Green Burials

[kworthington]

My husband and I want to have a green burial. Pros,cons? what do you think about having a green burial?

[AddieB]

What is a "green burial"?

[MrFalafel]

I did a green burial last year and it turned out great. My thoughts are in this thread:

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=102772

[Alicia Avocado]

I think it's a great idea. I can't think of many cons really to be honest. As long as there is a tombstone, donated tree, or something to remember me by I am happy :)

One pro....besides the obvious environmental one, is probably cost. The fancy wood caskets etc. are really costly and pointless in my opinion. You can rent a casket for the funeral also for the 'viewing' and then be buried in something biodegradable.

[MrFalafel]

I think it's a great idea. I can't think of many cons really to be honest. As long as there is a tombstone, donated tree, or something to remember me by I am happy :)

One pro....besides the obvious environmental one, is probably cost. The fancy wood caskets etc. are really costly and pointless in my opinion. You can rent a casket for the funeral also for the 'viewing' and then be buried in something biodegradable.

Don't need a wood casket at all. The burial I did involved a biodegradable recycled cardboard casket that looked great.

[AddieB]

Ok, I read Mr Falafel's thread.

I like the idea. I've always thought that cemetaries are a waste of space and the chemicals that get pumped into a person is just not right. Not to mention the cost of a casket, etc. I've already told my fiancee that I just want to be cremated and my ashes can be spead anywhere he wants. He's donating his body to science (he's in medical school and learned on the bodies of others, so he wants to return the favor to other students).

A note to Alicia Avocado: I don't think you can rent caskets (I think there are health codes against that - but I'm not positive).

[kworthington]

We had originally wanted to be cremated.Decided after we seen the documentary on green funerals ...might be something we'd check into.After many months we have come to the conclusion this is the only way to go ,for us.We have found several locations,but none in our state so far.(Indiana)

[MrFalafel]

Ok, I read Mr Falafel's thread.

I like the idea. I've always thought that cemetaries are a waste of space and the chemicals that get pumped into a person is just not right. Not to mention the cost of a casket, etc. I've already told my fiancee that I just want to be cremated and my ashes can be spead anywhere he wants. He's donating his body to science (he's in medical school and learned on the bodies of others, so he wants to return the favor to other students).

A note to Alicia Avocado: I don't think you can rent caskets (I think there are health codes against that - but I'm not positive).

Don't just tell people, write it down and tell lots of people about your wishes. The more that know, the better.

Seriously, with green burials, you need to be on top of things as when a person dies there are all sorts of people just waiting to pump the body full of noxious chemicals right then and there. If the body is pumped full of chemicals it won't be accepted into many green burial sites.

[Alicia Avocado]

A note to Alicia Avocado: I don't think you can rent caskets (I think there are health codes against that - but I'm not positive).

They can, it's just the 'liner' that has to be new.

I was once studying to be an embalmer....lol


Seriously, with green burials, you need to be on top of things as when a person dies there are all sorts of people just waiting to pump the body full of noxious chemicals right then and there. If the body is pumped full of chemicals it won't be accepted into many green burial sites.

Most of the chemicals injected are to preserve the body and give it more 'colour' for public viewing. However, I'm fairly certain a person can view the body right away privately, then simply have a 'memorial' minus a viewing...which means no chemicals.


Don't need a wood casket at all. The burial I did involved a biodegradable recycled cardboard casket that looked great.

Even better! :)

[kworthington]

We just found out that Flanner and Buchanon do Green Burials. Washington Park North Cemetary have an area called Kesslar Woods, "wooded area" and "grass and flower" areas for green burials. They began doing them in Spring of 2009. These are the only ones in Indiana,so far.
Or you can contact: greenburial council.org

[One]

I think in my country, they force you to buy a casket, even if you want to get cremated. That's what I heard, anyway. I think cemetaries are a really messed up idea. Necropolis... dead city... what a horrible word! And having to drive past them all the time.. yick!!! What happens when they run out of space?!

But it's nice for people to have a place to visit. But I'd rather just visit a place where ashes are scattered or something like that.

But it makes me wonder... I mean... I believe in God, but I don't have the authority to say what exactly happens to a person after death. What if cremating, or donating to science and those kinds of things... what if they somehow interfere with the process of the soul leaving the body or something like that? Anyway I'm just thinking outloud... best not to think about it at all for me...lol

[papayamon]

i hope to go leaving as little footprint on the environment as possible. the idea of rotting in a casket that is supposed to last forever seems absurd. who came up with this silly ass idea anyway?

[papayamon]

i read an account of an old indian who wanted to be buried under a certain tree (his wishes were honored), so that tree would get the food from his body. to me, that's the ultimate sort of burial. what a magnificent way to go :).

[MrFalafel]

i hope to go leaving as little footprint on the environment as possible. the idea of rotting in a casket that is supposed to last forever seems absurd. who came up with this silly ass idea anyway?

Laws were put in place for good reasons: health and safety. Not to get too morbid but unproperly buried bodies can breed diseases and contaminate water and all sorts of unpleasantries. The laws were put in place to ensure bodies were in a state where they cannot harm other humans once buried. Sadly, some areas went overboard on these laws and forced people to bury people pickled in chemicals encased in a protective shell. Thankfully, there are some alternatives but even then, the rules can be quite strict. The green burial I was involved in had specifications for the casket and even what type of clothes the person could be buried in (all natural fibres, etc).

[MrFalafel]

i read an account of an old indian who wanted to be buried under a certain tree (his wishes were honored), so that tree would get the food from his body. to me, that's the ultimate sort of burial. what a magnificent way to go :).

Yep. The place where my wife is buried is a lovely natural area with lots of trees and bushes right by where she was laid to rest. When I visit, I can see the plants thriving, the birds living in the trees, the seasons changing and nature continuing. I feel my wife is alive in those trees and is kept company by the birds and other woodland creatures.

[papayamon]

Yep. The place where my wife is buried is a lovely natural area with lots of trees and bushes right by where she was laid to rest. When I visit, I can see the plants thriving, the birds living in the trees, the seasons changing and nature continuing. I feel my wife is alive in those trees and is kept company by the birds and other woodland creatures.

mrfalafel, you are a super cool dude.

[Skylark]

A note to Alicia Avocado: I don't think you can rent caskets (I think there are health codes against that - but I'm not positive).


They can, it's just the 'liner' that has to be new.

This just strikes me as rather funny. The person is already dead. I assume the health codes there are to protect the living, not the dead.


But it makes me wonder... I mean... I believe in God, but I don't have the authority to say what exactly happens to a person after death. What if cremating, or donating to science and those kinds of things... what if they somehow interfere with the process of the soul leaving the body or something like that? Anyway I'm just thinking outloud... best not to think about it at all for me...lol

I believe in God, too. (The Christian one, anyway, there are lots of meanings people ascribe to "God.") Many Christians believe the soul leaves the body immediately upon death, before any embalming or burial or cremation or whatever. If it would be problematic soul-wise to cremate or donate to science, what happens to the souls of people who die in building fires, or the saints who were martyred by being burned at the stake, or those who died at the hands of some other really sick bastards? It may be relieving if one can believe the soul leaves the body immediately upon death regardless of the method of dispatch, and whatever happens to the body after that is inconsequential to the departed soul.

[amaroque]

A note to Alicia Avocado: I don't think you can rent caskets (I think there are health codes against that - but I'm not positive).

Not that I have any reason to doubt you but that just struck me as hilarious. Akin to mandating sterile needles for carrying out death row executions.

How morbid a term is death row anyway? Can't we have the same compassion for inmates sentenced to die as animals sentenced to die?

[paisleyjane]

As far as burials/cremations/etc go, I think green burials are the nicest possible option.

There is something really peaceful about giving back to the Earth, and not being either burned or pumped full of chemicals. It seems like the most natural and overall most kind-spirited thing to do with your body/body of a loved one.

This is what I want.