Although it’s never easy to endure the passing of a loved one, death is natural and part of life. It is what gives life such meaning and allows us to appreciate every moment. When you are talking to funeral homes in Mount Vernon, WA., about your loved one’s services, consider a green burial. Also commonly referred to as a natural burial, these types of burials are an environmentally-friendly and beautiful option.

What is a Green Burial?

A green burial is the most natural way to be buried. The body remains in its natural state and everything used to bury the body is biodegradable and environmentally-friendly. This type of burial focuses on simplicity and environmental sustainability. The goal is to allow the body to return to nature and truly be “ashes to ashes and dust to dust”.

How is the Body Prepared?

With a typical burial, the body is prepared by using toxic chemicals and other embalming fluids to preserve the body. In a green burial, the body is left in its natural state meaning it is not prepared with chemicals and it is not cremated.

What is the Body Buried In?

The body is buried in a very simple shroud or casket made from non-toxic, biodegradable material. There is no burial vault or outer box allowing the process of decomposition to happen more naturally.

Is the Gravesite Marked with a Headstone?

One of the reasons a green burial area is so beautiful is that it has all been given back to nature. This means there are no headstones on the gravesites. Instead, many areas allow the families to plan a native plant or two on at the gravesite or place a natural rock.. The family is also given GPS coordinates on the site for easy reference in the future.

Why Choose a Green Burial?

There are several reasons to families choose a green burial. One is cost. Since there is no fancy casket, outer vault or embalming process, the cost is much less than that of a typical funeral.

Also, those who love nature and want to keep in line with the true, natural, simple process of having their loved one returned to the earth will love this option. These families love the simplicity and purity this choice provides.

If the deceased was environmentally-friendly minded, this is the perfect option. With so much land being used for cemeteries and trees and other materials used in the process of constructing caskets, this is a wonderful option to help cut down on using these resources.

Final Thoughts

With death being a natural part of the life process, it is important to some families to keep the burial simple and pure. Choosing a green, or natural, burial is a wonderful way to maintain the natural state of the body as well as the environment and bring the two together again in a beautiful, environmentally-friendly way. Talking to funeral homes in Mount Vernon, WA. about this option in more detail will help you see if this is a right choice for you and your family.