What is Green Burial?

A Green Burial Service or “Natural Burial” returns the body back to the earth in its natural form. Natural Burial was common for many generations prior to the Civil War and today is viewed as a natural alternative to cremation and other types of care for a deceased person.

Green Burial

• Impacts the environment minimally while caring for a loved one
• Conserves natural resources
• Limits carbon emissions
• Protects workers’ health
• Promotes the restoration or preservation of habitat

The hallmark of Green Burials include using

• No toxic chemicals
• Biodegradable caskets and shrouds
• Minimizing the use of fossil fuels for burial

Our Green Burial Options

Evergreen Burial Option - $2,375.00

Includes

• Immediate burial without services or visitation
• Family or representative required to be present for burial
• Proportionate amount of our overhead costs and services of funeral director and staff
• Initial local transfer of loved one from place of death to funeral home
• Sanitary care of deceased including shrouding and casketing
• Up to 3 days of refrigeration
• Identification viewing by immediate family. Limited to 30 minutes during normal business hours
• Preparation and placement of newspaper notices
• Assistance with Social Security, Veterans Administration and/or other claim notifications
• Local transfer of loved one to final resting place
• Cost of approved Green Burial container and cash disbursements NOT included

Oak Burial Option - $4,216.00

Includes

• Service at site of final resting place (Graveside)
• Proportionate amount of our overhead costs and services of funeral director and staff
• Initial local transfer of loved one from place of death to funeral home
• Sanitary care of deceased including shrouding and casketing
• Up to 3 days of refrigeration
• Identification viewing by immediate family. Limited to 30 minutes during normal business hours
• Preparation and placement of newspaper notices
• Assistance with Social Security, Veterans Administration and/or other claim notifications
• Personalized guest book and 12 keepsake obituary bookmarks
• Local transfer of loved one to final resting place
• Cost of approved Green Burial container and cash disbursements NOT included

Maple Burial Option - $4,731.00

Includes

• Public or private gathering in our funeral home or other location
• Proportionate amount of our overhead costs and services of funeral director and staff
• Initial local transfer of loved one from place of death to funeral home
• Sanitary care of deceased including shrouding and casketing
• Up to 3 days of refrigeration
• 1 hour of visitation prior to service (includes identification viewing by immediate family)
• Preparation and placement of newspaper notices
• Assistance with Social Security, Veterans Administration and/or other claim notifications
• Personalized memorial package including guest book, 100 prayer cards or memorial folders, 1 box of thank-you notes and 12 laminated keepsake bookmarks
• Local transfer of loved one to final resting place
• Cost of approved Green Burial container and cash disbursements NOT included

Additional services or items may be desired to meet the needs of your family – please refer to our General Price List for options

Green Burial Containers

All are unfinished and natural to meet Green Burial Standards

Trundle with Shroud - $658.00

Eco Box with Rope Handles - Unlined - $840.00

Green Fields with Rope Handles - Muslin Lined - $1290.00

Shem with Wood Bar/Block Handles – Crepe Lined - $1890.00

Where to Have a Green Burial

Cemetery Types

Hybrid: A designated natural burial area in addition to an existing conventional cemetery and/or natural burial is allowed within an existing cemetery.

Natural Burial Ground: A designated natural burial ground.

Conservation: A natural burial area in conserved or protected land.

(Please note these definitions share the same nomenclature but are slightly different from those used by the Green Burial Council, those definitions are a ranked classification system and we will note them when appropriate.)

Southeast Vermont

Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery (Hybrid)

West Brattleboro

430 Orchard Street

Brattleboro, VT 05301

https://www.meetinghousecemetery.org

Contact: Jane Sherwin

janiesherwin@hotmail.com

(802) 380-5559

Northwest Vermont

Hazen Westview Cemetery (Hybrid)

474 West Shore Road

North Hero, VT 05474

Contact: Tracy Giroux

Tragiro60@gmail.com

(802) 372-5544

Central Vermont

Robinson Cemetery (Hybrid)

Town of Calais

Contact: Jennifer Whitman, Sexton

calaiscemetery@gmail.com

Green Mount Cemetery (Hybrid)

Montpelier, Vermont

Contact: Pat Healy, Cemetery Manager

cemetery@montpelier-vt.org

(802) 223-5352