Legacy MattersI'm not surprised that Green burials are growing in popularity
At Greensprings, where a plot costs $500 plus a $350 fee to dig the grave, bodies cannot be embalmed or otherwise chemically preserved. They must be buried in biodegradable caskets without linings or metal ornamentation. The cemetery suggests locally harvested woods, wicker or cloth shrouds. Concrete or steel burial vaults are not allowed. Nor are standing monuments, upright tombstones or statues.
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"This is more than just dig a hole in the woods and roll them in. We see it as a natural return to the Earth, becoming part of the circle of life," said Mary Woodsen, a lifelong conservationist and the cemetery's president.
"Not everyone will find this appealing," she said. "But there are people who want that look and feel of nature."
Even though this sleek Cocoon is manufactured by hand using renewable resources -untreated jute and a natural resin - and won a coveted Silver Award in Businessweek's 2006 Idea Awards, it may not be green enough for Greensprings.