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 that 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!
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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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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. 🌿 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!
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 - Columbia, MD In Howard County, Reflection Park is being developed as a conservation burial ground, the first of its kind. 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 planned as more than a cemetery, it will be 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 design 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!
Maine 🌿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. 🌿Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery - Fayette, ME (Hybrid) In Fayette, Maine, Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery offers a quiet, 10-acre resting place beside the Baldwin Hill Conservation Area. Here, endings are marked in the open air, surrounded by trails, native woods, and the kind of stillness only conserved land keeps. Burials follow natural principles: no embalming, no vaults, and biodegradable shrouds or caskets. Modest markers and careful stewardship let each grave blend back into the landscape while supporting the Kennebec Land Trust’s broader conservation mission. Baldwin Hill opened in 2021 and has quickly become a model for Maine: a cemetery where remembrance protects habitat. As of this year, they’re nearing capacity and are focusing on sharing practices, offering tours, and encouraging more green and conservation burial spaces across the 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!
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!
