The Centre for Natural Burial

By Eva R. Marienchild,  Associated Content

Cremation has always been viewed as a viable alternative to standard funerals, if only to spare families the cost and extravagance of a typical burial. Funerals command a pretty penny and seem to offer few options at a time when the loved ones of the deceased are not thinking practically. A little research reveals that is often too easy for the funeral industry to sell upwards of a $6,500 funeral to bereaved family and friends. This, by the way, is the cost excluding cemetery fees.

Cremation Is Not Inexpensive

But lest you think cremation is an inexpensive alternative, consider the going rate for urn and services. The process costs upwards of $1,000 and maybe as much as $2,600 for a cremation. In addition, the procedure of burning a body is not eco-friendly. Groovy Green, a site that compiles massive amounts of information on sustainable living and renewable energy, informs us that “incinerating bodies is a toxic process that releases air pollutants, including hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, dioxin, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.”

In addition, says the site, cremation releases all that toxic mercury (from silver fillings) that we have in our mouths. According to Greensprings Natural Cemetery (www.naturalburial.org), cremation is responsible for anywhere from 1,000 to 7,000 pounds of mercury being released into the air each year. Seventy-five percent goes into the air and the rest settles into the ground or water.

Keep Costly Materials above Ground

“Just put me in any old pine box,” you may want to tell your wife or husband at this point and that might actually be closer to a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution. (Just stay away from other material like copper, steel, bronze or concrete, or and you’ll likely be paying an average of $2,100. And some of us eco-friendly folks think that’s not where the money should be going.)

Pro-green burial advocates believe that, rather than robbing the earth of all the materials needed to bury someone in so-called luxury in copper vaults, etc., the body should be returned to the earth. For believers, the Bible’s Genesis 3:19 passage informs us that “from dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Clothing or Casket

Natural cemeteries place the body in a non-hardwood casket or a simple shroud or suit and let nature do its thing. A tree is selected as a marker instead of a grave stone and your name and other data is inscribed with special magnetized nails or ceramic markers.

Rather than embalm the pocket linings of the owners of funeral homes and standard cemeteries, the “green plot” movement prefers to funnel monies to the living ala charities or via beautiful gardens with benches where one may sit and take in the resplendent nature of green cemeteries. (At least one of these green cemeteries has hiking trails for visitors.)

Speaking of embalming, it should be noted that it is not actually legally required to embalm a body unless a certain amount of time has elapsed in between death and burial. Embalming is a toxic process and puts the embalmer at risk of exposure to harmful chemicals.

If your interest has been piqued and you are interested in learning more about how to revitalize the earth (and not the funeral industry) here are the basics you need to know.

Cost of a Natural Burial

As opposed to the thousands required for a standard burial, a natural burial costs around $500.

Size of the Plots

At 15′ x 15′, these plots are much larger than the ones used in standard burials. According to Greensprings, regular cemeteries actually bury people one on top of another due to a shortage of space. Natural cemeteries spread out their graves as their property is usually quite spacious.

On-Line Memorials

With all the money you save on funerals you might want to splurge on an on-line memorial, a new concept that pays fitting tribute to your loved one without hurting your pocket-or the environment.

It is always tasteful to have remembrances of sorts, especially when it will survive in perpetuity. One place that carries such a service is In Repose.com (www.inrepose.com). This unique site has a “Memorials” section and a “Resource Forum.” It also has a helpful feature called “My Last Wishes.” This section allows you to “share your final thoughts and desires.” The “Memorials” page allows for photos, a message board for visitors and the biography of the deceased.