A Guide To Green or Natural Burials
Natural burials are increasingly gaining popularity among society. However, you must be properly informed on all it entails and how best to make the decision for one.
A natural burial is when the remains of a deceased are buried in such a way that it preserves the existing habitat or creates habitat for wildlife-rich in fauna and flora. People who lived an environmentally friendly and sustainable life may choose to continue these practices even in death. No embalming is used in natural burial, and the body is buried in a way that ensures it decomposes back into the earth. Biodegradable shrouds, caskets, or coffins are used in place of a regular casket to further achieve this goal. If you wish to find a funeral home that offers cremation services, you should look out for cremation services in Savage, MN.
Are Green Burials Popular?
At the heart of natural or green burial practices is the desire to leave the earth unspoiled, and it is age-old in its elegant simplicity. It says no to the widely accepted traditional funeral practices and prefers an unspoiled landscape to that of conventional cemeteries. Natural burials are fast becoming more popular, and it's the most environmentally friendly choice for a funeral.
Marking The Spot
Most green burial grounds allow the family to mark the grave using a temporary wooden marker, while others only allow a small stone marker laid flat at the spot. Some would allow you to plant a tree at the spot, while some do not allow any marker at all. People considering a green burial should consider this aspect thoroughly, as humans find it quite difficult to lose sight of where their loved ones are buried, hence the need for gravestones and other types of markers.
However, all burial grounds keep detailed records of the exact location of every grave even when they do not allow the placement of a marker. You can be content knowing that the grave is gradually being part of the landscape rather than spoiling it.
Is Green Burial Legal?
Natural or green burials are allowed by the law in every one of the 50 states, including Florida. However, per Florida law, the body must either be buried or preserved within 24 hours of death. This can be refrigeration rather than embalming for people who wish to have a green burial instead. You'll likely require the services of a funeral home for transporting, refrigeration, and filling out the necessary state paperwork.
Where Are Green Burials Allowed?
In the U.S. alone, there are over 70 green cemeteries, according to the F.C.A. (Funeral Consumers Alliance). Two of these are situated in north Florida. Graves are marked using a small brass disk, and G.P.S. coordinates are provided to the family so they'll always know where the grave can be found. While green cemeteries allow memorial items, they remove them a few days after the burial to maintain the goal of having a green burial in the first place. As state before, you can also decide to have a tree planted at the spot your loved one is buried as a memorial.
Benefits of Green Burial
Natural or green burials are sustainable and environmentally friendly. The grave blends into the surrounding flora, and the body returns to the earth. Another benefit of green burials is the fact that they are less expensive than traditional burials. This is because there is no vault and green caskets are especially cheap when compared to traditional caskets.
You can learn more about cremation services in Savage, MN. Talk to us at Scott County Cremation to schedule a consultation and learn about cremation services/funeral home services. Visit our office in Minnesota or call our location.
