Full Body Burial or Cremation?
Whether or not a family chooses a full body burial or a cremation depends on an array of factors including but not limited to ethnic traditions, religious traditions, affordability, family heritage, pre-paid plots and services, accessibility, place and circumstances of death, and personal preference. The Spiral of Life promotes personal choice, respects diversity and encourages sustainable choices both big and small.
Today, it is empowering to realize that there are many choices that will help create a more sustainable death care culture in America.
First it is important to Let Your Voice be Heard
Products and services are market driven, the culture can only change if we make our desires for products and services known.
Three Basic Steps for Sustainable Burial and Cremation
1. Choose a biodegradable coffin or shroud
2. Choose non toxic body preservation options for wakes and viewings such as dry ice
3. Choose natural bedding material over synthetics
More Sustainable Options for Body Burial
1. Choose a cemetery that allows vault free burial.
2. Choose a Natural Burial Cemetery that engages in habitat restoration and protects land with sustainable cemetery management practices
3. Ask to be buried in a shallow grave for more efficient decomposition
4. Use inconspicuous grave markers if any, and have a tree or plant species planted in your honor
More Sustainable Options for Cremation
1.Find out which crematory in your area has the best air quality controls
2. If you are buying an urn consider a biodegradable and/or artisan option
4. If yours or your loved ones ashes will be buried in a cemetery, consider a natural burial cemetery that engages in habitat restoration and protects the land with sustainable cemetery management practices
5. Use inconspicuous grave markers if any, and have a tree or plant species planted in your honor
Nuances of Natural Burial Cemeteries
These descriptions are very generalized for common understanding. All cemeteries are free to make up their own regulations and policies and each cemetery will incorporate different aspects of the natural burial story as their limitations and preferences allow.
Hybrid Cemeteries: These are established cemeteries that
are setting aside parts of their land for vault free burial. In general they bury at 5-6 feet deep, continue to mow , and often use pesticides and herbicides for weed and insect management. These areas may or may not be embalming free areas.
Natural Burial Cemeteries: These are cemeteries that meet at least three requirements: 1)they won't allow embalmed bodies, 2)they require biodegradable containers or shrouds, and 3)they don't use burial vaults.
Many Natural Burial Cemeteries have further requirements in that they 1)usually bury in shallow graves for efficient body decomposition 2)usually don't mow, herbicide or pesticide the grounds 3)they often use inconspicuous grave markers or GPS systems and 4) they are committed to habitat restoration often using native species and plants
Conservational Burial Grounds: These are often cemeteries created by Land Trusts and Ecological Preserves. They are the strictest in their requirements as the cemetery site must fit in with the overall mission of the trust or preserve itself. Conservation Burial on these types of land help fund the continuation of their land preservation mission. In general, besides all the above mentioned requirements they 1) plant only native species 2) they plant to attract particular insect and animal populations 3) they have a broader education and preservation mission.
|
