{"id":129,"date":"2024-12-05T20:27:40","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T20:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/?page_id=129"},"modified":"2024-12-06T00:56:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T00:56:25","slug":"green-burials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html","title":{"rendered":"Green Burials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, &nbsp;their joyous<br>inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they&nbsp;<br>will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">~John Muir, A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Please like our Facebook page&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.facebook.com\/greenburialsocal<\/a>&nbsp;to demonstrate your&nbsp;<br>interest in bringing green burial options to Southern California!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is a green burial?<\/strong>A green, or natural, burial allows the body to return to the earth in a manner that doesn&#8217;t inhibit decomposition and allows the body to recycle naturally. &nbsp;Green burials are an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional funeral practices as green burials use only non-toxic and biodegradable materials. &nbsp;Green burials are becoming increasingly popular as our desire to live more natural lives and to minimize our impact on the environment increases. &nbsp;In addition to using only environmentally friendly materials, a green burial can also advance ecological goals such as the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and\/or preservation of habitat. &nbsp;<strong>How do green burials differ from conventional burials?<\/strong>In conventional burials, the preparation of the body and burial site generally do not take into consideration environmental impact. In addition, the biodegradability and sustainability of materials used to make a casket are not considered in a conventional burial, and are often constructed from metal or from rare species of wood. &nbsp;Likewise, conventional cemeteries require the purchase of a concrete vault to prevent the ground from sinking in after it is covered and to allow for the ground to stay level and to be manicured. &nbsp;The concrete vault lines the grave and the casket is then inserted into the concrete vault. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across the United States bury approximately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>827,060 &nbsp;US gallons of embalming fluid (includes formaldehyde)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>90,00 tons of steel (caskets)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2,700 tons of copper and bronze (caskets)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30 million board feet of hardwoods (caskets)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1,600,000 tons of reinforced concrete (vaults)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>14,000 tons of steel (vaults)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Compiled from statistics by the Casket and Funeral Association of America, Cremation Association of North America, Doric Inc., The Rainforest Action Network, and Mary Woodsen, Pre-Posthumous Society.<strong>In a green burial:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cement vaults are prohibited<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caskets must be biodegradable or a shroud can be used<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Formaldehyde-based embalming is prohibited<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Burial is in an area with native trees, shrubs, and flowers, with no man-made additions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grave markers are those that do not intrude on the landscape&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As in all cemeteries, a record is kept of exact location of each burial (GPS coordinates may be used)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial-cemeteries-in-california.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here<\/a> to see a list of green burial cemeteries in California.<\/strong><strong>What you can do if there are no green burial options in your area<\/strong>FCASC is committed to raising awareness of green burials in Southern California through our website and public presentations. We encourage anyone interested in a green burial to contact their local cemeteries, land conservancies, and city councils, expressing their desire for greener options. &nbsp;Also, please like our Facebook page <a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.facebook.com\/greenburialsocal<\/a> to demonstrate your interest in these options to conservation organizations!Here are some steps you can take to make a burial as green as possible when a green cemetery is not available:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Forego embalming. &nbsp;It&#8217;s never routinely required by law for funerals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select a wood casket or a cardboard box or a shroud for burial. &nbsp;There are no laws requiring particular types of caskets, however you may want to check with the cemetery to determine if they have any specific requirements. &nbsp;You might encounter resistance from the funeral director or cemetery, but stand your ground. &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Try to find a cemetery that will allow you to omit the use of a vault. Most conventional cemeteries require vaults so if you&#8217;re unable to find a cemetery that will accommodate you, &nbsp;choose a concrete grave box that has an open bottom to let the body come in contact with the earth. Or, invert a concrete grave liner and use the lid for something else. You may also refuse to use a vault on religious grounds, though there may be an additional charge for special maintenance of the grave. &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If using your death to preserve and steward land is important to you, it is always possible to be shipped out of state and buried in a conservation burial ground. &nbsp;If this is your preference, consider&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">White Eagle Memorial Preserve<\/a>&nbsp;in Washington State. &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The trailer for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3Bi1cP_2bRc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;A Will for the Woods,&#8221;<\/a>&nbsp;a documentary about a man&#8217;s wish for a meaningful legacy of eco-friendly funerals that conserve natural areas. &nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" src=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ted-1024x649.png\" alt=\"The trailer \" class=\"wp-image-50\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ted-1024x649.png 1024w, https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ted-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ted-768x487.png 768w, https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ted.png 1093w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommended reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grave Matters: &nbsp;A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial by Mark Harris<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Articles of interest:&nbsp;<\/strong><br><br>Washington Post: &nbsp;Green burials are gaining traction in the Washington area<br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national\/environment\/green-burials-are-gaining-traction-in-the-washington-area\/2011\/04\/26\/AGLfhZKH_story.html\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forbes: &nbsp;The Burial Industry Takes A Turn to Eco-Friendliness<br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/eco-nomics\/2011\/12\/02\/the-burial-industry-takes-a-turn-to-eco-friendliness\/\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Businessweek &#8211; The Greening of Death<br><a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sacramento News and Review &#8211; Grave Pursuits<br><a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>US Catholic Magazine &#8211; Think outside the box: &nbsp;Being green at the end of life<br><a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eucalyptus Magazine &#8211; Living Green, Dying Green<br><a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Lutheran &#8211; Going Green, even at the end<br><a href=\"https:\/\/fcasocal.org\/green-burial.html#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, &nbsp;their joyousinseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they&nbsp;will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life.&nbsp; ~John Muir, A Thousand-Mile Walk to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-129","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.0 - 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