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.
🌿 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
Forest Grove Natural Burial at Riverside Memorial Park in Spokane is a dedicated natural burial area tucked inside a much larger, traditional cemetery, as you move away from the manicured cemetery landscape and into a wooded area with ponderosa pines, natural groundcover, simple stone markers, and a much quieter feel.
Burials here are done without concrete vaults or formaldehyde based embalming, using biodegradable caskets, baskets, or shrouds. They also allow cremated remains, and the space is managed to maintain its natural character rather than turning it into another section of cemetery lawn.
In my opinion, this is a great option for people in Eastern Washington who want a natural burial without having to travel across the state to find one.
My one piece of constructive criticism? Signage, please! I knew Forest Grove was there and still had a heck of a time finding it. I was fortunate a director was kind enough to call my wandering self back, I almost left! A few additional signs directing people through Riverside and into the natural burial section would make a huge difference, especially for families arriving there for the first time.
But once you find it, you can really see what’s possible when an established conventional cemetery chooses to make room for natural burial.
More cemeteries could do this. And should.
🌿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!
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Melissa Meadow- My statement on Death Boom documentary releasing at Tribecca Film Festival June 2026.
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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!
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!
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!
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!
Nevada 🌿 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!
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!
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!
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 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. 🌿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!
