What to Expect at a Reservation Appointment
Reservation arrangements are by appointment only.
Please contact [email protected]
to receive a link to our scheduling calendar.
Please contact [email protected]
to receive a link to our scheduling calendar.
Reservation Appointments generally take 1.5 to 2 hours.
Please wear walking shoes and dress for the weather. Feel welcome to bring a hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and/or bug spray, as you might on a visit to any nature preserve. In the case of rain, we will contact you about continuing with umbrellas or rescheduling.
Upon arrival at Bluestem, please park in the front parking area immediately on your left. On foot, follow the "Information" sign to the barn. Bluestem staff will meet you there and then escort you around the cemetery on foot or by golf cart. Please email us ahead of time if you need mobility assistance. Staff will highlight Bluestem's conservation work and direct you to the burial areas in the grasslands and woodlands currently available for plot selection. As we go, we can share more about the conservation guidelines we follow in plot selection, burial, and care of the cemetery. Before your appointment, you may like to read more about Bluestem's burial areas here and our cemetery guidelines here. During your appointment, staff can answer any questions you have. We can review the after-death process, discuss working with funeral homes or home funeral guides, and show you sample caskets and shrouds that we keep onsite as part of our green burial education. If you wish to purchase one of the samples, staff connect you with the maker, so that you finalize arrangements and payment directly with them. Staff are always glad to provide you with some privacy during your appointment. We do this frequently so that you can experience the quiet of different burial areas or converse with loved ones during your decision making. Once the preferred burial area is selected, staff produce the exact plot number, note any conservation restrictions in the plot, and record this information in our cemetery log. Lastly, we return to the cabin to complete all paperwork and receive payment for the reservation.
We know that choosing a place for burial is a big decision, and we don't assume a conservation cemetery is a right fit for every person. We consider it an honor to be part of your decision making process. Making time for this process is very important to us, and we don't rush people into a decision. If you need more time, we expect and encourage you to take that time. Bluestem is here for you when you are ready.
For those who do find a fit with their values at Bluestem, we are grateful to each and every one. We believe that every person making a commitment at Bluestem is investing in the health of our natural resources and wildlife and helping to grow this important community space. As one future resident exclaimed, "this is for the children!" |
Appointments are scheduled Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Contact [email protected] for a link to our scheduling calendar. |