Most of us are taught, when death occurs, to let the professionals step in to neatly, quietly handle our dead. Numb and exhausted in grief’s wake, it’s typical to make the simplest, most expedient choices and move methodically through “requisite” steps. But mainstream American death-culture expectations starve us of grief’s richness and fullness while simultaneously toxifying the earth and exacerbating global warming. And, the cost can be cripplingly high.
In recent years, a movement towards greener and more hands-on death and disposition practices has been spreading throughout the US. Did you know, for example, that in Vermont you are free, by law, to care for your loved ones after they die; that you are not required to purchase the services of a funeral professional if you don’t want to? Or, that state statute permits burials at the microbe-rich depth of 3 ½-4 feet?
Martha Dallas is a Burlington-based Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant and end-of-life ceremonies officiant. In this workshop, she will introduce the basics of home funerals and natural, green burial. She’ll share resources for simple, green-minded practices for those who expect to die and be laid to rest in Vermont and will provide guidance for putting your own green deathcare plans in place.
If you would prefer to attend this event virtually, you can do so via this Zoom link. If prompted, the Meeting ID is 478 309 7334 and the Passcode is DRML.