Cemetery embraces environmentalism
Washington Post
The Daphne Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley, Tenn., soon to be renamed Forever Fermwood, will be a green cemetery.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday the 32-acre cemetery will holdtraditional funerals and cremation scatterings, however most burials will prohibit embalming, allow only biodegradable caskets will be allowed.
Headstones will also be avoided in favor of natural grave markers using shrubs, trees or boulders.
“It will be a nature preserve that happens to sell interment rights,” said Joe Sehee, an expert on socially responsible business.
“The concept is to sell interment rights on 5 percent of the land and use the endowment from that 5 percent to preserve the rest as open space. In essence, we will use existing cemetery law to conserve land and protect it in perpetuity with a conservation easement.”
The plan is to restore the native habitat of the cemetery area, create an interpretive center and have the whole area open to hikers, nature lovers, andchildren — as well as being available for birthing and wedding ceremonies.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040822-020108-1537r.htm