Frequently Asked Questions 

People have lots of questions about green and conservation burial and we love to support more education and conversations around them. Here are answers to the questions we get most.
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General Questions About Green Burial 

Q. Is green burial legal in North Carolina?
Yes, green burial is allowed by law in North Carolina. Bluestem follows all required North Carolina and Orange County zoning, regulatory requirements, and nonprofit cemetery laws. 
 
Q. What is green burial?
Green burial doesn’t use embalming, steel or metal caskets, or vaults. Everything used in the burial process is natural and bio-degradable to reduce environmental impact and protect workers' health. Conservation burial takes green burial a step further in conserving natural resources, preserving habitat restoration, and reducing carbon emissions.  Learn more about green and conservation burial standards and certification from the Green Burial Council, the national certifying agency, or on our website here. 
 
Q. Isn’t embalming required by law?
No. Embalming is not required in any state.
 
Q. What's the difference between green and natural burial? 
There isn’t one! The green burial movement, which started in the US in the 1980s, uses the expression natural burial to emphasize a return to nature. Most people still call it “green burial”, though.
 
Q. How is green burial better for the environment?
Green burial benefits the environment in a lot of ways. It limits the introduction of non-biodegradable materials into the earth like metals, cement, finished wood products, synthetics, and formaldehyde. Over time these items, particularly when concentrated in compact density, have the potential to leach into nearby subsurface waters. Natural and rapid decomposition supports soil health, enhances plant diversity, and reduces the risk of nearby water contamination. Conservation burial extends the natural area’s ecological health with habitat restoration and conservation.
 
Q. Does burying people without vaults and without embalming affect water quality?
No. We carefully choose our burial areas to exceed all state and local health codes pertaining to water quality protection. We don’t bury near the pond and have established 100-foot water quality buffers along our creeks – larger than Orange County requires.

​Q. Is conservation burial legal?
Yes, because it’s the same as green burial.

Questions About Burial at Bluestem

Q. Why is Bluestem a conservation cemetery?
A conservation cemetery commits to ensuring the land is protected into the future, for people and for wildlife. Conservation cemeteries include green burial as a component of their work in protecting important natural and sensitive areas, limiting the number of burials on the property, and guaranteeing the cemetery's preservation in perpetuity with a conservation easement. Bluestem's conservation easement is co-held by local land trusts Eno River Association and Triangle Land Conservancy. Learn more about Bluestem’s conservation work here.

Q. Who can be buried at Bluestem?
Bluestem is a place for everyone. Anyone who has paid for an interment right and burial fees can be buried at Bluestem. Arrangements are scheduled and made with staff.
 
Q. Are pet burials allowed?
Yes, in an owner's paid plot. We hope to have a pet cemetery soon. Email us if you’d like to donate to the pet cemetery.  
 
Q: How many people can be buried at Bluestem? 
We expect to have on average between 100 and 200 plots per acre, in accordance with green burial industry standards that limit burial density to 300 plots per acre. That’s far less than the 1,000 to 1,200 plots per acre of traditional cemeteries. Bluestem has currently buried more than 50 residents.
 
Q. How can I be buried at Bluestem Conservation Cemetery?
You can make arrangements with our co-directors Heidi or Jeff in advance or your family can make arrangements when you pass. Click here to schedule an appointment.
 
Q. What are my green burial options?
You can choose a natural body or ash burial site in our restored open grasslands and native woodlands. We’re sorry, but we don’t currently allow scattering of remains. You can work with a service provider, like a funeral home or home funeral guide, or manage the pre-burial preparations on your own. Our team supports your planning of services held at the interment and we oversee the burial process.

Q. What if I have metal in my body from fillings, or a knee, hip, shoulder, or other body part replacement?
These items do not need to be removed prior to burial. You can be buried at Bluestem with metal plates, joints and fillings. Funeral homes routinely remove medical supports such as ports and pacemakers. 

Q. Are caskets required at Bluestem? 
No. We welcome any biodegradable burial product appropriate for green burial, including unfinished wood caskets, wicker or woven caskets, cardboard caskets and cloth shrouds. Note: A shroud must be a substantial piece of natural fabric that wraps the body securely and has handles for safe transportation. Contact us for our shrouding and casket guidelines. 
 
Q. Are family and friends allowed to take part in the burial ceremony?
Absolutely! Family and friends are encouraged to participate by designing the burial service, processing to the gravesite, lowering loved ones into the grave and closing the grave. We invite you to help replace the soil removed from the grave and cover it with pine straw, flowers, biodegradable wreaths and other natural materials. Our staff and volunteers are there to assist and ensure everyone’s safety.
 
Q. How are Bluestem's graves prepared and what do they look like? 
Burial sites are prepared by Bluestem staff. Graves are approximately 3.5 feet deep and comply with state law. We dig the grave before family and friends arrive at the cemetery. At the end of the service, the soil that was removed from the grave is replaced and covered with pine straw. Over time, soil settles into the grave and the surrounding area’s natural features blend into the site. This settling process takes about 1-2 years, depending on the burial vessel and location of the gravesite. 
 
Q. How are the graves marked and located?
Every grave is identified with an aluminum marker stamped with the resident's name and dates and an optional flat gravestone that can be etched. (Find more details on grave markers here.) Cemetery grid coordinates are recorded for every grave and provided to the family to assist in location and visitation. Bluestem will supply GPS coordinates to families once our system is online. Our cemetery records are maintained according to the highest standards of nonprofit management.
 
Q. What happens to the body after burial?
After burial, decomposition begins quickly. Soil and organisms facilitate the process and slow the exchange of bacteria and viruses like a giant filter to prevent contamination. International studies have demonstrated the low risk for germ transmission from green burial techniques. No known transmission of germs from a green burial ground has been recorded in the US.
 
Q. Won't wild animals dig up my body?
This is a common worry but in 40 years of green burial in the U.S., there have been no documented cases of animals digging up bodies. Every grave at Bluestem is deep enough and intentionally prepared to deter wildlife curiosity, and our team regularly monitors grave conditions. 
 
Q. Can I plant a tree or build a bench at my loved one's gravesite? 
No. Bluestem staff manage all elements of the nature preserve and cemetery through the values of simplicity, sustainability and utility. Please speak to us about ways you can honor your loved one's memory at Bluestem. 

Q. How can you assure me that Bluestem will be around for the future? 
Bluestem is operated by the nonprofit Bluestem Community. It is overseen by a “Council of Stewards” (board members) composed of community leaders and professionals from across the Triangle region. The finance committee serves to counsel and guide the Council of Stewards on Bluestem's long-term endowment, and other important financial decisions. We place 10-15% of every interment right in a perpetual care fund held by a local bank. Further questions? Contact us directly.

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Questions About Body Disposition

Q. Is cremation a green option?
Burying cremated remains uses less land area than full body burial, but the process of cremation is not green. It requires over 30 gallons of fossil fuel per body – equivalent to vehicle emissions on a 600-mile trip – emitting mercury, carbon and other toxins into the air. Bluestem allows the burial of cremated remains amended with a neutralizing soil-like material before interment. We don't currently allow scattering of ashes.
 
Q. Is aquamation a green alternative to cremation?
Aquamation is a new option for body disposition that eliminates air pollution and the heavy reliance on fossil fuels. For more information on aquamation, speak with the representatives at Endswell Funeral Home in Hillsborough.

Q. What about human composting?
Natural organic reduction, also known as human composting, while legal in some states, is not currently legal in North Carolina. We believe that natural burial is composting.

Returning your body to the earth naturally, is the simplest and most environmentally friendly form of body disposition. 

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