Common Comments and Questions for Green Burial

1.) Imagine your final resting place....a meadow full of butterflies, bees, and wildflowers.

2.) Your very presence restores nature and protects the land forever.

3.) What is natural burial?

A natural burial is an act of returning a body as naturally as possible to the earth.

4.) What is green burial?

Green burial is an environmentally sensitive practice: the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and contribute to new life. Green burial and natural burial are synonymous.

5.) Natural Green Burial is more than a practice. It is a statement of personal values for those who seek to minimize their impact on the local and global environment.

6.) For people who are mindful of the cyclical nature of life, natural green burial is a spiritually fulfilling alternative to conventional burial or cremation.

7.) Why do we need an alternative to a conventional serene cemetery?
 

8.) What is hidden from view?

Highly polished wood and metal caskets, cement liners, a body infused with toxic formaldehyde, grave markers of more cement or imported stone, lawns kept pristine by the use of pesticides. Consider all of the resources used that do not readily decompose.
 

9.) Why is cremation not considered "green"?

While cremation is slightly more sustainable, it is not considered environmentally friendly. Powered by electricity, a crematorium retort will operate at 760 to 1150 degrees Celsius for 1 to 3 hours for each cremation and the average cremation uses 106 liters of fuel to burn a single body.

 

10.) Benefits of a natural burial:

• * A disposition of your body with the lightest of footprints.
• * You help maintain an ecologically thriving place by allowing your body
• to add nutrients to the ground - rather than contaminating it.
• * You are actually helping the land by providing perpetual protection with your mere presence in the ground.

[laws governing cemeteries; ecologically providing nutrients to be recycled]

11.) Interest in natural green burial?

Worldwide, there is a growing interest in natural burial. In Canada, there is a Green Burial Society of Canada, and a Natural Burial Association of Ontario.
 

12.) Parkview, Kitchener-Waterloo

13.) Willow's Rest, Niagara Falls

14.) Union Cemetery, Cobourg

15.) Glenwood Cemetery, Picton

16.) Is Natural Burial legal?

Yes, it's legal. Natural burial has taken place for hundreds of years in Canada and today is regularly practiced among several religious groups. Far from being something new, the growing interest in green burial is actually a revival of traditional burial practices from before deathcare became a business.

17.) Does natural burial have to take place quickly after death?

There is no prescribed time frame, but a natural burial will typically take place within a week following death. A family may hold a viewing or a service prior to the burial if they desire, preferably within a couple of days. Some families choose to have a private burial take place shortly after death, to be followed by a funeral or celebration of life at a later time.

18.) Can I have a natural burial if I have a medical implant?

The bylaws of each cemetery very, but most natural burial grounds accept bodies with medical devices. While it is not ideal to bury non-biodegradable materials, it is still considerably better than the alternative of a conventional burial or cremation.

19.) Can I donate my body to science and still have a natural burial?

Anatomical donations are usually compatible with green burials. When an individual

specifies that they would like to donate their organs or tissues this will typically take place immediately after death. Once the targeted organs and tissues have been removed, the family is free to arrange the burial of their loved one.

However, some individuals specify that they would like to donate their body for anatomical study, often through a local university. In this case, the entire body is donated, and a green burial will not be possible. A cremation may ultimately follow this donation.

For more information on anatomical donations, the:
Trillium Gift of Life Network is a great resource.
you can visit them at
https://www.giftoflife.on.ca

20. Can disease leach into the soil?

The vast majority of diseases die when we do. Unless a person has died from an unusual and infectious disease, the body does not pose a public health hazard. The bacteria that promote decomposition are not the same bacteria that spread disease, and though not harmful, will be kept in balance by the microbes in the soil which act as a natural filtration system.

21: Will a natural burial ground accept cremated remains?

Remains from a cremation are made up of inorganic bone fragments, which will not nourish the soil in the same way that a body will, however most natural burial sites will accept cremated remains for burial or scattering.

22.) Do I require a funeral home to arrange a natural burial?

The assistance of a funeral home is not required by law. Many families may find funeral homes helpful, in that they can assist with the necessary paperwork and transfer of the deceased, and can provide the facilities for a viewing or funeral.

Some funeral homes may not be familiar with natural burials, and may not be equipped to serve green families. For example, the funeral home may not carry biodegradable burial containers and you might have to request a special purchase.

(anyone can purchase such a container from various providers online, however, funeral homes reserve the right to refuse an outside casket).

Some families may consider forgoing the assistance of a funeral home, and can instead look to a local "transfer service" instead. These companies are typically less costly and aim to assist strictly with the paperwork and transportation of the deceased.

It is highly recommended that you look into your local death care options in advance, and contact funeral homes or transfer services ahead of time to familiarize yourself with their options.

To know your rights as a consumer in Ontario. see the Bereavement Authority of Ontario's Consumer Information guide at

https://thebao.ca/for-consumers/consumer-information-guide/.

Alternatively, more and more Canadians are finding that they would like to take after-death care into their own hands, It is possible to plan the burial without a funeral home, even to hold a viewing in an individual's own home, and there is a funeral and holistic death practices,

visit Community Deathcare Canada at

https://www.communitydeathcare.ca/

23. Can I visit the grave after burial?

Those laid to rest in a green burial ground become an important part of a natural ecosystem. Instead of grave markers above each plot, trees or foliage may be planted above your loved one, or a GPS marker can direct you to the plot, but the entire meadow becomes their place of rest, and family members are welcome to enjoy the serenity of all the grounds.

24. Can I view the body before a natural burial?
 

You absolutely can view your loved one before the burial, In fact, grief counselors often encourage families to view the body and say goodbye. Many people will seek the assistance of a funeral home to facilitate a viewing. An embalming procedure will be offered, but is NOT legally required, and is not accepted at natural burial grounds. Instead instruct the funeral home to forego embalming and other invasive procedures, and to simply close the eyes and mouth of your loved one

Keep in mind that a viewing should take place within a couple of days following the death, and it is recommended that the body be kept in a cool environment during the interim.

A funeral home is not required to facilitate a viewing; this can take place in the family home. Many find this to be a more comfortable and organic option for their family, especially if the death occurred in the home. Many people will seek an end-of-life doula for guidance in this area.

For more information on home funerals and holistic death practices, visit?:

Community Deathcare Canada

Https:/communitydeathcare.ca/

or

End Of Life Doula Association

https://endoflifedoulaassociation.org/membershipt-roster/
 

25. Is natural burial compatible with my religious beliefs?
[Shinto, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity]

An individual's religious beliefs are personal, and so are their choices at death. Many people of faith feel that natural burials compliment their beliefs more than conventional dispositions, Natural burials may be considered an interpretation of "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust".

In Jewish and Muslim burials, it is customary that there is no embalming, and that the body be in physical contact with the soil when buried.

If you are unsure of how a green burial may fit with your religious customs, it may be helpful to speak to your community's religious leader for clarity.
 

26. Can I still have a funeral if I choose natural burial?

Funerals are an important part of commemorating a life lived. Whether it be big or small, religious or secular, a celebration of life is absolutely compatible with green burials.

A service may be held prior to the burial, at a place of worship, funeral home, or even outdoors at the burial site. Some families prefer to proceed with an intimate natural burial first, and then host a celebration at a later time, in a manner and at a location that is meaningful to the family.


27. What do i do if I would like a natural burial?

If you are interested in a green burial, you are part of a growing community that shares your enthusiasm for more sustainable and meaningful death care practices.

The most important step is to share your wishes with your family and friends. It can be a difficult conversation to raise, but your family will be glad to know they are fulfilling your wishes.

28. Thanks ...