Go Green Eternally: Green Burials, Sky Burials, Cremation, or Promessa

How green are you? Are you up for a green burial? There are eco-friendly options for funerals. Would you like a green burial, a sky burial, cremation, or promession? Or, are you going the traditional route?

As we know, from Genesis 3:19, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou are, and unto dust shalt thou return." We have all heard, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Death is a natural process. The body decomposes and returns to its natural form. In death we become green, even if we were never green in the first place.

I do what I can to conserve, recycle, and reuse. I want the earth to be pristine for my children and future generations. Overcoming the youthful magical thinking: I will live forever; I realize one day I will die. My children will be left to take care of my remains. Should I go green?

Formal Burial

Traditional burials involve varied ceremonies, embalming, a casket, a casket vault, a plot in a cemetery, opening and closing of the grave, and an officiate. This can be a huge financial burden. My family has hosted our share of funerals, expenses ranging from $6,000 to $12,000.

When I visit my parents and grand parents, a sea of markers and one or two lone trees surround me. The cemetery is nice, yet cold and barren. It is adjacent to what has become a major highway, shopping centers, and neighborhood communities. Not what my parents had envisioned when they chose their final resting spot.

I have my own plot there ready and waiting. But I just cannot see myself living there perpetually. I have been looking into greener options.

Cremation

Cremation is a process where the body is reduced by burning at temperatures of 760 to 1150 °C (1400 to 2100 °F). This is done in a crematorium, under strict regulation, using natural gas and propane. The cremains, or ashes, left are small bone fragments. The small bone fragments are pulverized to ash in a cremulator. Once processed, the cremains are placed in an urn to be buried or spread. (Cremation).

Promessa

For those not akin to the idea of their shell being incinerated, there is a process called Promessa or Promession. An Italian word meaning promise, promessa is a process where the body is freeze dried. Promession is performed at funeral facilities called Promators.

Promessa was developed by a Swedish biologist, Susanne Wiigh-Masak, in 1999. The body is put in liquid nitrogen until all the water is gone and the body is brittle. The shell is vibrated and it becomes a powder. In a powder state, any remaining metals are removed and recycled. The remains are considered biodegradable after 6 months to a year. Leaving your shell one with the earth in a compost form.

Since freeze-drying consumes less energy, promession is a viable option for green-minded individuals. This method is not available in the United States, yet. (Funeral wire).

Sky Burials

I have heard stories of sky burials. I have even seen sky burial representations in movies and read about them in novels. But, until I prepared to write this article, I never knew exactly what a sky burial was.

In Tibet, sky burial is a common ritual. Traditional internment is not widely available because of the extremely rocky grounds. Cremation is limited from a lack of fuel resources.

Depending on where it is performed, remains are placed on a hilltop and devoured by vultures or allowed to decompose. In some instances the whole body is tied to a steak and left to be eaten down to the bone. Then someone comes and mashes the bone with additives for complete consumption. Other rituals occur where the body is segmented, mashed with additives, and spread on the hilltops for consumption or decay. (Travel Blog).

In either case, your shell will become one with the earth through eco-friendly consumption.

Green Burial

If you are not warming up to the idea of your shell being eaten by vultures, you have another eco-friendly option: green burial, also known as natural burial. In this instance, your body, or cremains, will be buried in the earth. Whole remains are wrapped in a shroud, blanket, or placed in a biodegradable coffin. Cremains are either buried in a biodegradable urn or spread to specification. Your plot is dug, without using heavy equipment, often by family, by hand.

Over time your body decomposes into natural compost. The vegetation that roots above you becomes you. For green individuals this is a wonderful option. In many cases your body will not have to be embalmed. Funeral costs such as expensive caskets and casket vaults are eliminated. You just become one with the earth through a natural decomposition process.

Green cemeteries are natural wooded land preserves. The natural beauty of the preserve is kept green by using native plants and allowing the eco-system to thrive naturally. Perusing some of the sites that follow, I found myself enthralled by the beauty of the green cemeteries.

The first green cemetery in North America was developed and opened by Billy Campbell and his wife in 1996: The Ramsey Creek Preserve. This preserve is located in Westminster, South Carolina. It encompasses 32 acres of natural woods. Campbell has pioneered to establish many more acres of preserved land to accommodate green burials. (Science Spirit).

In Florida: Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve
In Texas: Ethician Family Cemetery
In California: Forever Fernwood
In New York: Greensprings Natural Cemetery

Are you interested in a green burial in water? You can rest eternally in the ocean, become one with coral and marine life. Eternal Reefs offers an option where your cremated remains are cast in concrete, embellished with a plaque, and placed in the ocean to provide shelter in the marine world forever.

As we turn greener, I am sure more green burial options will become available. For other green burial cemeteries in and outside of North America, you can search The Centre for Natural Burial.

I like the idea of becoming one with nature. Having my remains feed the earth, a memorial tree adorning my spot, is comforting. To become one with the ocean, serving as shelter for marine life, would be divine. I may sell my plot and go green eternally.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cremation
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001657.html
http://www.funeralwire.com/article.php?id=19514
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/blog-7890.html
http://www.naturalburial.coop/find-a-green-cemetery/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promessionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_burial
http://www.science-spirit.org/printerfriendly.php?article_id=451
http://www.eternalreefs.com/