Traditionally, the term “green burial” refers to the disposition of a body into the ground without impediment. No vaults, concrete liners, embalming, or non-biodegradable caskets are permitted as part of a green, or natural, burial. Often, bodies are laid to rest wrapped in a cotton or silk shroud or placed in a natural burial container made of wicker or pine. Sometimes bodies may be buried in no container at all.
Green burial aims to have as little impact on the Earth as possible, utilizing few natural resources and avoiding placement of chemicals and non-biodegradable materials into the soil. On the other hand, while flame cremation, the disposition of a body through high temperature burning, is not “green,” what if we could do something to offset the carbon footprint of the cremation process, which is currently the most utilized disposition option in the United States and Canada? Enter, the Life Forest cemetery.
Life Forest may not be a green burial cemetery in the traditional sense, but as a conservation cemetery, where the land is protected by deed recorded burials, cemetery law, and conservation right of way easement, it certainly offers a green option for those seeking a more sustainable final resting place for loved ones after a cremation has occurred. Additionally, the planting of a tree as part of the Life Forest experience helps to offset the carbon emissions that occur during the cremation, as trees use carbon dioxide to grow. Each tree planted at Life Forest helps to sequester carbon from the air for many, many years to come.
Life Forest cemetery supports the idea of a green burial in that the cremains are buried without a vault, often in a biodegradable container, or directly placed into the soil (in a way that protects the tree roots). As a conservation cemetery, Life Forest does not use herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers on the land. They follow sustainable land management practices and support conservation efforts. Plots are not marked with large monuments, but are simply indicated with a small, GPS-tagged QR code marker. The cemetery aligns with additional standards set forth by the Green Burial Council in that they offer families the opportunity to participate in the burial process, use operational and burial practices that have no long-term degradational impacts on soil health, water quality, plant diversity, or ecological habitat, and emphasize conservation and preservation strategies.
With Life Forest’s size of 13 acres, plus the additional surrounding 80 acres of conservation land, that’s nearly 100 acres of forest that will remain in its natural state in perpetuity. Life Forest supports the ecological integrity of the land while also providing families with a personal, back-to-nature approach to celebrating the lives of those they love. The Life Forest Trails Committee, which will create and maintain the trails system on the land in a manner that is environmentally conscious, also provides opportunity for people to interact with the land and the cemetery in a way that preserves and protects, while maintaining connection to those that have been interred on the property. Life Forest connects the living, those who are gone, and the land that binds them, in harmony, for a peaceful mind and a greener Earth.
Author Credit:
Caitlyn Hauke has a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Dartmouth College and works full time as a biosafety consultant. She also serves on the Green Burial Council Board of Directors, whose mission is to inspire and advocate for environmentally sustainable, natural death care through education and certification. Caitlyn is a valuable member of the Life Forest team, where she combines her education and leadership to serve families as the Cemeterian Team Lead. Caitlyn is proud to offer a more eco-friendly deathcare option to grieving families in a place that provides peace and healing.
Image Description:
The photo was taken by Life Forest Co-Founder Mel. The image is of her brother Michael placing a seashell at their mother Elise’s burial tree. This was the very first burial and memorial tree planting to take place at Life Forest in April of 2020.
