Couple Creates Their Own Natural Burial Vessels in North Carolina

Jack Webb at Moss and Thistle Farm, with his handmade willow casket

Conventional caskets made of wood, metal or fiberglass, but opportunities for natural or “green” burials have been growing in popularity in recent years.

Jack Webb and his partner Nancy Allen, however, participated in a beautiful experience that takes that concept even further. The couple spent a blissful week together on a sustainable farm near Asheville, North Carolina, hand-weaving their own burial vessels with locally-grown willow. Jack described the experience as spiritual, and added: “I would say it’s the most joyous time that Nancy and I ever spent together.”

Moss and Thistle Farm is run by Sarah Lasswell, a casket-maker, artist and farmer. The farm specializes in crafting sustainable and biodegradable caskets, and upholds environment and human-friendly growing and harvesting practices.

Sarah Lasswell working with Jack and Nancy on a natural casket

In 2022, Sarah hosted Jack, Nancy and their dog Pal for several hours a day over the course of a week for this experience. She harvested the willow, which was a vibrant shade of red and gold that year, and then taught Jack and Nancy how to weave it to create their gorgeous burial vessels. Jack made a casket, which he currently uses as a blanket holder in their home, and Nancy crafted her urn basket. They also made a small casket for Pal, the dog.

Jack recalled the days as extremely special to him; not only were they weaving their burial vessels, but every day they connected with one another, chatted with Sarah, and watched as Pal played and became best friends with Sarah’s dog Strider. They ate freshly baked bread and other treats prepared on the farm, and relished being surrounded by flowers, crops, livestock, and the larger environment of the Appalachian Mountains. Jack said that neither he nor Nancy have any fear of death, which helped them immerse themselves fully in the joy of that week. 

Nancy, with her handmade urn basket, Jack and Sarah

Jack and Pal, the dog

Strider (left) and Pal (right) became best friends at Moss and Thistle Farm.

In December of 2022, Pal died, fairly shortly after Jack and Nancy’s experience at Moss and Thistle Farm. They were ready, and before burying him, Jack put Pal in his handmade, willow casket, and delivered a heartwarming eulogy about the dog, whom he described as “showing love and gentleness to all beings.” It was a full circle moment; one where Jack and Nancy felt pure gratitude as they reflected on their “experience of a lifetime,” being able to weave their natural burial vessels alongside their beloved dog, in an idyllic local setting.

Jack also shared details about Pal’s burial as well as his and Nancy’s plans for their own future burials. We will be sharing that story with our readers more in-depth next month.