If there’s one eventuality we all face, it’s that someday we’ll no longer be here.
At least not in the form we’ve always known.
Sooner or later, the atoms comprising your body – the one that’s thrown baseballs, watched fireflies, relished meals, bagged the peaks, cuddled pets & embraced loved ones – will return to the world to support new life.
But when that day comes, do you know how you want your family to handle your death?
As our planet bursts at the seams to support over 7.5 billion people, the uncomfortable reality is that we are running out of space to bury our dead.
Not only that, but in the U.S. alone, our 22,000-plus cemeteries bury an estimated 4.3 million tons of embalming fluid, 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete, 17,000 tons of copper & bronze, and 60,000 tons of steel.
Luckily, it’s not all bad news, as there is some evidence that cemeteries can serve as habitat for local wildlife & rare plants.
But as we run short on space, conventional burial isn’t an option we’ll have for long.
And if carefully manicured lawns & parks aren’t your thing in life, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to partake in death.
If you enjoy the outdoors & want to ponder an alternative to the status quo, here are a few options to consider.
Green Burial
As the name implies, the goal of a green burial is to return a body to the earth as naturally as possible.
According to the Green Burial Council:
“Green or natural burial is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat. Green burial necessitates the use of non-toxic and biodegradable materials, such as caskets, shrouds, and urns.”
By placing you in a biodegradable casket or shroud, your body can decompose naturally – allowing you to support a thriving ecosystem (rather than a thriving lawn).
At present, there are over 300 providers offering their services in 41 states & 6 provinces. But the rules & regulations vary by site, and not all options (i.e. grave markers or headstones) are available in all locations.
If you’d like to learn more about natural burial, visit the Green Burial Council, where you’ll find fact sheets & even a planning guide that helps you articulate your wishes so they’ll be clear after you pass on.
Burial Reef
If your heart belongs to the ocean, you might consider keeping it there in perpetuity.
With burial or eternal reefs, your cremated remains – or cremains – are mixed with environmentally-safe concrete that’s molded into an artificial reef. This reef is then placed in a permitted ocean location selected by family or friends. There, you’ll provide habitat for a number of fish & other sea life.
The only bad news is that for now, it’s a two-step process that still requires cremation. So depending upon how you feel about cremation, you may or may not feel enthusiastic about it. But it does provide an opportunity for you to help provide long-term habitat for marine wildlife, as well as a permanent resting place for family & friends to visit if that’s important to you.
For more information, check out EternalReefs.com.
Bios Urn
Like burial reefs, the BiosUrn still requires traditional cremation. But instead of scattering the ashes, you place them in a biodegradable urn that also holds a soil mix. And as the urn degrades, the soil mixes with the ashes & aids in development of the tree.
You can choose any tree (seed) you’d like, though native is best, and you’ll want to be sure that you choose a location that’s appropriate for that species. Also be sure that you have permission to plant there if you don’t own the land.
The only downside? Nature can be tricky, and trees don’t always (i.e. rarely) grow on demand. What would happen if “your” tree doesn’t grow well where it’s planted? What if it succumbed to drought or disease – as many trees do?
Also consider what would happen if you planted a tree on land that you later sold – would it bother you that you could no longer visit, or if the new owners cut it down?
These issues may not bother you, but if they would be difficult for your family, you might consider an alternative that’s less emotionally dependent upon on a specific outcome. It may also be worth considering that this company offers the option of an indoor tree planting, or a BiosIncube.
Recomposition
A project of the Urban Death Project, recomposition is focused on transforming bodies into soil, which can be used to plant trees, flowers & memorial gardens.
In 2015, founder Katrina Spade partnered with forensic anthropologist Dr. Cheryl Johnston at West Carolina State University to explore the idea. And in 2017, they’ll be starting their pilot in partnership with Washington State University to determine the appropriate recomposition materials, aeration & duration of the process.
Though it’s not yet publically available, the goal is to learn as much as possible during this pilot phase that someday soon we’ll be able to choose recomposition rather than cremation or burial – especially in urban areas where space is at a premium.
In the meantime, you can help support their research by donating here.
Mushroom suit
Offered by a company named Coeio, the Infinity Burial Suit is a somewhat quirky alternative that allows mushrooms to digest your body after you die.
The bonus? You look like a mycorrhiza ninja on your way out.
According to the company, the suit is shelf stable, so you can buy it long before you die if you like to plan ahead. And when the day finally comes, you’ll be suited up & buried in a suit that’s inoculated with spores specifically chosen because of their affinity for human flesh.
After you’re in the ground, these spores will grow into mushrooms that will consume your body & enrich the soil – which will allow you to live on in the grasses, trees, shrubs & even the wildlife that inhabit and visit that landscape.
The downside is that it isn’t a stand alone option in the sense that you’ll need access to a company that can provide a green burial. But if you do have access to one of these providers, then it could be an alternative to compost your body & give back to a favorite landscape.
In conclusion
Though they may hold some benefits, cemeteries can lock up our land base & bury millions of tons of natural resources & embalming fluids. And as our population grows, we can no longer afford to follow the status quo.
Luckily, you can choose from one of the many alternatives that offer you an opportunity to give back to the world that’s given you so much. And if you’ve spent your life loving & exploring the outdoors, why not consider nurturing it in death?
For more information, visit one of the sites below: