A traditional funeral in a Western viewpoint has certain expectations, the coffin, embalming, and tombstones are most common. Yet, these things that seem required need not be. You can very well be buried in a biodegradable coffin, shroud, or favorite blanket; you can have a tree instead of a tombstone, and you can be buried in a meadow designed to return to a forest environment. This can be done and here a few resources that can show you how.
Burial Permit
You can have the burial on private property with a permit – also known as home burials, all you have to do is search ‘burial permit’ for your area
Death Midwifery
The practice of caring for the dying is often referred to as 'Death Midwifery'. In modern times, it is the equivalent of spiritual and physical hospice care (either in a hospice house or in one's own home) but also often includes all the preparations for burial/etc., the funeral/memorial services itself, the burying of remains or scattering of ashes, and grief counseling for those left behind.
This source offers information on where to find a Death Midwife, how to become a Death Midwife, and green burial options.
Green Burials
A summarized source of your options
The Centre for Natural Burial
A Natural Burial Co-operative that works towards establishing green cemeteries and where to find them
The Green Burial Council is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization operating throughout North America (with offices in the US and Canada) working to encourage environmentally sustainable death care and the use of burial as a new means of protecting natural areas.
Natural Burial Association
The Natural Burial Association’s vision is to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional burials in Canada.
If I Should Die .co.uk
Helps you organize and plan ahead for yourself and loved ones
Nature Canada Bequest Gifts to Nature
Having your will help protect Nature
GaiamLife - How to Be Green in the Afterlife
An article about Green Burials
You can have the burial on private property with a permit – also known as home burials, all you have to do is search ‘burial permit’ for your area
Death Midwifery
The practice of caring for the dying is often referred to as 'Death Midwifery'. In modern times, it is the equivalent of spiritual and physical hospice care (either in a hospice house or in one's own home) but also often includes all the preparations for burial/etc., the funeral/memorial services itself, the burying of remains or scattering of ashes, and grief counseling for those left behind.
This source offers information on where to find a Death Midwife, how to become a Death Midwife, and green burial options.
Green Burials
A summarized source of your options
The Centre for Natural Burial
A Natural Burial Co-operative that works towards establishing green cemeteries and where to find them
The Green Burial Council is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization operating throughout North America (with offices in the US and Canada) working to encourage environmentally sustainable death care and the use of burial as a new means of protecting natural areas.
Natural Burial Association
The Natural Burial Association’s vision is to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional burials in Canada.
If I Should Die .co.uk
Helps you organize and plan ahead for yourself and loved ones
Nature Canada Bequest Gifts to Nature
Having your will help protect Nature
GaiamLife - How to Be Green in the Afterlife
An article about Green Burials
