Natural Burials
is the return of a human body to the earth using the most ecological methods available. Natural burial can be a spiritually satisfactory alternative to conventional methods:
- no embalming
- direct burial in the earth
- no concrete vault
- a biodegradable casket
- or direct incineration without viewing
An alternative is possible!
Natural burial is permitted in New Brunswick and is considered a statement of personal values for those seeking to minimize their impact on the environment. Natural (traditional) funerary practices and modern practices have an impact on the fragile ecosystems of which we are part. However, modern funerary practices have a higher eco-systemic cost
Your Choices
It is in your power to choose the final disposition of your body.
There is a myriad of choices and options, but only for those who have become "informed consumers". Options exist at each stage of the process. For example :
Choose an urn or shroud made from materials / substances that are non-toxic and easily biodegradable.
- Watching at your house
- Plants and not flowers
- Celebration in a restaurant or park
- Burial on your own land
Natural cemeteries
There are three types of green or natural cemeteries namely:
1) Hybrid;
2) Natural; and
3) Conservation Land.
Other cemeteries may use greener practices without being fully certified. The requirements of a natural cemetery:
- burials without embalming or embalming with non-toxic chemicals;
- The prohibition of concrete vaults;
- the requirement that coffins be made only from biodegradable materials.
There are very few burial places in Canada, but now there exists a green cemetery in Champdoré, Kent County in New Brunswick. In addition to this, there are traditional cemeteries that offer or allow natural burials (green) within their boundaries or that reserve sections of land for natural burials (green) on demand. Check with your local cemetery to see if it will allow a more natural burial at the cemetery.
RESOURCES:
- NEW! Natural burial services in Champdoré: Life Celebration of Life - Green Cemetery
- (2018) Cemeteries and Burials - An FAQ Guide
- (2018) Planning Guide for a Natural Funeral
- Report on Funerals and Green Cemeteries
- Fact Sheet: Cemeteries and Burials (2018, COMING SOON)
- Where to find services and materials for natural burials?
- Fiddlehead Caskets (New Brunswick)
- Natural Burial Company Store (Portland USA)
- ROOTS - Urn that becomes a tree (Canadian)
- Urnabios.com/urn (Biodegradable urns, Montreal Quebec)
- One World Memorials
- Shrouding Boards
- Green Burial Council Certified Products
- Before you go: ecological Caskets and Urns: ecological products (in French)
- Biodegradable Urns
FAQ
Natural Burials
What is a Natural (Green) Burial?
Natural (Green) burial is the returning of a human body to the earth using the most environmentally friendly methods available. While Natural (Green) burial takes many forms, depending on a person’s wishes and the specific regulations governing funeral homes and cemeteries, certain commonalities do exist. The most common aspects of a natural burial: no embalming (the use of non-toxic embalming fluids is sometimes permitted); direct earth burial without use of a burial vault in a biodegradable casket (non-endangered wood, wicker, cardboard, etc.); or a simple woven shroud. Burial sites are commonly unmarked and include a commitment to integrate burial areas into a greater local ecosystem. In many cases land conservation is also practiced.
What Choices Do I Have About my Burial?
Is There Anything Wrong with Modern Burial Practices? Why Choose Natural Burial over Modern Burial Practices?
We have become more aware that our living, as with our dying, has the capacity to either enrich or deplete our environment. A typical or modern funeral means that the body will be washed and embalmed in preparation for public viewing in an open and often expensive casket, surrounded by floral tributes which are quickly discarded. The remains are then either cremated or buried. Burial often takes place inside a concrete vault (to assist the cemetery caretakers). In time, whether buried in an expensive casket or even enclosed in a ‘leak-proof’ vault, the human body will eventually decompose.
Both natural (traditional) and modern burial practices impact the fragile ecosystems of which we are a part. Modern funeral practices, however, have a greater ecosystem cost. It is estimated that, in a single year in the USA, enough embalming fluid is buried to fill eight Olympic-sized swimming pools, enough reinforced concrete is used in burial to build a two-lane highway between New York and Detroit, and more steel is used than was needed to build the Golden Gate Bridge.
Can I be buried on my own property?
Caskets
Do I Need a Casket?
Most conventional caskets are made from non-biodegradable steel, fibreglass, chipboard, or typical hardwoods from endangered forests, often with rubber or plastic seals and liners. The Green Burial Council requires a casket, urn, or shroud suitable for a natural (Green) burial be made from materials/substances that are non-toxic and readily biodegradable. They also require that these products not be made from materials that are harvested in a manner that unnecessarily destroys habitat, as is the case with certain types of materials. A list of caskets, urns, and shrouds that meet these requirements, whose producers have provided clean, fully disclosed material safety data sheets, can be found on the Green Burial Council website.
Can I Make my Own Casket?
Do I Need a Concrete Vault in NB?
If I Want a More Natural Burial, Where Do I Begin?
Speak with a licensed funeral director, an end-of-life midwife or a death doula about their business practices and in particular whether they would be able to carry out your wishes. If you are considering burial in a local cemetery, discuss your plans with the local cemetery committee. It is advised to obtain their written approval for your plans to make it easier on your next of kin when it comes time to carry out your wishes.
Speak with your family about your wishes for the disposal of your body. Take the time to explain carefully to them why these wishes are important to you. Hopefully, this conversation will not only clarify any questions your family will have, but will also spark a broader discussion about the sustainability of modern burial practices and their alternatives.
Where Can I Obtain These Services?
What Environmentally Responsible Options Exist Other than Natural Burial or Cremation?
www.acadienouvelle.com/actualites/2016/11/07/lincinerationprocededejadepasse/
One new idea suggests a combination of freezing and vibrating the remains into a soil-like material.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/aburialmachinethatwillfreezeyourcorpsevibrateittodustandturnitintosoil
Another method uses common composting techniques, although with a quicker time-frame.
http://www.naturalburialassoc.ca/urbandeathprojectcompostingyourlovedones/
http://www.attentionalaterre.com/cimetierenaturehumusation/
Cremation
What Are the Regulations Regarding Cremated Remains (i.e. Can I scatter the ashes anywhere?)
One is not required to purchase an urn. The funeral home will return the cremated remains to the family in a plastic bag, enclosed within a cardboard box. No other container is required for transporting ashes.
If one chooses to buy an urn, they come in all shapes, sizes materials and of course prices. Some are magnificent works of art in bronze or pottery. Others are simple wooden boxes. A growing trend is to use urns made out of simple cardboard, containing earth and the seed from an indigenous tree.
http://www.fiddleheadcaskets.com/
http://www.musesdesign.com/
https://www.oneworldmemorials.com/collections/
https://urnabios.com/urn/
What Are the Positive and Negative Aspects of Cremation?
There are as yet no easily accessible rating scales for crematoriums which might assist consumers to determine the level of pollution and carbon emissions which are produced. Individual crematoriums may provide such information, if requested. The industry is moving toward the use of more energy-efficient furnaces, greener fuel sources, and up-to-date scrubbers, recycling medical parts, and making contributions to carbon funds. All of these initiatives contribute to making the industry more environmentally friendly. Become informed. Ask about the practices of your local crematorium.
Funeral Services
What is Embalming and is it Necessary?
Because embalming significantly retards the natural process of decomposition and because it introduces a variety of toxic chemicals into the environment, embalming is not permitted in a natural burial ground.
Environmentally-friendly embalming fluids may still be considered toxic to the environment and may not be acceptable in natural burial sites. To date, of the three objectives of embalming, only two of the three i.e. preservation and disinfection, are accomplished by these alternative, “Greener” fluids. These fluids are not capable of fixing tissue or producing the tissue firmness to a satisfactory level for many morticians.
Can I still safely view the body if it is not embalmed?
What About Home Death Care and a Home Funeral?
Do I Have to Use the Services of a Funeral Director?
Typical services families may request from a funeral director include: the transfer of the remains from the place of death to the funeral home/crematorium; assisting with pre-arrangements; consultation regarding the type of the services desired, and if requested, preserve and sanitize the remains or oversee the preparation of the remains; plan and schedule funeral services (cemetery, home or chapel); coordinate burials and cremations; and complete legal documents including a death certificate, issue death notices to newspapers, and inform survivors of any benefits. However, most if not all of these services are optional; for example, the family (next of kin) with a burial or cremation certificate obtained from the local coroner are legally able to transport the body to the final place of disposition.
Funeral directors are open to responding to the wishes of the family. Become informed. Pre-planning is always recommended, especially when considering a more natural or non-traditional funeral. Natural practices for burial are new and yet gaining in popularity. As the demand for more natural burial increases, similar to the increasing demand for cremation, funeral directors will begin to include more natural funeral options into their standard list of services. Some funeral directors are already taking a leadership role by promoting sustainable development in the industry. In Quebec, some funeral homes compensate for their carbon footprint by planting trees, shifting to more environmentally friendly practices, and by putting pressure on their suppliers to offer environmentally sustainable products. La Coopérative des Deux Rives for example, compensates for its entire carbon print.
Are Funeral Directors Willing to Participate in Natural Burials?
What Are the Typical Costs of a Funeral?
Here are some Canadian resources for price comparison:
http://www.canadianfunerals.com/funeral-related-articles/funerals-and-cremations-in-new-brunswick-canada.html
https://gordonmonkfh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/4669/Current_Pricelist_with_Caskets_Vaults_and_Urns_2014.pdf
Natural Cemeteries
What is a Natural Cemetery?
The Green Burial Council has identified three types of Green or Natural burial grounds; namely Hybrid, Natural and Conservation Grounds.
Hybrid Burial Grounds
Hybrid Burial Grounds are cemeteries which practice both natural and conventional burials. Such cemeteries must designate an area of land for natural (green) burials. In these specific areas only biodegradable products can be used and vaults and embalmed remains are prohibited.
Natural Burial Grounds
Natural Burial Grounds practice land stewardship and restoration planning. Only sustainable burial methods are permitted.
Conservation Burial Grounds
Conservation Burial Grounds take natural burial grounds to the next level. They are natural (Green) lands which have joined with a conservation partner to protect endangered lands from development. Cemetery owners and conservation organizations often work together to establish a conservation easement on the land.
Where Can I Find More Information on Natural Cemeteries in NB?
Resources
English Resources
Memramcook, NB. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (506) 874-1112
Jules Jones - A Mindful Death Doula Services, Riverview, NB. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 506-961-1997
Canadian Integrative Network for Death Education and Alternatives
A Good Funeral Guide Factsheet
Fiddlehead Caskets (New Brunswick)
Natural Burial Company Store (Portland USA)
Urnabios.com/urn (Biodegradable urns, Montreal Québec)
One World Memorials
Shrouding Boards
Green Burial Council Certified Products
Before You Go: Ecological Caskets and Urns: produits écologiques
Biodegradable Urns
French Resources
http://www.lapresse.ca/vivre/societe/201701/20/015061490mourirecolo.php
Denise LeBlanc - Bien vivre & mourir ( conférence, atelier, retraite, coaching )
Memramcook, NB. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ou (506) 874-1112
Books
The Natural Death Handbook J Speyer
The New Natural Death Handbook N. Albery
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and other lessons from The Crematory Caitlin Doughty