The local cemetery in Milan, MI – Marble Park – had it’s second green burial recently. I just spoke with the caretaker and people have been calling and inquiring about natural burial. It is happening. I think folks are appreciative that this small, conventional cemetery is offering this option. They are doing a great job. Yay.
This video is the most beautiful I have seen about green burial. Penn Forest is an exclusively green burial park. This is the ideal. It’s what we are working toward having in Michigan.
See this excellent article about a green cemetery in Indiana.
Michigan has several options for natural burial, including The Preserve at All Saints Cemetery in Waterford (must be Catholic) and Marble Park Cemetery in Milan. They are both “hybrid” cemeteries; we still don’t have a cemetery that is dedicated 100% to natural burial. It’s very difficult to establish one. We are talking about a changing paradigm here, and it’s financially risky. But I think the trend is toward more people wanting a green burial. Joe Sehee, of the Green Burial Council, states that one of five seniors wants a green burial. (I think the number is much higher for baby boomers and younger.)
Keep asking your local cemetery for this option, if that’s what you want. If it applies, make it clear that you are just asking for a vault-less burial. Settling of the earth and grass growth are surmountable obstacles if we work on changing attitudes about what is aesthetically acceptable.
A lot of good things come out of Austin.
These ladies discussed green burial last week. Check it out. It’s true, no state requires routine embalming. But if you want to have a visitation with friends, you gotta have a home funeral. And that requires planning ahead. Aaaahhhh! Who wants to talk about that????
What does natural burial mean to you?
I’ve heard some people say, “I just want to go off into the woods to die,” or, “I just want to be composted.”
I wish it was that simple! Many of us want our final act on earth to be supportive to the environment and be relatively simple for those who remain. Within the realm of what is possible, however, what do you want? Do you want to be buried in a shroud or basket? Do you want others to be able to dig the hole and put your body in it? Is it important to you or those who care for you to be able to visit the site? Or mark the site?
Is it more important what you want or what those who remain want?
These are not simple questions, nor are their simple solutions. And views and options are changing all the time. I think if we keep thinking about it and asking for what we want, it will be possible. What do you think?