What most people are talking about when they talk about green burial is making environmental burial choices with the resources available. Green burial starts with the way we live our lives. It starts with a mindset of living our life as best we can—causing the least harm to the earth and those around us. It entails our day to day choices as well as the choices we make when we are in crisis. Sometimes these crises throw us off our game. When these crises entail life or death choices we might lose our minds just a bit. In that moment we take a breath and remember who we are and what we believe and move forward making the best choices we can from a firm foundation of belief.
Green end of life choices do not only entail which plot we might use, what urn appeals best to us or what fits the budget. Green end of life choices also include what kinds of medical interventions we might deem needed. It might also include distance in travel to events. Green end of life choices might also include what modes of transportation used. If we die in Nebraska, do we really want to have our body embalmed and transported across state lines? Even if we were fortunate enough to locate a funeral director who would aid us in being transported without embalming, do we really want the added expense and use of fuel to transport our body? We might also consider what container used. Do we want a coffin or a shroud? Where are these manufactured? I personally love the wicker coffins produced in England. I would not choose a coffin from England, however due to the cost of transporting it. I might choose one made nearer to home.
Green burial encompasses more than just the final resting place and a natural body. Even if the greenest of the green burials is not available to us, we can look at other factors in our burial choices that take a gentle approach to the earth and those around us. Most people do not have the opportunity for a very green end of life. That is the state we find ourselves in today. It does not have to remain so. Many of us are working toward a greener life and end of life. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to make end of life decisions and you cannot find green choices, do your best. That is all any of us can do.
Green end of life choices do not only entail which plot we might use, what urn appeals best to us or what fits the budget. Green end of life choices also include what kinds of medical interventions we might deem needed. It might also include distance in travel to events. Green end of life choices might also include what modes of transportation used. If we die in Nebraska, do we really want to have our body embalmed and transported across state lines? Even if we were fortunate enough to locate a funeral director who would aid us in being transported without embalming, do we really want the added expense and use of fuel to transport our body? We might also consider what container used. Do we want a coffin or a shroud? Where are these manufactured? I personally love the wicker coffins produced in England. I would not choose a coffin from England, however due to the cost of transporting it. I might choose one made nearer to home.
Green burial encompasses more than just the final resting place and a natural body. Even if the greenest of the green burials is not available to us, we can look at other factors in our burial choices that take a gentle approach to the earth and those around us. Most people do not have the opportunity for a very green end of life. That is the state we find ourselves in today. It does not have to remain so. Many of us are working toward a greener life and end of life. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to make end of life decisions and you cannot find green choices, do your best. That is all any of us can do.
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