Tag Archives: Green Burial

Cremation Rates Exploding In The United States

More Americans are choosing cremation over burial for its environmental and economic benefits

In 1960, about 3.6 percent of the population opted for cremation. However, that number has risen steadily ever since. The Cremation Association of North America reports that in 2014, the national cremation rate reached 46.7 percent. That’s an astounding 1211.80 percent … Continue reading

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What is an Undertaker? An Interview with Patrick McNally, Part One

A funeral director gives his unique perspective on end-of-life rituals

Today, SevenPonds is speaking with Patrick McNally, the outspoken and creative  funeral director behind the blog The Daily Undertaker, which explores ritual and art surrounding death and dying. In this first installment of our interview, Patrick reveals his honest insight into the funeral … Continue reading

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A New Concept in Green Burials

A Brooklyn, New York company is developing a "mushroom suit" to be worn after death

A New York-based company, Coeio, is experimenting with a new concept in green burials — mushrooms — or more specifically, a “mushroom suit.” According to company cofounders Jae Rhim Lee and Michael Ma, the suit and other burial products Coeio … Continue reading

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What American Indian Burial Rituals Can Teach Us

Green burial is all the rage today, but many Native American tribes continue to practice it as they have for thousands of years

In these days of increasing eco-conscious, less-is-more aestheticism, many of those preparing for an end-of-life are beginning to question the need for elaborate caskets, garish flower displays and environmentally unsound cemeteries. Home funerals too, that is, the family keeping, cleaning … Continue reading

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Growing Wild: The Path to Natural Burial

Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park allows the dead to become one with the forest

In Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park, of Cedar Creek, Texas, there are no headstones or mausoleums. GPS coordinates mark the plots and there are detailed paper maps, but the monuments that display gravesites in conventional cemeteries do not exist at … Continue reading

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Why Do Burial Shrouds Play Such an Important Role in Green Burials? An Interview with Kate Hoover, Part Two

Kate shares stories and tips about burial shrouds and how those interested can utilize them

Today SevenPonds speaks with Kate Hoover, the founder of Vale Shrouds. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Kate studied sociology at Barnard College and fashion design at Parsons School of Design. She has worked in the garment and publishing industries in various design … Continue reading

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