Choose a Woodland Burial Site For Your Final Resting Place

Planning for your own passing can be an overwhelming and emotional process, but there is a lot of peace that can come from knowing that your wishes are being upheld, whether it’s what happens to your estate or the type of burial that you wish to receive. Even though traditional burials are still very common, more and more people are choosing to be cremated. But with cremation, there is still the decision surrounding what will be done with your remains. 

​At EverAfterly, we offer a green burial service, where your body will be placed in the ground, in land that is preserved and kept natural in order to protect the environment for future generations. If you wish to be cremated and are making plans, or if you’re planning an ashes scattering or burial ceremony for a loved one who passed, the team at EverAfterly can help. We are committed to helping preserve our land and the environment by using green burial methods.
What is a Green Burial?

Rather than being laid in a coffin which is then put in the ground, a green burial is when your body is wrapped in a biodegradable coffin or a cloth shroud and is placed in the ground. If your body is cremated, the ashes can be placed in a biodegradable urn or they can be scattered, letting the wind take them to your final resting place. There are many benefits of green burials and cremation over traditional burials, such as helping to preserve nature, it’s a more sustainable option, and it’s more environmentally friendly. 

​However, there are a few factors that can worry people who are considering cremation, such as being unsure or nervous about the cremation process; when the remains are scattered, there won’t be a specific place for loved ones to visit; and it can be hard to visualize what a cremation ceremony is or what things should be included. At EverAfterly, we can help answer some of these questions and offer some ideas and advice to help you make a decision that fits your needs and wishes.
Protect the Earth For Future Generations
Choose Your Final Resting Place With EverAfterly
What is The Cremation Process?
Being buried in a casket is what we consider a traditional burial, but this practice is relatively new. The practice of using embalming fluids was developed during the Civil War when it was necessary to transport the bodies lost during war. Before this time, bodies were simply buried in the ground without chemicals. 

Cremation has been around for thousands of years and is becoming a more popular method of burial due to it often being less expensive as well as more environmentally friendly. But what is the cremation process? 

​A crematory uses a special type of furnace, known as a retort. When a deceased body is being cremated, it is placed in a container made of wood or a stiff cardboard. It is then placed in the furnace that is fueled typically by natural gas and which reaches between 1400 to 2000 ℉. The heat reduces the body to its basic elements, mostly bone fragments. The process takes between one and three hours. After the cremation has been completed, a magnet will be used to pull out any remaining pieces of metal left behind. The process produces between three and seven pounds of remains, or ashes, which are then placed in an urn.

What to Include in a Scattering Ashes Ceremony

When planning an ash scattering ceremony, it can be very similar to a traditional burial service; it can be customized to fit your religious beliefs and to fit your specific wishes. ​
Here are a few things to consider when planning your ceremony.

​Choose the Type of Service
There are many different types of ceremonies, or things you can do with your remains, or those of a loved one.

Cremation Scattering
A popular option is to simply pour the ashes from the urn or several people can take a handful of ashes and release them into the air.
Cremation Trenching 
This is where a small hole or trench is dug into the ground and the ashes are poured into the hole. At the end of the ceremony, the hole is filled in with earth.
Cremation Burial 
When the ashes are held in a biodegradable urn, it can be buried in the ground, with little disruption to the earth or the surrounding environment.
The Officiant
There is typically someone chosen to lead the ceremony; and while it is traditionally a member of the church, it can be whoever you wish. They will be there to help organize the ceremony, they may give a speech, introduce other speakers, and make announcements.

​What to Say When Scattering Ashes
Whether you want specific things said at your own service, or if you’re speaking at a service for a loved one who has passed, knowing what to say during a funeral service of any type can be one of the most challenging parts and is a very personal decision. Spend some time putting together notes, thoughts, memories, or stories that will portray who you are or the person you knew and loved. 

Oftentimes someone speaking will start with a brief history of the deceased, such as when they were born, information about their family, and what they did. But what is said during a burial ceremony should also be personal, it can include information about hobbies, interests, and passions; and it can give people an opportunity to reflect about what the person meant to them or how they impacted their lives. 

When you’re actually scattering the ashes or placing the urn in its final resting place, many people choose to read a poem, play a song, or the time can simply be used to give people time to reflect on their relationship with the deceased. Some popular poems and words for scattering ashes include: 
  • Ashes to Ashes: Inspired by verses from the Bible, the “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” text was written in the Book of Common Prayer, which was printed in 1662.
  • "Farewell" by Anne Brontë: Farewell to thee! But not farewell.
  • "A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time." 
  • "She's in the Sun, the Wind, the Rain" by Christy Ann Martine: "You'll see her in the clouds above, hear her whispered words of love. You'll be together before long. Until then, listen for her song.”
  • "Irish Blessing" by unknown: "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.”
Protect the Earth For Future Generations
Choose Your Final Resting Place With EverAfterly
About EverAfertly’s Green Burial Plots
EverAfterly has access to land located in California that is beautifully and naturally preserved through conservation-minded land management techniques. This ensures that the land is preserved in perpetuity. The wooded burial plots and open spaces can be used for both green burials as well as ash scattering ceremonies and the interment of ashes that are held in biodegradable urns. Family members can still have a place to visit to remember you and to pay their respects, while also helping to protect the natural environment. 

​If you’re considering being cremated, if you’re planning the details of your burial in advance, or if you’re planning a ceremony for a loved one who has passed, the EverAfterly team will ensure that the burial ceremony is natural and beautiful. If you have any questions about our green burial plots or how to scatter ashes through EverAfterly, you can visit our green burial FAQ page, or don’t hesitate to reach out to us.