Shaina Garfield's design - "Composed of a netting that wraps around the deceased, LEAVES works to make the burial process a much greener ritual. The design uses rope which has been treated with a dye and embedded with spores, encouraging fungus growth that speeds up decomposition and eats any toxins in the body. A tree is then planted on the burial site, making the most of this nutrient rich soil. Instead of cemeteries, Shaina imagines luscious areas where nature is representative of the greater purpose our bodies can have."
 Picture

​  









​Ecological burials are becoming more common as folks become aware of the environmental costs of cremations (emissions of toxins and fuel). And of course, the standard burial options can be hugely expensive both financially (Though many states allow cardboard boxes) and ecologically - all to keep out bodies from going back to the earth. 

Green Burials involve use of biodegradable materials:  woven plant material, cardboard, handmade wooden caskets, even just shrouds without caskets. Certainly no embalming fluids or metal containers.  Some places are stricter than others regarding details such as nails, types of fabric and the like. 

Check Out:
Green Burials Portland on Facebook - This is a great resource for keeping up with this fast growing trend. 

Green Burial Guidebook: Everything You Need to Plan an Affordable, Environmentally Friendly Burial - Elizabeth Fournier. She is the owner and operator of Cornerstone Funeral Services in Boring, Oregon, the first green funeral home in the Portland metropolitan area. She works as a green mortician and eco-educator, and is affectionately known as the Green Reaper because of her passion of home funerals and natural burials.   Short Intro UTube, Longer UTube interview.

Mushroom Burial Suit Turns Dead Bodies into Clean Compost - in Grist by Katie Herzog
* We've checked and green burial is legal in the Nehalem Cemetery on Necarney City Road.
* It is also legal in Oregon and in Tillamook County to bury a person on private land.    
Picture
Places in Oregon for Green Burials
​
ESTACADA CEMETERY 
P.O. Box 1390 
​Estacada, OR 97023 
503-730-0142

EUGENE MASONIC CEMETERY
P.O. Box 5934 
Eugene, OR 97405 
541-684-0949
Contact: Mary Ellen Rodgers
 
MT. CALVARY CEMETERY 
333 Sw Skyline Blvd 
Portland, OR 97221 
503-292-6621

OAK HILL CEMETERY
P.O. Box 2026 
Eugene, OR 97402 
541-689-7800  

RIVERVIEW CEMETERY
8421 S.W. Mac Adam Ave 
Portland, OR 97219 
Contact: David Noble 

SUNSET HILLS CEMETERY
4810 Williamette ST. 
Eugene, OR 97405 
541-342-6853

Needs SW Washington places
​​* For Information about more standard funeral options: 
Funeral Homes. Com *