| Alternative
Funerals, Cremation and Burial Options |
| • |
The Centre
for Natural Burial - Provides comprehensive resources
supporting the development of natural burial and detailed information
about natural burial around the world, including the U.S. |
| • |
Death
Midwifery and the Home Funeral Revolution - Article about
Jerrigrace Lyons and the increased interest in home funerals. |
| • |
Eco-Friendly
Death & Funeral Choices - from funeral.org, which is
a nonprofit consumer organization focused on protecting a consumer's
right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral. |
| • |
Ecopod - If you ever wondered if there was an cool alterative to overpriced coffins here it is. Ecopod are made from naturally hardened, 100% recycled paper, come in a variety of colors, and provide an excellent approach to non toxic burial or cremation. Currently available in the UK, I hope to see something like this available here soon too! |
| • |
Eco-Shroudage -
KINKARACO™ is a company dedicated to providing beautiful
affordable dignified burial shrouds to be used in the natural
burial of Human Beings. |
| • |
Final
Passages - A "natural death
care" organization dedicated
to a compassionate and dignified alternatives to current
funeral practices. They offer information about the
legalities of caring for our own, educational "Info
Packets"
that help
with the practical matters, as well as consultation, referral
services, and seminars that prepare and support individuals
and the community to carry out a
home or family-directed
funeral. |
| • |
Full
Circle of Care - Funerals, Cremations and Honoring the Dead -
Information for caregivers and others about end-of-life options,
including green funerals. |
| • |
Funeral Consumers Alliance - A Federation of Nonprofit Consumer Information Societies that presents alternatives to the overpriced funeral industry, and promotes dignified, personal ways to approach the end of the journey. Membership in only $25 and in includes a number of useful items and a newsletter, as well as 50% off most books in their bookstore. |
| • |
Funerals:
A Consumer Guide - The straight facts about more traditional
options from the Federal Trade Commision. |
| • |
Green
Graveyards - An AARP article on back-to-nature burials
in biodegradable caskets conserve land. |
| • |
Guide
for a Muslim Funeral - Includes details instructions
on how to care for the body and the spirit at the time of death,
which may provide inspiration to people of other faiths who
have not been brought up with explicit instructions on caring
for their dead. |
| • |
Internet Cremation Society - Offers links and information about low cost cremation providers, specialty urn companies, services for scattering the ashes, on-line obituaries and general information about cremation. |
| • |
Natural Death Centre -
America has a long way to go when it comes to approaching death
in an affordable, natural, and dignified manner, but this site
from England provides proof that it is possible, as well as
resources and information that may be useful to those of us
in the United States. |
| • |
Neo-Pagan Natural Burial - A site for people of all faiths who may be interested in fulfilling the wishes of those who have requested their physical body be returned to Mother Earth in a natural manner, including (links at bottom) how to care for the body at the time of death and prepare it for burial. |
| • |
Neptune
Society - Where individuals and families
can make advance plans for cremation. |
| • |
North
American Woodland Burial Society - A grass-roots volunteer
network comprising of individuals from all vocations, religious
beliefs, and areas of the continent, who have the desire to
further the dignified and loving practice of natural woodland
burials. |
| • |
People's
Memorial Association -
A nonprofit origanization in Washington state that helps people
make arrangements for simple, low cost cremations and burials. |
| What
To Do at the Time of Death |
| • |
What
To Do When Someone Dies - Information about how to act
as your own funeral director from Glendale Memorial Nature
Preserve. |
| • |
When
a Loved One Dies -
How to handle the logistics from
Greensprings Natural Cemetery in New York State. |
| Eco
& Natural Cemeteries in the United States |
| • |
Fernwood -
San Francisco Bay Area Cemetery, which now offers natural burial
options. |
| • |
Glendale
Memorial Nature Preserve -
Located in the Florida panhandle, this site offers addition resources
and information about eco-burial. |
| • |
Greensprings -
Natural cemetery in New York state. |
| • |
Ramsey
Creek Preserve -
The first green cemetery in the United States - an inspirational
model for those who are interested in preserving wildlands
while returning their body to the earth when it is time. Their
parks provide an economical, beautiful, environmentally responsible
alternative to mainstream memorial parks. |
