What to Expect at a Bluestem Appointment  

Reservation arrangements are by appointment only.
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. We recommend bringing 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.

While dogs on-leash are welcome at Bluestem at any other time, we kindly ask that you leave your pets at home for your appointment.

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 primarily by golf cart, stopping to walk in various locations. 

Please email us ahead of time to let us know of the number attending your appointment and the number of burial spaces you are looking for. Please note that our staff can typically only complete one individual/couple/family plot reservation per appointment. If friends/family would like to make additional burial right reservations, we may need to schedule a special or multiple appointments.

Staff will highlight Bluestem's conservation work and direct you to the burial areas in the grasslands and woodlands. 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. And, find more helpful links on our How It Works page 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. 
 
For those ready to reserve a burial right for themselves or for a loved one, please allow 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the process. Consider whether you seek a body burial or ash burial and your preferred location (grasslands or woodlands) so that we can guide you through our process. When you reserve your right to burial at Bluestem, a plot number is selected (only if choosing in the grasslands) or your preference for the woodlands is recorded. Lastly, we return to the cabin to complete all paperwork and receive payment for the reservation of your burial rights.  
Our administrative process includes: 
Reviewing burial costs and fees (click here)
Preparing an invoice
Receiving and processing the payment
Providing a burial contract that outlines Bluestem’s commitment to you 
Producing your cemetery record in our system

Payment is expected at the appointment when making a reservation. Bluestem accepts checks, ACH, money orders, and payments by credit card. Checks should be written to our nonprofit: Bluestem Community. Please note that credit card payments require an additional 3% processing fee. ACH payments may incur a fee from your bank.

Please speak with Bluestem staff about options for making natural burial affordable for you. Financial assistance may be available to qualifying applicants through the Bluestem Community Fund. More information about the Fund here.
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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.