. There are no rules that must be followed, however, there are some standard best practices. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s typically included in an obituary:

PERSON OR PET

The deceased’s full name and age
Acknowledgement of the passing.
You don’t have to provide the details surrounding their death, but the obituary should first note that the individual passed. Some people want to be more transparent and share how their loved one died, and that's ok too!
Date of the death.
Where they lived, died, was born and grew up.
Big Life Accomplishments
Names of surviving family members.
Time and location for services (if having any)
Special Memories
You may also want to include a photo or two that will be published alongside the obituary.

PERSON

Education and work accomplishments.
Military service and honors.
Hobbies and interests.
Memberships.

You can provide as many or as few details as you want in the obituary. Some people choose to keep the obituary brief and others simply want to keep the details to themselves. Here, it can be as long as you want! Online there is no charge for length, so go wild if you'd like!

The Tone is Up to You

Obituaries don’t have to be somber, serious or sad. They can be happy, funny and celebratory. Before choosing which tone to take it could help to think about your loved one and how they would have written their obituary. Just be careful to keep the obituary respectful if you do use a lighter tone.

Write About What You Want Others to Remember

The most important reason to write an obituary is it captures the essence of your loved one’s life. What is it that you want your loved one to be remembered for? No matter what tone you take or the details you provide, readers should be left with a sense of who your loved one was and what made them special.

And if you need more help...

Just shoot me an email. I'm here for you! themodernmortician@gmail.com

Vultures Among Us

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:05:42 GMT

The Vultures Among Us

OCTOBER 25, 2015 ~ THE MODERN MORTICIAN

Sales pushing and deception on the worst day of your life… it happens. Everyday, individuals and families lose a loved one. Sometimes it is expected, sometimes it is not. They go about making arrangements in a fog, unprepared, disconnected at times; grieving. They sit across a big wooden table from a suit, who is soft toned, guiding, and compassionate. Certainly this person has your best interest at heart. Or do they?

When faced with loss, many of us go into auto-pilot mode. In this state of mind, many do not question guidance of the funeral director, after all, this is what they do… they know best. $15k later, your loved one is buried beneath the ground, in an ornate box you saw for a combined total of 5 hours at most, inside another box that the funeral director assured you would keep the first box untouched by nature (again, after, you just put said boxes DIRECTLY into the heart of nature), after a church service you have slight recollection of. How did this happen?

Due diligence. Due diligence is an investigation of a business or person prior to signing a contract, or an act with a certain standard of care. We live in a culture scared to death of death. Many people simply ignore it until it is staring them straight in the face. But how do you price shop a funeral home? How can you be sure that you are getting a fair price and dealing with genuine individuals? Do your due diligence. Before death knocks on your door, visit funeral providers in your area, and ask for their GENERAL PRICE LIST. The Federal Trade Commission requires all funeral homes to supply a General Price List, or GPL, to anyone who requests it. They also have 2 additional lists to request: The Casket Price List and the Outer Burial Container List.

The General Price List is an important tool in figuring out who to trust. The GPL itemizes all of the goods and services that particular funeral provider offers with the cost listed. Much like a menu in a restaurant, the GPL allows you to select only those items you want, and it tells how much each will cost. This could be considered for shopping a la carte, or if comparing a funeral provider’s “package” pricing, which bundles services for a reduced rate than selecting by line item.

When you stop in to request these price lists, you are under no obligation to chit-chat whatsoever. But if you are the type of person who wants to speak with a funeral director when you visit, it is advisable to actually make an appointment first. Anyone other than the licensed Funeral Director is likely a sales person. There is nothing wrong with wanting to sit and speak with the actual person you are considering entrusting your family to. They may try to lead you into a room to wait for someone. If they do this, unless they are SPECIFICALLY going to get you a LICENSED Funeral Director, you will likely be seen by a sales person with a fancy title, like Planning Counselor, or Funeral Consultant . In my opinion, the title that matters for a first encounter should be the licensed Funeral Director.

Once you’ve gathered information, take the time to look everything over in private or with a friend or family member. Take notes, compare, and make an informed decision.

Another question to consider: Is this provider locally owned or corporate? Many funeral providers you may believe to be locally owned have been bought out by one of several corporate giants in the funeral service industry. They keep the old family business name, and some client families are never the wiser. There is one particular corporation that many of us refer to as The Evil Empire due to their reputation for sales pushing and notorious over-pricing. I do encourage you to visit one of these corporate locations, and compare their GPL and CPL, many with the same offerings and merchandise as the local funeral service providers. Locally owned firms will be quick to tell you they are not a corporation. The corporations in our industry are seriously a major part of what is wrong with funeral care, and some of the locally owned ones have been guilty as well.

My best advice is to research before you need us, because one of the most despicable things in this industry is how often people are preyed upon at the worst day of their life. Thankfully, there is a growing army of those of us fighting to change that.

Strawberry Milk

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:47:27 GMT

Strawberry Milk- A disgusting post about how an Embalmer used canned milk to treat jaundice.

(1998)

Long before darkening the halls of a mortuary school, I did a summer job at a well-respected, local funeral home. I answered the telephones, set up the morning events on the old felt board with push in letters and numbers, ran errands- typical summer job. One morning, I was asked to go to the grocery store and return with 10 cans of Eagle Brand Milk- basically condensed milk… in a can.

It was a typical morning. I had just opened the thick, drawn curtains that looked out over Main Street. The front door was unlocked, porch swept. I sat in solidarity at the front desk, anticipating a few hours of silence ahead. Suddenly, the garage door sprang to life down the long, back hallway of the funeral home, creating a gentle hum across the building. Voices, shuffling, van doors opening, the clattering of metal as a cot carrying the deceased is rolled out and into the prep room. Doors closing, muffled voices. They were obviously huddled in the prep room: Greg, Steve and Brad. Greg was a 3rd generation Funeral Director/Embalmer (Mortician), Steve an Apprentice, and Brad was just another kid that took a summer job.

Greg’s mother, Bettie, a licensed Funeral Director herself, had entered the building. She spoke to her son briefly in the hallway, greeted me at the desk and asked me to go to the store for Greg. She handed me cash and a slip of white paper.

Upon my return, I approached the wide door to the prep room. This was where everything happened. The bathing, the embalming, the dressing, the cosmetics… the smoke and mirrors; THE MAGIC. It had a numerical keypad entry, to limit accessibility to the public due to the contents it held inside. I nervously knocked. My interactions with this room so far had been limited. Brad opened the door a crack and peered out at me, eyes wide. He was still getting used to the hidden secrets behind the door. He looked back at Greg, and then opened the door and motioned me in.

I was asked if I wanted to watch. This was my first invitation, and it was a unique experience indeed. What was about to go on behind the prep room doors was by many accounts only an old embalmers tale, one of the old school tricks of the trade, per say. This is NOT the schooled way to treat a body with Jaundice.

The man on the table before me was a unique shade of yellow. After raising the vessels in the mans neck to inject into the artery and drain from the vein, Greg began to pour each can of condensed milk purchased at the local grocery store into the tank of the embalming machine. I stood off to the right side, watching the drain channel of the porcelain table run with water. Steve flipped the machine on, and the water suddenly became a river of dark red blood. The machine began to push the milk through the tube, into the * cannula clamped in place, infusing the circulatory system with the creamy sickeningly sweet liquid and pushing the blood out into the river my eyes were fixated upon. It flowed directly into a drain to normal city waste system below. After what felt like an eternity, the river shifted again. I watched as the former clear river of water became a torrent of blood, and was now, comically, a river of what resembled strawberry milk.

According to Greg, by running a tank of condensed milk through the circulatory system to flush out the blood before embalming, it would help eliminate the yellow pallor the man was afflicted with due to Jaundice.

After the strawberry milk concoction drained from the man’s system, the tank to the embalming machine was then filled with the typical bottles of embalming fluid and proper proportions of water. It was at this point I was excused from the room to continue my regular mundane assistant tasks.

I saw the deceased man later, before they had dressed him and put a natural coat of cosmetics over his face. The Eagle Brand Milk hadn't worked, to my untrained eye. They still used a generous amount of color concealing cosmetics on his exposed hands and wrists, which held fast to the strange yellow tint. To this day, I have not and likely, will not, see Eagle Brand anything anywhere without immediately recalling the strangest embalming I have to this day ever witnessed.

Vocabulary:

cannula- a metal tube for insertion into the artery

Memorial Diamonds, and why I trust Eterneva

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 21:09:36 GMT

Memorial Diamonds, and Why I Trust Eterneva as an Experienced Funeral Pro

Did you know Hair or Cremated Remains can become a beautiful memorial diamond ?

Over my 20 years in death care, I have known a few different labs that could create memorial diamonds from carbon, but the reason I chose Eterneva was personal, as I strive to build relationships with trusted partners.

I met Adele, the founder of Eterneva , when filming a documentary on alternative end-of-life options. Through the years, meeting companies and entrepreneurs entering the "death space", I have seen many in the industry angling toward profiting from loss. In meeting Adele, it was immediate that she was one of the special few. Her story touched me. She didn't begin her lab in search of money, she did it through a conscious heart — as a lasting memorial to someone she loved and admired.

Memorial Diamonds and the journey to receiving yours is exactly that... a journey. And Eterneva is there every step of the way. Through a collaborative and surprisingly uplifting process, Eterneva helps families and friends honor the bright moments of a life, be it pet or person.

To create its diamonds, Eternev a requires one cup of cremated remains (flame or water) or hair/fur for those that choose burial or still have a living counterpart . Some of this material you send in is stored as a backup, while the rest is sent to the lab in Austin, Texas, which applies hundreds of thousands of pounds per square inch of pressure over time to create your unique memorial diamond.

Once the rough diamond is formed, it is sent to one of several cutters they work with to create your perfect stone. Eterneva keeps its customers updated throughout, with each client being assigned one contact person to see the process through from start to finish. Emails, videos, and photos are sent to you along this journey. When the time comes to deliver the finished product, they'll arrange for hand delivery of your beloved stone to you, leaving a beautiful final memory on their journey back to you.

Personally, I know I want to have a memorial diamond made from Kermit the Dog. He has heterochomia, and his blue eye reminds me of the blue memorial diamonds Eterneva can create. I can't fathom not having him by my side every day, and already the thought of carrying his essence with me forever as a beautiful memorial diamond to halmark our journey on earth together makes me want to cry. I know I would trust Adele and the team at Eterneva to memorialize my good boy best.

If this is an option you are considering for someone dear to you, I hope you know you can reach out to me for guidance with this decision anytime. And if this is a journey you decide to make, I hope you share the outcome with me someday. <3

You can visit Eterneva out on their website here or by clicking the link below. I've also added a helpful FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions graphics below.

What is Alkaline Hydrolysis?

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 23:48:24 GMT

What is Alkaline Hydrolysis?

Water Cremation: A New and Environmentally Friendly Alternative

As our society becomes increasingly aware of the impact of our actions on the environment, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint even in death. Traditional cremation is a popular option, but it still uses fossil fuels and releases harmful greenhouse gases. However, a new and environmentally friendly alternative is emerging: water cremation.

Also known as aquamation, alkaline hydrolysis, or resomation/aquamation, water cremation is a process that uses water and alkaline chemicals to break down the body into its basic components. The process takes place in a stainless-steel chamber that looks similar to a traditional cremation chamber, but instead of flames, it uses water and heat to speed up the natural process of decomposition.

Water cremation is a gentle and respectful process that preserves the dignity of the deceased. The body is placed in a specialized container, which is then filled with water and an alkaline solution. The mixture is heated and agitated, which breaks down the body's tissues and bones. What's left is a sterile liquid that can be safely returned to the environment or used as a fertilizer, and a small amount of bone fragments that can be scattered or placed in an urn.

One of the main advantages of water cremation is its low environmental impact. The process uses only a fraction of the energy of traditional cremation, and it doesn't release harmful pollutants into the air. In fact, water cremation is so environmentally friendly that it's legal in many states that don't allow traditional cremation.

Another advantage of water cremation is that it doesn't require embalming, which can be an expensive and invasive process. Embalming involves injecting chemicals into the body to delay decomposition, and it can also release harmful chemicals into the environment. With water cremation, the body is treated with respect and dignity without the need for embalming.

Water cremation is still a relatively new option, and not all funeral homes offer it yet. However, it's a growing trend that's gaining popularity, especially among those who are environmentally conscious. As more people become aware of the benefits of water cremation, it's likely that it will become a more widely available and affordable option.

In conclusion, water cremation is a new and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation that offers many benefits. It's a gentle and respectful process that preserves the dignity of the deceased, while also reducing our impact on the environment. If you're interested in learning more about water cremation, talk to your local funeral home to see if they offer this option.

You Aren't Getting Out of This Alive

Sun, 15 Feb 2015 15:56:53 GMT

You Aren't Getting Out of This Alive

Originally Pubished February 15, 2015, Added to Auguest 15, 2022

Circa 2015

I have a tendency to “over share”. I think that comes from having a passion for a subject. Anyone who knows me becomes subjected to a great amount of over sharing from me. Sometimes they get the uncomfortable over sharing topics, but sometimes they get an inside view point on things they never would have considered before.

I am extremely post-situational self conscious about discussions and conversations I have had with strangers, new acquaintances, and good friends. I have the ability to get right into discussion about any aspect of my passion, being funeral service and death care and ALL THINGS RELATED.

I am keenly aware our culture is in severe death denial. People are intrigued by my line of work, and I get a wide range of reactions from shock to awe, dramatic to disgusted. The curiosity is peaked, and I will usually get the question as to why am I a Mortician? My comedic answer is the phrase, “Because the dead don’t talk back” coupled with a blank stare and a raised eyebrow, which will elicit either a genuine giggle or uncomfortable chuckle from the inquirer. The reality is because it challenges me. I deal with many different people, with many different stories, on many different life journeys. I get to be creative, utilize my artistic side, and solve problems ranging from skin slip to scheduling. I have an avenue for the compassionate side of myself as someone always seeking the approval of others, but feeling the shadow of her own social awkwardness as a barrier to make connections easily. I am married to my career, and that’s perfectly alright for me right now. I love it.

Love is never easy. Love can consume you. I do get overwhelmed at times, but in the grand scheme of things, this happens to many of us. “Find what you love and let it kill you. Let it drain you of your all… Let it kill you and devour your remains. For all things will kill you, both slowly and fastly, but it’s much better to be killed by a lover.”

With the great successes come the heartaches. I am surrounded by sadness, grief, confusion. Children die. Beloved grandparents die. Middle aged fathers drop dead of heart related conditions, and their women counter parts are developing cancers. Suicides, brain tumors, taking a final breath while sleeping… death will take us all, and it can be expected or sudden, tragic or relieving. I do not have a stone heart, to the contrary, I have a very tender heart. It is not uncommon for me to remember many of the dead I have encountered over the years and their stories. Tears have been shared and shed in a stealth manner. These memories stay with me, and the families I have cared for have always been heavy in my heart. But I regret nothing… I am where I need to be and developing into the human I should be. I write the closing chapter of a legacy, a life.

AUGUST 2022.

Nothing has changed. Except explanation for my feelings and thoughts. And in that there is comfort.