Death for dummies, pt 3: Green burial
October is the spooky season and an excellent time for practicing memento mori. I’ll be sharing a death education feature each week this month. See the full series here.
Part 3: Green burial
Up this week: what happens after we die. I can’t answer that question, but I’ll give you the next best thing. Here’s a 101 on green burial.
I use the phrase “green burial” as an umbrella term that incorporates funerary decisions which have a natural or conservation sensibility. You may desire green burial for spiritual reasons, out of environmental concerns, as a way to connect with ancestral traditions, or for other personal reasons. All of these are sound.
I recommend these organizations as good overall resources. They can also help you sort legalities and find providers for your location.
In addition, here are direct links on green options:
Finally, be aware that many traditional funeral homes are still catching up. If this is important to you, do your family a favor and leave them with instructions. They will thank you later for pre-planning or at least pointing them directly to providers who can fulfill your last wishes. Get Your Shit Together is a great resource for planning.
GIF by @jjjjjohn.