All organisms that have lived, have died and returned to the soil, where constant microbial activity in the soil breaks everything down and recycles to new life. The intention is to hasten the return of the body to the natural world and to integrate the remains within the cycles of nature. Depth may vary slightly, but graves are dug no deeper than 4 feet for encouraging maximum natural decomposition. With a natural burial, the body is placed in a casket or a shroud made of non-toxic biodegradable material and placed directly in the ground without any type of liner or vault.
#GREEN BURIAL SHROUD FREE#
The deceased is not embalmed (no state in the US requires embalming by law, except in a very few select cases), allowing the body to fully decompose and return to the earth, truly embodying the phrase we hear so often at funerals…'ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ There are also formaldehyde free embalming fluids for the preservation and sanitation of the body for those families who wish a traditional funeral service with the green burial. The body is then placed into a wooden coffin or metal casket and placed in the ground, usually in a cement liner.Ī green burial on the other hand, is done without the use of chemical preservatives which might destroy or inhibit the natural breakdown of the body. Simply put, embalming involves pumping a chemical fluid into the circulatory system to preserve and disinfect a body prior to burial, slowing down natural decomposition long enough to allow for viewing and final goodbyes. In the 1890's, as embalming procedures improved and the cost became more reasonable, it became common practice for families to have their loved ones embalmed before a visitation or viewing in their homes or at a funeral parlor. Families wanted to see their fallen fathers and sons one last time, so the process of embalming came into use. During the war however, many soldiers died on battlefields while so far from home, there became a growing need for a way to preserve the dead for the long journey back home to a decent burial. Prior to the Civil War in the United States, the deceased's body was simply buried in a community cemetery or on a family's property. As the saying goes, Death and Taxes.When the inevitable time comes to care for the body of a loved one who has died, there is new movement afoot to return to the old way of doing things.
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