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    • Morgan Oaks Green Burial
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      • Cremation Ceremony
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Green Burial Blog

help us spread the word about green burial so we all share in protecting our environment.

How You Can Truly Have a Positive Impact on the Environment

6/25/2021

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People are becoming more and more aware of the dangers of climate change. Depending on where you live, you may have experienced the changes first-hand, such as record setting temperatures in Arizona, extreme wildfires and drought in California and the west, and an increasing number of hurricanes in the southeast. Even though people’s awareness is growing, it still feels like anything we try to do has such a small impact that we wonder if it’s even worth it.
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Here are some things you can do to have an impact on the health of our environment:
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Eat Less Meat
You don’t need to become a complete vegetarian in order to feel good about helping the environment. A significant portion of the earth’s surface is used to raise livestock, and the livestock farming industry is the number one agricultural source of greenhouse gases worldwide, according to an article by UC Davis. When enough people reduce their meat consumption, it can put pressure on the farming industry to change their ways.
Take Action
If you’re passionate about making a difference, get in touch with your local and state officials. Let them know that their community is expecting them to take action on climate change. Make suggestions like implementing a plastic bag ban, or to increase awareness of local farmer’s markets so people can buy locally, or ask them to install more public water fountains so that people can use reusable water bottles instead of relying on plastic water bottles. The more that local government is involved, the higher chance of changes being implemented.
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Skip Buying New
Whether it’s clothing, a car, the new cell phone, household items and furniture – by reusing items, giving them a professional cleaning, or simply being OK with visiting the local thrift store and not having the newest phone, fewer resources are being used to make new items. The textile industry is another significant contributor to climate change: according to the United Nations Environment Programme, it takes 3,781 litres (around 1,000 gallons) of water to make one pair of jeans, which is roughly the same as watching 246 hours of TV on a big screen. Reusing items, borrowing instead of buying, or buying used can make a huge difference.
Learn About Green Burials
This may not be something that you can do right now, but educating yourself and others is essential. The burial industry is yet another contributing factor to climate change. Caskets, burial vaults, embalming fluids, the use of land for cemeteries, maintaining the land, and more, all go into a traditional burial. While cremation is a much better alternative, there are still emissions being produced in the process. With a green, or natural burial, the only things that are used are a biodegradable cloth to wrap the body, and a small piece of naturally preserved land. The body is simply placed in the ground without the use of chemicals or processed materials.
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Visit EverAfterly to Learn More About Green Burials
Located in California, EverAfterly offers green burial plots around the country. The land is preserved through natural land management techniques, ensuring that there is as little impact on our environment as possible. We truly hope that you won’t be needing our services any time soon, but we want the world to know that they can leave a lasting positive impact on the environment by essentially taking as little action as possible! By avoiding the use of embalming fluids and processed materials for the casket and other burial materials, you are contributing to a healthier future for our planet. 
Learn more about our Morgan Oak Eternal Preserve, and contact the EverAfterly team if you have any questions.
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Environmental Costs of Cemeteries

6/9/2021

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​A vast majority of people are buried in a traditional cemetery when they die. In every town across the country, there are both small and large plots of land that are dedicated to this very purpose. While not every cemetery is maintained as well as others, the cost of maintenance can be significant, both in terms of finances and environmental; there are various other costs associated with cemeteries as well. 

As the nation’s population grows, and as more and more land is needed to build homes and house the population, can we reasonably expect to continue burying people in the ground?

What Are the Costs of a Traditional Burial?

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The Casket and Related Materials
The cost of a casket can range considerably depending on the material and other features. For a casket on the economical side, typically made of pine, while still providing a quality appearance, the cost could range from $500 to $1,000. On the high-end side, a casket could cost upwards of $6,000 to $7,000 or more.
 

There are also environmental costs of the casket, which include using trees for wood, metal for hinges and other fasteners, and various natural and processed materials for the cushions and lining inside the casket. 

In addition, though not every cemetery requires it, there is also the burial vault. This is a cement or sometimes steel enclosure that holds the casket, protecting it from the elements as well as helping to prevent the soil surrounding the burial plot from sinking. The cement industry is a leading producer of carbon dioxide. ​
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According to an article in the Berkeley Planning Journal, the United States uses 30 million board feet of wood (each board foot is 12 inches by 12 inches by 1 inch), more than 104,000 tons of steel, 1.6 million tons of concrete, and 800,000 gallons of embalming fluid.
The Cemetery
The cemetery grounds themselves need to be maintained, such as the grass, headstones, trees, and flowers. This costs the town or city money to hire the maintenance company, as well as resources, including water and the means to bring in the water. In many cases, fertilizers are used to maintain the appearance of the grass, which can be harmful to groundwater, nearby animals, and potentially to pets or people walking through the area. 
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Preparing the Body
Embalming fluids are used to preserve the body until the time of burial, and they contain a mixture of chemicals including formaldehyde, methanol, and others. The general rule is that a body needs one gallon of fluid per 50 pounds of body weight. These toxins can leach into the ground and air, affecting groundwater and anyone who comes in contact with the fluid.
Now, Imagine Being Buried Naturally
No chemicals being put into your body, no expensive wooden or steel caskets, no one maintaining the plot with fertilizers, far fewer resources being used – simply returning your body back to the earth. It sounds refreshing!
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Choose a Green Burial For Your Final Resting
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EverAfterly, based out of California, offers green burial plots around the country. A body is simply wrapped in a cotton shroud and placed directly into the ground. The grounds are preserved through natural land management techniques, allowing native plants and animals to truly thrive. Our green burials are a cost-effective, sustainable way to be buried, preventing harmful effects on our environment. 

Learn more about our natural burial sites, including Morgan Oaks Eternal Preserve, and contact the EverAfterly team to learn more about what we do.


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6558 Lonetree Blvd
​Rocklin, CA 95765
916.625.3800
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