Green/Natural burial is burial of a dead human body in the soil in a manner that allows the body to decompose naturally.
Green/Natural burial was practiced for all of human history until the widespread use of commercial funeral products in the 1900's. Benefits of Green/Natural Burial:
For millenia, human communities in the West, buried their dead directly into the ground. A dead body wrapped in a shroud was lowered into a grave and covered over with soil. Over time some cultures began placing bodies in wood containers. Green/Natural Burial in Minnesota
Mound Cemetery (Brooklyn Center) is Minnesota's only cemetery certified by the Green Burial Council (GBC) as a hybrid cemetery, meaning it permits both green as well as conventional burials Prairie Oaks Memorial Eco Gardens (Inver Grove Heights) is Minnesota's only all-natural cemetery. Roselawn Cemetery (Roseville) Information on Roselawn's natural burial policy is on their website's FAQs page under the question, "With a traditional casket burial, do I have to use a burial vault? Is it required by law?" Resurrection Catholic Cemetery (Mendota Heights) For information on costs, see our 2015 Green/Natural Burial Price Survey. |
FAQs
What is the difference between a conventional burial and a natural burial? Three defining characteristics of natural burial are absence of a vault, non-toxic preparation of the body, and containers (if used) made of biodegradable materials. Why would someone choose a natural burial over convention burial or cremation? Natural burial is a way for people who wish to limit environmental impact in their lives to also do this in death. For some, natural burial represents the closing of the circle between birth and death by being buried without any encumbrances or impediments. One of the major reasons people are drawn to natural burial is its roots in tradition: up until a hundred years ago, everyone was buried this way. Can I bury a body anywhere? Check with your county government as each has its own burial rules. Doesn’t a body have to be embalmed to have an open casket viewing? No. Minnesota law does not require embalming. A body can be kept at home for up to four days using dry ice, Techni-ice or air conditioning. Embalming is only a cosmetic procedure and is not in any way a public health safeguard. What does Minnesota state law require? In 2010, the MN Legislature revised its statutes to allow families greater control of a loved one's body after death. A body can be kept at home for up to four days using dry ice. Family members can obtain a burial permit and a permit to transport the body. Do I have to use a casket? The short answer is “No” but the body is usually covered in some way with a pine coffin, a cardboard container painted and decorated by family and friends, or simply be wrapped in cloth, a blanket, quilt or other fabric. Can I help lower the body into the grave and cover the body with dirt? Yes. For carrying the weight of the casket or shrouding board during a service, rails, or slats are placed across the grave. Ropes or straps are laid across in preparation for lowering. Once the weight is transferred from the rails to the ropes or straps, the rails are removed, and the casket or shroud is lowered into the grave. Is a natural burial grave as deep as a conventional grave? Graves are more shallow, four feet rather than the 5-6 feet of conventional graves. This allows greater oxygen flow, which in turn feeds bacteria, resulting in more rapid, efficient decomposition. In addition, at a depth of 3-4 feet, beneficial carrion beetles burrow in to aid the process. Shallow depths also allow land areas such as forests and wooded areas to be utilized. Are there religious objections to natural burial? No. For all Muslims and some Jews, natural burial is required. Muslim and Judaism each prescribe a ritual washing and shrouding of the body after death, and accompanying prayers. Each religion prescribes a unique burial shroud. Is natural burial better than cremation for reducing environmental impacts? Yes. See A Greener Way to Go graphic at left. What happens to the body after it dies? Read The Science behind Green and Conventional Burial in Lay Terms from the Green Burial Council. |