A Greener Way to Die

by L. J. Williamson

Ramsey Creek Nature Preserve is a lovely place for a walk. There are mature trees, beds of leaves that crunch pleasantly underfoot, a skipping stream, and a series of flat rocks. But please don’t step on the rocks, out of respect for the dead. These stones are grave markers, and this nature preserve is also a cemetery.

Part of the growing “Green Burial” movement, Ramsey Creek is one of many cemeteries that eschews monuments and manicured lawns for a more “harmonious” and environmentally sensitive approach.

Do cremated human remains contribute to air pollution? Do buried bodies contaminate the water table? What impact do embalming chemicals have on the environment? Even some of the most green-living among us haven’t yet considered the impact they may have on the planet after their death.

To read more go to Green Burials.

| 06/28/07 | Environment