The Centre for Natural Burial

By Darise Jean-Baptiste, The Ithaca Journal

NEWFIELD - For almost a month, BOCES welding students Shayne Jackson and Travis Darling have dedicated afew hours of their school days to create the “pallbearer’s  friend” - an aluminum cart with wheels and handles that will allow six people to easily transport caskets to gravesites.

But the creation of the cart, with its simple design and practical function, comes as part of a more complex endeavor. This spring, Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve will officially open on Irish Hill Road in Newfield, becoming New York state’s first natural cemetery.

After almost a year of waiting for approval from the state Supreme Court to close on the property, Mary Woodsen, president of Greensprings Natural Cemetery Association Inc., now only needs to sort out issues with insurance, equipment and plot surveys.
The association had to get approval from the state cemetery board, attorney general and Supreme Court, according to Susan Thomas, association treasurer.

“It’s a low-cost, low-maintenance, natural reserve burial area,” Thomas said. Reportedly, one of only seven natural cemetery preserves in the United States, Greensprings will offer natural burial services, which means embalming fluid will not be used, and simple, biodegradable caskets will be made from local wood for low-density burials.

Although the association, which was incorporated in 2003, has yet to pull the final strings of the cemetery together, Woodsen said she’s received a great deal of interest. Made up of five Ithaca and Corning residents, the association has sent out brochures to people, giving them the option to purchase burial sites and become voting members of the association.

The 100-acre property will include two main burial plots - one 8-acre plot and another 2-acre plot for Jewish burials, Woodsen said. Each burial site will have natural stone markers or native trees and shrubs. Woodsen said a 15-by-15 gravesite will cost $500.

Earlier attempts made by Greensprings to launch the cemetery corporation were met by concerns from some Newfield town board members about its business future and the impact it would have on the environment. But Woodsen said the association was shocked by how many people said they supported the cemetery.

“We certainly hope to be an asset to the community in as many ways as we can,” Woodsen said. Once the “pallbearer’s friend” is complete and out of the BOCES welding studio, Jackson and Darling won’t be forgotten because their names will be inscribed on its side. After Woodsen requested the cart be made, Jackson said he volunteered to work on it because it sounded like a good project.

Jackson, of Groton, said the cart will be about 90 inches long and 35 inches wide. He said the heaviest parts of the cart will be the tires and axles. Darling, of Groton, said he and Jackson wanted to make the cart look nice but not too fancy. Woodsen bought the materials for the project, he said.

“I just wanted to get it done right,” he said. “I wanted to be proud of what I did.”

Source - http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060118/NEWS01/601180324/1002