Green and Greenest: Natural Burial Grounds

Green burial is a hot topic these days, but what exactly does it mean? By some standards, just about any method of disposing of final remains might be considered “green,” as long as it doesn’t involve an embalmed corpse and a fortified, leak-proof casket.

And then there is the greenest of green burial options. Cedar Brook Burial Ground in Maine is one; Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve in Florida is another. Ramsey Creek Preserve in South Carolina was the first of its kind in the United States. From Greensprings in New York to Fernwood in California, nature preserve burial grounds across the country are raising the bar on green burial standards.

In natural burial grounds, bodies are laid to rest in biodegradable caskets or simple shrouds, and graves are identified by natural landmarks, such as trees and shrubs. Beyond eschewing environmental no-no’s like embalming fluids, pesticides and herbicides, natural burial grounds provide habitat for common birds and animals as well as native grasses, flowers and shrubs

According to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2.2 million acres of open space were lost to development between 1997 and 2001. By setting aside land for natural burials, nature preserves not only save the land from the environmental assault of traditional burials but also help to guard dwindling open space against future development.

Natural burial grounds are quickly gaining favor among mainstream Americans like Eva Pratt, her husband, Sam, and others who wish to tread lightly on the earth as they make their final exit. Eva speaks the mind of many when she says, “I am happy to have my final spot on earth be a place I know, of preserved beauty, and for my body to become a part of that, undeterred by chemicals and hardware.”