Six Feet Under… Eco-Style
By Bill Strubbe, Common Ground
Six feet under will never be the same if artisans catering to the green burial movement have their way. Whereas once a family’s standard internment choices might include the The Bel-Air Mahagony, The Regency or The Count Dracula (coffins that typically run from $2000 to $10,000), “green death” craftspeople are creating classy, earth-friendly coffins and urns, and many are based here in NorCal.
Five years ago, while Half Moon Bay resident Jane Hillhouse was driving on an English country road on the way to a florist course, out of the blue came the thought: “When I die I want to be buried in a pine box decorated with symbols and events from my life.” Her next thought was her new business: Colorful Coffins… to Die For.
While she dispensed with the “to Die For” part, Colorful Coffins was born and offers an array of biodegradable funereal alternatives. Cardboard coffins that are sturdy enough for both cremation and burials are popular and cheap, running under $40. Most families personalize them with paint, glitter, cutouts and photos from the deceased’s life — often to stunning effect. Diehard hemp fans can choose between her custom-made shrouds or hemp cremation bags. For those who opt for “blowin’ in the wind,” Hillhouse offers gourd ash containers, carved and decorated with natural dyes that can act as receptacles until the scattering or burial. Though far pricier at around $1000, handcrafted willow wicker coffins are coming out this year.
Kate Broderson in Sonoma County started the company A Plain Pine Box five years ago. “So many people eschew the fancy coffins and are thrilled to have an inexpensive alternative that’s beautiful in its simplicity,” Kate says.
Contacts:
• Colorful Coffins — supplier of hemp, cardboard, or willow coffins, hemp shrouds, and gourd and pottery ash containers based in Santa Cruz. 650-726-5255; colorfulcoffins.com
• Memory Markers/Cocoons — custom designed bronzer plaques and urns, based in Santa Rosa. 707-579-1706; memorymarkers-plaques.com
• A Plain Pine Box — custom ordered handcrafted, simple pine box caskets, based in Forestville. 707-578-7709
• Funeria — unique, handcrafted cremation urns, based in Sonoma County. 707-829-1966; funeria.com
Source — http://commongroundmag.com/2007/04/greenburial0704.html