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.
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Oklahoma 🌿Green Tree Burial Ground - Mead, OK 🌿Green Haven Cemetery - Stillwater, OK 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 🌿 🌿 🌿 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 🌿 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 🌿 🌿 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 🌿 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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North Carolina 🌿 🌿 🌿 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!
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. 🌿 A Living Sanctuary 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. 🌿 Conservation in Action 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. 🌿 Education and Advocacy 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. 🌿 A Sanctuary for All 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. 🌿 Restoring the Land 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. 🌿 Community and Care 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 brings 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. 🌿 Burial in Balance 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. 🌿 A Conservation Mission 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. 🌿 A Living Legacy 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. 🌿 Glen Forest Cemetery - Yellow Springs, OH In the Ozark foothills of eastern Oklahoma, Glen Forest Cemetery offers families a peaceful, natural place to return to the earth. Surrounded by woodlands and wildlife, this certified hybrid green cemetery is one of the first in the state to welcome both traditional and fully natural burials — giving Oklahomans meaningful choices rooted in simplicity and sustainability. 🌿 A Place of Peace Green burials at Glen Forest are free from embalming, metal caskets, and vaults. Loved ones are laid to rest in biodegradable caskets or shrouds, allowing the body to decompose naturally and nourish the surrounding forest. Families can take part in the process, creating a hands-on and heartfelt farewell. 🌿 Hybrid Flexibility As a hybrid cemetery, Glen Forest accommodates both conventional and natural burials — so families with different wishes can still rest together in one place. The cemetery’s green section blends seamlessly into the native landscape, maintained with minimal disturbance and no synthetic chemicals. 🌿 A Natural Legacy With its wooded setting and commitment to ecological care, Glen Forest stands as a model for what’s possible in Oklahoma. It shows that conservation and compassion can coexist, offering a resting place that honors both people and the planet. 🌿Union Grove Cemetery (hybrid) - Canal Winchester, OH No information online other than green is allowed. 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!
Oregon (in progress) 🌿 🌿 🌿 🌿 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!
