● Water : Traditional cemeteries landscape with gas-powered mowers, synthetic fertilizers, and/or water irrigation systems. Another strong incentive for green burials is the scarcity of land. Farmland and natural areas are under pressure: The amount of U.S. farmland has declined by an estimated one million acres annually due to development. The amount of land purchased for residential and commercial development is increasing at almost three times the rate of population growth (Lynch, 2016). A traditional cemetery buries approximately 1,000 bodies per acre, requiring two square miles for new grave spaces each year. In contrast, a green cemetery normally holds 50 to 100 bodies per acre (GBC, 2007). This low density allows natural cemeteries to restrict burials in ecologically sensitive areas. Drainage spots, streams, dense wooded areas, and restoration areas can be left undisturbed. Land that might be unusable for traditional cemeteries is more likely to be suitable as a location for a natural cemetery. ● A funeral director can provide support if the family prefers assistance. Many funeral homes offer assistance for home funerals and burials. ● Burial can occur in a biodegradable casket, or the body can be covered in a shroud and placed directly in ground. ● No commercially treated, cut, or artificial flowers are used. ● Grave markers are naturally occurring in the environment. A plant, tree, shrub, or rock indigenous to the environment could be used. Funeral directors who are willing to assist in natural funerals may contact the Green Burial Council to be listed as a provider at http://www.greenburialcouncil.org. provide guidelines for families. By bringing the body home, embalming is avoided; family members may even build the casket. When they are ready for burial, family members can transport the body to a cemetery or call a funeral home to assist. A funeral home can help ensure that the person transporting the deceased has the proper permit and follows approved procedures regarding cooling and length of time before burial that may be required in their state. Funeral homes willing to accommodate home funerals can help put family members at ease regarding necessary documentation or decision making. Flexible funeral homes can provide the level of assistance needed. The number of backyard burials has increased dramatically in the past decades, as have the number of businesses that assist with these services. The FCA reported only 2 companies that aided families holding home funerals in 2002, but now there are more than 50 companies. The National Home Funeral Alliance provides the following tips to guide families in making a decision on a home funeral option (National Home Funeral Alliance, 2015): ● Consider the condition of the body, the wishes of the deceased, and the level of comfort of those who will be caring for the body at home. ● A home funeral guide for preplanning is important. It is also possible to consult a funeral home that assists with home funerals. ● Know the state regulations regarding transportation, timelines, and burial on private land. Some states require a funeral director to assist with certificates and permits, such as a certified death certificate. ● Learn the principles of body care. Home funerals are typically handled by family members, but professional desairologists, that is, funeral cosmetologists, are trained to prepare a body and can be hired to help. The National Home Funeral Alliance and other home funeral organizations recommend preparing the body according to certain guidelines: Bodies
of energy. In turn, this translates into a much more expensive funeral. The increased demand for green practices suggests that consumers are happy to reduce their costs and reduce their environmental impact. Some of the resources used for traditional funerals and burials are as follows (Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, 2015): ● Chemicals : More than 830,000 gallons of embalming fluid, along with ethanol and other chemicals, are used to prepare and preserve bodies buried in the ground. ● Wood : More than 39 million feet of hardwood lumber are used to build caskets each year. ● Steel : More than 90,272 tons of steel are used to make more than 800,000 steel caskets each year. ● Concrete : Cement and metal burial vaults, designed to keep the ground from settling as the casket and body decay, require 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete each year. ● Stone : Thousands of headstones are made from granite and marble, which are quarried using fossil fuels and fuel- intensive processes. Natural funerals Natural funeral services may include the following: ● The loved one is cared for, washed, anointed, and dressed in a natural way, maintaining the natural appearance of the loved one and allowing the family to experience the changes that naturally occur after death. ● They may occur at home, in a funeral home, or at another location. ● Essential oils are used to control bacterial activity, and herbs scent the body. ● Dried ice, ice packs, and air-conditioning are used for cooling. Home funerals and burials A home funeral is a family- or community-centered celebration of an individual’s life after their death. The care, visitation, memorial service, and burial are handled in the home environment. The emphasis is generally on minimal, noninvasive, and environmentally friendly care of the deceased in a manner that mirrors their lifestyle. Home funerals allow families and communities to become involved in the process of caring for the deceased, including washing, anointing, and dressing the body; preparing for the visitation or service; and arranging for final disposition—all in keeping with the religious and/or cultural practices of the individual. The control and participation in the care and preparation of the body are believed to help the family and/or community move through their grief and acceptance of death in a positive, meaningful way that promotes emotional healing. The home is where life memories and family history are made, so many believe it natural that the end-of-life stage occurs there as well. Home funerals historically were a time when families came together to share memories and celebrate the life of the individual in an authentic and familiar setting. A growing number of individuals living in the U.S. are returning to a hands-on, no-frills experience of death. They follow the body care and preparation steps for natural funerals. Unvarnished wooden or biodegradable boxes replace ornate caskets; viewings are in living rooms; and in some cases, burials occur on personal property, for example, backyards. There is no count of home funerals, but home funeral organizations have won battles in recent years in states such as Minnesota and Utah that attempted to ban the practice. Most states have nearly eliminated any requirements that professionals play a role in funerals. It is now legal in all but nine states (Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, and New York) to care for a family member after death (National Home Funeral Alliance, n.d.). The growth of community-based, nonprofit home funeral groups and the establishment of burial grounds that support home burial indicate an increasing demand. A number of books
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