What Is a Green Burial and Why Might It Matter to You?
When you imagine your legacy, you might think of a peaceful ceremony, a favorite song playing, or loved ones gathered in a cherished place. But one question many of us haven’t considered is this: How do we want our bodies to return to the earth? For a growing number of people, the answer lies in green burial—a gentle, environmentally conscious alternative to traditional funeral practices.
🌿 What Is a Green Burial?
Also called natural burial, a green burial returns the body to the earth in the simplest way possible. There’s no embalming, no metal caskets, and no concrete vaults. Instead, the body is typically wrapped in a biodegradable shroud or placed in a simple pine box, wicker casket, or woven basket, then buried directly into the ground, allowing natural decomposition to occur.
Green burials focus on:
No toxic embalming fluids
Biodegradable containers made of bamboo, willow, seagrass, or cardboard
Natural grave markers like native plants or simple stones
Family-led or community-centered care
Minimal machinery or artificial preservation
This approach honors the natural cycle of life and death while minimizing harm to the planet. It’s about simplicity, sustainability, and spiritual or ecological connection.
Why Might It Matter?
🌱 It’s Kinder to the Planet
Each year, conventional burials in the U.S. use:
800,000 gallons of embalming fluid
30 million board feet of hardwood
1.6 million tons of concrete
Green burial avoids these materials and reduces carbon emissions, energy use, and pollution.
🌸 It Honors Your Values
Whether your beliefs are spiritual, ecological, or both, green burial reflects a desire to return naturally to the earth and live—and die—with a lighter footprint.
💰 It’s Often More Affordable
Without ornate caskets, vaults, or chemical processes, green burials are typically thousands of dollars less than conventional funerals. Simpler doesn’t mean less meaningful, it often means more personal.
📍 Green Burial in New Mexico
New Mexico’s open skies and reverence for nature make it an ideal place for eco-conscious end-of-life choices. The state does not require embalming, and families have the legal right to care for their own dead, with or without the support of a funeral home.
🌿 Green Burial Providers
Natural Burial New Mexico
Near Albuquerque (serves statewide)
New Mexico’s only Green Burial Council–certified cemetery
Burial plots from $950 + tax (as of 2025)
Offers bamboo, willow, and seagrass caskets
GPS-marked graves and native plant markers
La Puerta Natural Burial Groun
Near Belen, NM
A conservation cemetery focused on ecological restoration
Community-centered and spiritually meaningful practices
Part of Natural Burial New Mexico
Earth Funeral
Online, serves New Mexico
Converts the body into nutrient-rich soil in 45 days
Families may keep or donate the soil for land restoration
Fully carbon-neutral
Legacy Cremation Services
Silver City, NM
Offers biodegradable containers, non-embalmed burials, and recycled printed materials
Not certified, but green-friendly
Compassion Mortuary
Grants, NM
Offers traditional services, may support custom eco-conscious options
Search online or contact directly for green planning
Local Funeral Homes in Silver City & Grant County
Some local providers may not advertise green options but are open to custom arrangements. Ask about:
Avoiding embalming
Using biodegradable containers
Home funeral support
Memorials that give back to nature (like planting a tree or pollinator garden)
💬 Personal Reflections & Community Values
Green funerals aren’t just about environmental responsibility, they’re about presence, care, and participation. When families gather to honor a life with a natural burial or home vigil, something sacred unfolds. The rituals become more connected, more intimate, and—ironically—more alive.
In a place like Silver City, where community matters and the natural world is never far from view, green burial practices resonate deeply. They reflect a way of saying goodbye that is gentle, conscious, and connected to the land we love.
🧭 Getting Started
If you’re curious about green burial, here are a few steps to begin:
Visit the Green Burial Council for certification standards and resources
Talk to local funeral homes and ask about natural or eco-conscious options
Reach out to statewide services like Natural Burial New Mexico or Earth Funeral
Ask about native plants, conservation efforts, and community involvement
🌄 A Final Word: An Earth-Honoring Farewell
Choosing a green funeral is deeply personal. For some, it’s about love for the earth. For others, it’s a spiritual return to natural rhythms. And for many, it’s a way to ensure that their final act aligns with how they lived—with care, simplicity, and meaning.
Whether you’re planning ahead, supporting a loved one, or simply exploring what feels right, I’d be honored to accompany you on that journey. Green burial isn’t just a sustainable option, it’s a compassionate one.
