What is Natural Burial? An Interview with Ed Bixby, Part Two

Today SevenPonds continues our two-part interview (read part one here) with Ed Bixby, owner and operator since 2007 of Steelmantown Cemetery Green Burial Preserve in New Jersey. He is also the Vice-President of Green Burial Council International. Steelmantown Cemetery Green Burial Preserve is the only cemetery in the State of New Jersey certified and approved by the Green Burial Council as a Level 3 Natural Burial Ground. In the final half of his two-part interview, Ed discusses the cost differences of a natural burial from a traditional one, a story of one the families he helped, the laws surrounding natural burial and where one can find natural burial resources.

Credit: Ed Bixby

Zoë: What are some of the cost differences between a traditional and a natural burial?

Ed: Natural burials are much more cost-efficient. A natural burial is more service-oriented than product-oriented. In my cemetery, a single plot in the historic section costs $1,500 and a double plot in the woodland area costs $3,000. If you choose to be shrouded, the cost is pretty inexpensive—around $100 to $500. The low cost is the same with biodegradable caskets, which are around $200-$1,600. Here in New Jersey, funeral directors charge around $1,500. Their three main tasks are to wash, dress and transport the bodies. If you were to buy a plot and service in my place, the total would be $2,500 to $3,000 at most. The typical traditional New Jersey/New York funeral costs $9,000 total. I’ve never had problems with the families I’ve worked with because they really want it. It’s pretty significant savings.

A shrouded body on the wagon at Steelmantown Cemetery
(credit: Ed Bixby)

Zoë: Do you have any stories of people’s experiences with natural burial that you would be willing to share?

Ed: There are so many stories. My cemetery is about a two-hour drive from New York. 90% of people come from NYC. I have had funerals for people from California who were originally from the East Coast. We had a married couple—two men. One of them contracted cancer. They had lived in San Francisco and had moved to Delaware. The man with cancer, who passed away, was a Latino man in his forties and had been in the military. About 15 family members came out for the service. The gravediggers invited them to participate because they saw that everyone was pretty broken up. As part of the Latino culture, some of this man’s brothers didn’t embrace his lifestyle. I went over to one of the brothers and told him he should participate. I gave this macho man who loved his brother and lost a lot of time, for what I believe are silly beliefs, a push to do something because I saw a lifetime of regret on his face. He didn’t say anything and started participating by helping with the burial. He later thanked me for the push. It’s a hell of a place to heal wounds and to get to the point. At my cemetery, it can be done. The ability to fully participate brings people together for the right reasons, which one might not be able to do in a sterile environment like traditional funerals.

The natural beauty of Steelmantown Cemetery
(credit: Ed Bixby)

Zoë: What are the laws in regards to natural burial today?

Ed: Not a single state doesn’t allow it. Not many states regulate it. Only 10 states have regulations about it. There are not many rules or regulations against it. It’s really up to funeral directors and conventional cemeteries.

Zoë: How can people find out about natural burial resources for where they live?

Ed: I would recommend they visit the Green Burial Council’s website. The Green Burial Council is the torchbearer of the people behind this movement. If providers meet the requirements to be certified by the Green Burial Council, it means a lifetime commitment. They are a nonprofit. I warn people, “You should really do your research,” because consumers themselves should be concerned. Joe Shee, the founder of Green Burial Council, met a lot of resistance when he started it. People don’t like change. Now it’s very different. Personally, I’ve never had problems with funeral directors not respecting my work. In 2015, people are seeing natural burial as a viable option that’s not going away just like cremation is here to stay. The funeral industry is finally recognizing us. Every cemetery should consider doing this because you’re really doing a service to the community.

Zoë: Thank you for speaking with us!

Ed: No problem. I appreciate it.