As we become more conscious of human impact on the planet, we continue to discover new ways to reduce, recycle and reuse. Yet we avoid thinking and planning for environmentally responsible disposition of our bodies. Our culture combines our fear of death with our belief that how much we spend signifies how much we love, resulting in expensive funeral decisions often made under duress. If you have lived a life of growing and consuming organic foods, reducing your energy consumption, thoughtfully disposing of waste, and practicing good stewardship, you may wish to consider an organic return to the earth.

Each year, in 22,500 cemeteries in the US, we bury:
• 827,060 gallons of embalming fluid, which includes formaldehyde
• 30 million board feet of hardwoods, including rainforest woods
• 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete
• 17,000 tons of copper & bronze
• 90,000 tons of steel

Cremation, the rising alternative, has environmental drawbacks:
• uses fossil fuels to reach and maintain 1800°F for 2 hrs, equal to a 4,800 mile car ride
• spews mercury and other elements into the atmosphere
• NH is ranked 5th in the nation - 55% of all dispositions in NH are by cremation
• 338 tons of American cremains are scattered worldwide annually
• Eternal Reefs provides opportunity to offset by supporting concrete reef creation with cremains

Green burial preserves and hybrid traditional cemeteries:
• reduce carbon footprint and contribute to the natural eco-cycle
• occupy lands with intrinsic ecological quality and meaningful social value
• are managed as municipal cemeteries, land trusts, conservation lands, and recreational preserves in perpetuity
• use biodegradable caskets, shrouds, urns, often made with local resources by local craftspeople
• allow no embalming fluids, vaults, herbicides or pesticides
• mark locations by GPS unit and native fireld stone markers

To learn more about creating green burial space in New Hampshire, or to plan a free 30 minute presentation to your civic group, community, school or church organization, call or write: Turning Leaf Home Funerals LLC, 10 Jacques Drive, Plymouth NH 03264, 603.236.9495, www.turningleafhomefunerals.com turningleafhomefunerals@gmail.com