Natural Burial – Earth truly to Earth

I was talking to someone who had just organised a natural burial. I had heard about the term but didn’t really know much about the process – but what a wonderful concept. For regular readers you will know I want to donate my body to medical science…I want to help others in death but if I was going to be buried then this would be a choice I would think about.

“A natural burial allows you to use your funeral as a conservation tool to create, restore and protect urban green spaces.” as defined by The Centre for Natural Burial.

The site has many details but I especially liked this idea

“Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers on or near the grave establishes a living memorial and helps form a protected wildlife preserve. A completed natural burial preserve is a green place with trees, grasses, and wildflowers, which in turn bring birds and other wildlife to the area.”

I would love the idea that people could walk in a peaceful area and feel that they are both close to me and close to nature. I was born in the countryside and it would almost literally be returning to my roots.

But for me…I still think that I would prefer to reach out and help others. For me, if I could help just one person from suffering or grief by people using my body for ’spare parts’ or by research then I would feel that my death was not in vain.

Funny, before my loss I never thought about my death..now I do because I realise it can happen so quickly and without warning. But one thing is for sure, I do hope that my plans do not have to enacted for a fair number of years yet

(Photo from Natural Burial)