Q. What is Natural Burial?
A. Natural burial is simple burial. A natural, unembalmed body
is placed in a biodegradable burial container and is buried
directly in the earth.
Q. Why Natural Burial?
A. Natural Burial offers an alternative for those people who
desire to make a small environmental impact upon the earth at
their death. They want to return to earth and rejoin the cycle of
life and death. They want few natural resources used in the
disposition of their physical remains. For many thousands of
years in human history this is the way burial was done. After
death care was done in home by friends and family. This is how
most of the world buries their loved ones today.
Q. What about monumentation/markers? Will this grave
be able to found in the future?
A. Markers are usually something simple and with minimal
impact on the environment. It may be a simple stone of the
type native to this ecosystem and may or may not be
engraved. Some may choose to plant a native tree, bush or
flower. There is a lot discussion in the natural burial community
about monumentation and the general view is that most people
want some type of marker with the personal information of the
family member. It is required by law that each grave is marked
and recorded so that is can be found in the future.
Q. Is natural burial legal? Is embalming required by law
and must a burial vault be used?
A. Yes natural burial is legal. No state or federal laws require
vaults or embalming in most cases. There are toxins that are
used in the manufacture of caskets and vaults. These will be
released into the environment when buried. Conventional
cemeteries can require that a vault must be used because it
makes maintenance of the grounds easier. Funeral Homes
often "require" embalming if there is going to be a public
viewing. A Natural Burial Cemetery does not allow embalming
or the use of a burial vault or a grave liner.
Q. What is the burial depth of the graves?
A. While "six feet under" is a common expression, most graves
in Georgia and elsewhere are dug 42" to 48" deep unless
multiple burials are to be done in the same grave. We will
abide by this standard. Graves will be 42" to 48", with
additional soil mounded (2 ft or more) on the top to allow for
settling.
Q. Will a wild animal dig up the remains?
A. An animal digging up remains is a myth. It has not happened
at other natural cemeteries in the United States or in more than
200 natural cemeteries that are in operation in England.
Q. What is the risk of an unembalmed body to the public
or the risk to the environment?
A. “There is no reason that an unembalmed dead human body
should be infectious to anyone attending visitation or public
services. Persons transporting and handling bodies or cutting
into them may be vulnerable in rare instances, with little or no
risk if proper precautions are taken. To refuse to present a
body unembalmed because of public health risk is unfounded.
On rare occasions of certain deaths resulting from contagious
disease, our office may encourage placing a face mask on the
decedent before and during transportation and containment,
and disposing without embalming or viewing. In the event,
however, it becomes necessary to hold a body for an extended
period of time before public services can be held, arterial
embalming is recommended. Riding on an airplane or a bus
may be a public health risk; the presence of an unembalmed
body is not.”
Mortuary Management magazine, October,
2006.
Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, M.D.
For additional information about the risks of bodies to the public
or to the environment, please visit the following link:
Infectious disease risks from dead bodies following natural
disasters
http://journal.paho.org/index.php?a_ID=441
Q. Is Summerland Natural Cemetery affiliated with a faith
community?
A. No. Summerland Natural Cemetery is for all people. We
welcome people of all faiths.
Q. How many people will be buried at Summerland?
A. Our plan is for a total of 750 burials on a ten acre section of
the property. At an average density of 75 burials per acre, we
will be among the lowest density cemeteries in the country. We
will also have an area for cremation ashes.
A. Natural burial is simple burial. A natural, unembalmed body
is placed in a biodegradable burial container and is buried
directly in the earth.
Q. Why Natural Burial?
A. Natural Burial offers an alternative for those people who
desire to make a small environmental impact upon the earth at
their death. They want to return to earth and rejoin the cycle of
life and death. They want few natural resources used in the
disposition of their physical remains. For many thousands of
years in human history this is the way burial was done. After
death care was done in home by friends and family. This is how
most of the world buries their loved ones today.
Q. What about monumentation/markers? Will this grave
be able to found in the future?
A. Markers are usually something simple and with minimal
impact on the environment. It may be a simple stone of the
type native to this ecosystem and may or may not be
engraved. Some may choose to plant a native tree, bush or
flower. There is a lot discussion in the natural burial community
about monumentation and the general view is that most people
want some type of marker with the personal information of the
family member. It is required by law that each grave is marked
and recorded so that is can be found in the future.
Q. Is natural burial legal? Is embalming required by law
and must a burial vault be used?
A. Yes natural burial is legal. No state or federal laws require
vaults or embalming in most cases. There are toxins that are
used in the manufacture of caskets and vaults. These will be
released into the environment when buried. Conventional
cemeteries can require that a vault must be used because it
makes maintenance of the grounds easier. Funeral Homes
often "require" embalming if there is going to be a public
viewing. A Natural Burial Cemetery does not allow embalming
or the use of a burial vault or a grave liner.
Q. What is the burial depth of the graves?
A. While "six feet under" is a common expression, most graves
in Georgia and elsewhere are dug 42" to 48" deep unless
multiple burials are to be done in the same grave. We will
abide by this standard. Graves will be 42" to 48", with
additional soil mounded (2 ft or more) on the top to allow for
settling.
Q. Will a wild animal dig up the remains?
A. An animal digging up remains is a myth. It has not happened
at other natural cemeteries in the United States or in more than
200 natural cemeteries that are in operation in England.
Q. What is the risk of an unembalmed body to the public
or the risk to the environment?
A. “There is no reason that an unembalmed dead human body
should be infectious to anyone attending visitation or public
services. Persons transporting and handling bodies or cutting
into them may be vulnerable in rare instances, with little or no
risk if proper precautions are taken. To refuse to present a
body unembalmed because of public health risk is unfounded.
On rare occasions of certain deaths resulting from contagious
disease, our office may encourage placing a face mask on the
decedent before and during transportation and containment,
and disposing without embalming or viewing. In the event,
however, it becomes necessary to hold a body for an extended
period of time before public services can be held, arterial
embalming is recommended. Riding on an airplane or a bus
may be a public health risk; the presence of an unembalmed
body is not.”
Mortuary Management magazine, October,
2006.
Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, M.D.
For additional information about the risks of bodies to the public
or to the environment, please visit the following link:
Infectious disease risks from dead bodies following natural
disasters
http://journal.paho.org/index.php?a_ID=441
Q. Is Summerland Natural Cemetery affiliated with a faith
community?
A. No. Summerland Natural Cemetery is for all people. We
welcome people of all faiths.
Q. How many people will be buried at Summerland?
A. Our plan is for a total of 750 burials on a ten acre section of
the property. At an average density of 75 burials per acre, we
will be among the lowest density cemeteries in the country. We
will also have an area for cremation ashes.
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