Conservation/Natural Burial

Natural burial is not a new concept; considering for centuries nearly all people were buried in a natural way. Before embalming, before sealed caskets, before concrete vaults, people were buried in the ground au naturale. Yes, as the centuries wore on, people were entombed in stone and pine boxes, but even these were natural burials for the most part. Then, as society became more "civilized," the funeral and burial rites we know today became the norm.

Today, there is a segment of society that is returning to the concept of natural burial, beginning in the U.K. In 1993 (http://naturalburial.coop/). Natural burial in our current time refers to "the idea that in choosing how and where we are buried, each one of us can conserve, sustain, and protect the earth" (http://naturalburial.coop/). In other words, people can choose to use their funerals as a conservation tool.

In a natural burial, people choose to sustain the land in which they are buried by allowing nature to take its course in the decomposition of the body over time, promoting new life and sustaining that which already lives. In a natural burial, people forgo embalming, eliminating the chemicals used for that procedure. Burial is done in a person's choice of clothing, a simple shroud, or a casket made of a variety of biodegradable materials.

Many of the cemeteries/nature preserves where natural burials take place use grave markers that are natural to their surroundings, such as a tree or rock native to the area. Even those who choose not to have their graves marked can be assured that the cemetery owners keep accurate records of the burial sites.

Natural burial sites prohibit the use of herbicides and pesticides; the land is left to develop naturally. Friends and family of the deceased can come to visit the cemeteries/nature preserves and enjoy the natural beauty and peacefulness of the setting. In addition, "cemetery legislation protects natural burial preserves in perpetuity from future development while the establishment of a conservation easement prevents future owners from altering the original intent for these burial grounds" (http://naturalburial.coop/).

While natural burial will not appeal to everyone, it provides an alternative to those seeking to "minimize their impact on the earth" and to those who are looking for an alternative to current funeral/burial rites.

Currently, natural burial is available throughout the world with the exception of Africa and Asia at this time. For more information, visit http://naturalburial.coop/ or http://www.llwoodard.blogspot.com.