Montevista | How to Plan a Green Burial: Step-by-Step Guide
How to Plan a Green Burial: Step-by-Step Guide
Planning a green burial involves selecting a natural burial ground, choosing biodegradable materials, and coordinating with funeral providers who understand eco-friendly practices. This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire green burial planning process.
Step 1: Research Green Burial Options
Find natural burial grounds: – Search online: Green Burial Council website lists certified sites – Bay Area options: Fernwood (Marin), Forever Fernwood (Martinez), others – Consider distance and accessibility for family
Learn about requirements: – Each site has specific biodegradability standards – Marker restrictions vary – Some allow only certain materials
Visit sites in person: – Tour the environment – Meet staff – See actual burial areas – Get feel for the setting
Step 2: Understand Costs
Typical green burial costs: – Plot: $1,000-$5,000 – Opening/closing grave: $500-$1,500 – Biodegradable container: $100-$3,000 – Funeral home services: $1,000-$3,000 – Total: $2,500-$8,000
Budget accordingly: – Determine what you can afford – Prioritize essential elements – Consider pre-payment to lock in prices
Step 3: Select Burial Ground and Purchase Plot
Make your choice: – Select the green burial ground that feels right – Consider location, setting, policies, cost
Purchase plot: – Contact cemetery directly – Complete purchase paperwork – Receive deed or certificate – Understand included services
Ask about: – Companion burial options – Plot location preferences – Future access and visiting
Step 4: Choose Biodegradable Container
Options: – Shroud: $100-$500 (simplest) – Cardboard casket: $300-$800 – Wicker/seagrass: $800-$1,500 – Bamboo: $1,200-$2,500 – Untreated pine: $1,000-$2,500
Ensure compliance: – Check cemetery requirements – Verify materials are approved – No metal, synthetic fabrics, or toxic finishes
Where to buy: – Through funeral home – Direct from manufacturers online – Some cemeteries sell on-site
Step 5: Find Green-Friendly Funeral Home
Look for: – Experience with green burial – Willing to work with natural burial grounds – Offers biodegradable options – Won’t pressure toward traditional services
Ask questions: – Do you handle green burials regularly? – Will you coordinate with my chosen cemetery? – What biodegradable options do you offer? – What are your fees for green burial services?
Not all funeral homes are experienced with green burial—choose carefully
Step 6: Document Your Wishes
Create written plan: – Specify green burial preference – Name of chosen cemetery – Container preference – Service wishes – Budget guidance
Share with family: – Discuss your choices – Explain your reasoning – Ensure they understand and support plans – Provide copies of all documentation
Store documents: – With other important papers – Not only in safe deposit box – Family knows where to find them
Step 7: Decide on Service and Ceremony
Service options: – Graveside service only – Memorial service before or after burial – Celebration of life – No formal service
Location options: – At the natural burial ground – Separate venue before burial – Home gathering – Place of worship
Green burial doesn’t dictate service type—you can have any ceremony you wish
Step 8: Consider Pre-Payment (Optional)
Advantages: – Lock in current prices – Fully funded when needed – Remove financial burden from family
Options: – Pre-pay cemetery plot – Pre-pay funeral arrangements – Set aside funds in dedicated account
Considerations: – Portability if you move – Refund policies – Contract terms
Step 9: Plan for Memorialization
Grave markers: – Natural fieldstone – Small engraved stone – GPS coordinates only – Native plant or tree – No marker
Check cemetery rules about allowed markers
Alternative memorials: – Memorial bench elsewhere – Tree planted in meaningful location – Online memorial – Charitable donation
Step 10: Communicate and Finalize
Inform key people: – Family members – Executor of estate – Attorney – Close friends
Provide documentation: – Written funeral wishes – Cemetery deed – Pre-payment contracts – Contact information
Review periodically: – Every 2-3 years – When circumstances change – Update as needed
Pre-Planning vs. At-Need Planning
Pre-planning advantages: – Time to research options – No emotional pressure – Can compare costs – Lock in prices
At-need planning: – Must decide quickly – Limited time for research – Emotional decision-making – Pay current prices
Pre-planning strongly recommended for green burial due to research required
Working with Funeral Homes
What funeral homes handle: – Transportation of deceased – Refrigeration (no embalming) – Basic preparation – Coordination with cemetery – Death certificates
What they typically don’t provide: – Biodegradable containers (you may need to source separately) – Cemetery plot (purchased directly from cemetery)
Clarify services and costs upfront
Common Planning Challenges
Challenge: Limited local options Solution: Be willing to travel to natural burial grounds or consider hybrid sections in traditional cemeteries
Challenge: Family resistance Solution: Educate family about green burial, visit sites together, explain your reasoning
Challenge: Cost concerns Solution: Remember green burial often costs less than traditional; choose most affordable biodegradable options
Challenge: Funeral home unfamiliarity Solution: Find experienced provider or educate chosen funeral home about green burial requirements
Important Legal and Practical Considerations
California law: – Green burial is legal – No embalming required (except specific circumstances) – No casket or vault required by law – Individual cemeteries set their own rules
Transportation: – Body can be transported to natural burial grounds – Funeral home arranges transportation – Consider distance and logistics
Timing: – Without embalming, burial typically within 3-7 days – Refrigeration preserves body temporarily – Coordinate timing with family travel needs
Key Takeaways
Planning green burial involves specific steps:
- Research natural burial options in your area
- Visit sites to find right location
- Purchase burial plot
- Choose biodegradable container
- Find green-friendly funeral home
- Document wishes clearly
- Plan ceremony and service
- Consider pre-payment
- Arrange memorialization
- Communicate plans to family
Start early for best options and lowest stress. Pre-planning strongly recommended.
Green Burial Planning at Monte Vista Memorial Gardens
Monte Vista helps families plan environmentally conscious burial arrangements. We can discuss green burial options, coordinate with natural burial grounds, and ensure your wishes are honored.
Call 510-299-1174 to begin planning green burial arrangements that honor both your loved one and the environment.