The Benefits of Green Cemeteries

If one were to ask ‘what is the most important world issue that has taken place in the last decade?’ you would not be wrong to respond with environmental conservation. As humans, we’re becoming more and more aware of the environmental impact we leave on the earth. The first step to solving a problem is to become aware of it. Very little people look at traditional burials and cemeteries as a hazard to the environment, likely out of fear of disrespect to the diseased. The problem is that traditional burials and the overwhelming amount of cemeteries operating today are doing so in a way extremely dangerous to the environment. Today we’re going to tell you all about the benefits of green cemeteries, and why choosing to have a green burial at a green cemetery can really make a difference on the environment.

What is a Green Cemetery?

Only recently have burial methods such as cremation become a trend. Why? Most experts believe the reason why cremation has become one of the most popular burial methods is because of the lower cost compared to green burials. Most, however, don’t take the negative environmental effect each stage of the cremation process occurs into consideration.

Picture this: a quiet, forested area complete with the entire natural ecosystem that you would expect. There are no paved roads, the grass has not been fertilized nor manicured, and everything appears natural. This is a green cemetery. There are no headstones to mark each grave site, instead, trees and flowers have been planted as natural markers. Unembalmed bodies are laid into a basic, biodegradable coffin, without any concrete liners. Everything is one hundred percent organic. Does this sound new to you? Remember, this is what burial has been like for the majority of human history.

3 Important Benefits of Green Cemeteries

More and more people every year are becoming open to the idea of having their own green burial in a green cemetery. Let’s discuss three unique benefits of green cemeteries.

The positive effect on the environment – Green cemeteries have a huge trickledown effect on the environment. Natural decomposition enriches the soil, in turn assisting the forestry and plants, which help local wildlife survive. This is a sharp 180 degree turn from traditional cemeteries which actually damage the eco-system.The positive effect on the community – The atmosphere of a green cemetery is very different than that of a traditional cemetery. When you’re visiting a green cemetery it doesn’t feel as though you’re walking through a graveyard. It’s much akin to the mindset of ‘celebrating life’ rather than mourning a loss.Green cemeteries serve as both a natural burial, and a conservation of land. Many green cemeteries will double as an open park. You can often see families having a picnic, or throwing a Frisbee around. Some believe this may re-invent ominous cemetery culture.

There are enormous benefits to choosing a green cemetery over a traditional cemetery. Take your time to read this page once more and decide if you want to be a part of the green cemetery movement.

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Children in Cemeteries

Children in Cemeteries

There’s a good letter to Dear Abby about cemeteries and how parents should supervise their children when they visit.

Good advice from both the writer and Dear Abby!

DEAR ABBY: Please use your wide reach to educate well-meaning parents about how their children should behave when visiting cemeteries. I’m a funeral professional who takes pride in helping families honor their heritage and transition from grief to recovery. I especially enjoy helping to allay children’s fears about death and cemeteries.

Often parents allow their children to roam the cemetery as if it were a playground or public park. I have seen kids pull up expensive flowers on other graves and “take them to Mommy.” Naturally, the family who bought the flowers come back a few days later and accuses us of trashing them.

I have seen mourners leave precious personal mementos on their loved ones’ graves only for kids to take them as playthings. I have seen kids deface grave markers, entertain themselves by bouncing rocks off headstones or open up brass and bronze cameos, exposing the photos to the elements.

The worst is unsupervised kids running off in packs and gathering up the little colored flags that are placed to assure a grave gets dug and set up in time for a pending service. Imagine flying in for the burial of a loved one and the grave isn’t ready because some child grabbed the marking flag while the parents stood idly by. Cemetery employees have been fired for this.

Parents, please teach your children that their natural curiosity and playfulness should find their outlet in more appropriate settings. And please, keep your dogs at home. You wouldn’t want a stranger’s dog doing his business on your expensive marker or loved one’s grave, would you? — THE LAST PERSON TO LET YOU DOWN IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR LAST PERSON TO LET YOU DOWN: I’m happy to spread the word.

Folks, if your children are too young to understand when you tell them the cemetery isn’t a playground, that they must remain quiet, respectful and not touch other people’s property, then they should not be present at the burial. When entering or leaving the cemetery, children and adults should refrain from walking on the graves. Ditto for using it as a dog park.

The Golden Rule applies here: Don’t do unto others what you wouldn’t want them to do onto you.

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Restricting Flowers in Cemeteries Sends Wrong Message

Restricting Flowers in Cemeteries Sends Wrong Message

Is it wrong for cemeteries to remove flowers to keep things tidy? In yesterday’s Albuquerque Journal, columnist Leslie Linthicum wrote about a policy change at the Catholic cemeteries run by the Catholic Cemetery Association, titled Flowerless Cemetery Feels ‘Cold’.

The Catholic Cemetery Association, an independent agency that manages two Catholic cemeteries in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe, describes its mission to the living on its website: “By encouraging the visits of family and friends of the deceased, we seek to foster an environment on which love is remembered, hope is rekindled and faith is awakened and strengthened.”

Notice the flowers in the background at this mausoleum.

Except they’ve changed their policy on the leaving of flowers, and that impacts visitors.

The Catholic Cemetery Association had already mandated that only artificial flowers be allowed in its mausoleums. They recently enacted a policy that it would clear away decorations in the mausoleums every month and outside in the cemetery every week.

Rather than encourage more visits, the policy has swept away many of the colorful tributes that families brought in memory of their loved ones. As Leslie visited the mausoleum with Nanci Carriveau, who visits her family’s crypts there on a regular basis, Carriveau noted the lack of flowers.

“This used to be full of flowers,” she said as we walked past a who’s who of Albuquerque family names on bronze markers. “It was so beautiful. I used to come here and sit and look at the flowers. It made me feel so warm and so loved.”

She said she could understand cemetery managers getting rid of tattered or dirty displays. But today’s silk flowers are beautiful and last a long time. The mausoleum is a climate-controlled building, so flowers placed there don’t get dirty or faded by the sun or shredded by the wind.

So, what is the problem with flowers remaining at a crypt for more than 30 days?

No word from the Catholic Cemetery Association in reply to Carriveau’s inquiries. Responses are running 50-50 for and against the new policy. Take away the flowers and it’s tidy but cold. Keep them there and you see the love and the personalities. Silk flowers don’t die – what’s the problem?

Isn’t a cemetery a place to express your love for those who have gone to their rest? You can compare the picture of the barren mausoleum wall in the Journal story with the above photo from the 30 Funerals in 30 Days Challenge. It was taken in the mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Park. Flowers do make a big difference in the mausoleum.

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