Frequently Asked Questions 

People have lots of questions about natural (sometimes called green) and conservation burial. Bluestem staff have collected below the most frequently asked questions we experience, and provide answers to educate and help guide your decision making. If your question is not answered here, consider using the search bar below, attending an information session online, or email us  
 
Did you know that Bluestem has 3.5 miles of hiking trails, sanctuary areas for quiet  reflection, picnic tables and benches, and is a popular hot spot for birders? 

General Questions About Green Burial 

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 and regulatory requirements, as well as best practice standards in nonprofit management and conservation burial operations.  
​What is green burial?
Green burial does not allow embalming, steel or metal caskets, or vaults. Everything used in the burial process is natural and bio-degradable to reduce environmental impacts 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. 
ISN'T EMBALMING REQUIRED BY LAW?
No. Embalming is not required in any state.
​WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GREEN AND NATURAL BURIAL?
There really isn’t one; however, the term green burial (coined in the 1980s) is more broadly used in reference to the movement towards more environmentally thoughtful body disposition. At Bluestem, we refer to our practice as natural burial, as we support individuals (and their families) in returning a loved one's full body to the earth, simply, directly, and naturally.  
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.
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 we have established 100-foot water quality buffers along our creeks – larger buffers than are required by Orange County.

Questions About Burial at Bluestem

​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.
​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 in its conservation cemetery. All burial plot reservations and interments are scheduled and made with staff. No burials can occur at Bluestem without the permission of staff. 
​ARE PET BURIALS ALLOWED?
Bluestem does not have a pet cemetery. Pet burials can occur at Bluestem, but only with the reservation of a human's standard plot. A standard plot reservation is $4000, and includes one owner's future burial right. Pet graves dug within that plot start at $500. Please contact Staff directly for more information about burying pets at Bluestem.  
​HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN BE BURIED AT BLUESTEM?
As a conservation cemetery, Bluestem's density is far less than that of a conventional cemetery where density is on average 1,000-1,200 plots per acre. 
Green Burial Council standards limit the density of conservation burial grounds to 300 plots per acre. At Bluestem we expect an average of 100-200 plots per acre. As of late 2025, Bluestem has buried over 100 residents.
HOW CAN I BE BURIED AT BLUESTEM?
To be buried at Bluestem you must prepare for two steps:
1. Arrange for your after-death care with a funeral home or home funeral guide. 
2. Arrange for a reserved burial plot and burial rights with Bluestem staff.  
Click here to find service providers in the area who can assist you. 
Click here to get started on reserving a burial plot and rights with Staff. 
WHAT ARE MY GREEN BURIAL OPTIONS?
You can choose a standard plot for a body burial or an ash plot for the burial of cremated remains. Bluestem offers natural burial in reserved areas of the open grasslands and select areas of the native woodlands. All burial  arrangements are scheduled with Staff and by appointment only. At your appointment our team supports your planning ahead needs, or if you are scheduling for an immediate need, we can assist you in planning for the burial  process and interment. 
WHAT IF I HAVE METAL IN MY BODY FROM FILLINGS OR A KNEE, HIP, SHOULDER, OR OTHER BODY 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. 
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. 
​ARE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN THE BURIAL?
Absolutely! Family and friends are encouraged to participate in the burial service by designing an order of service, pallbearing and processing to the gravesite, lowering loved ones into the grave and closing the grave. Staff invite family and friends to help replace the soil removed from the grave and cover it with pine straw, flowers, biodegradable wreaths and other natural materials. A final step in the ceremony is placing the gravemarker in the center of the grave. Our staff and volunteers are present to ensure everyone’s safety, and assist as needed.
HOW ARE 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 the remaining mound is covered with pine straw. Over time, soil settles into the grave and the surrounding area’s natural features over take the site. The settling process takes roughly 1-2 years, depending on the burial vessel and location of the gravesite. Almost immediately after burial, nature begins to take over the site and the remaining grave becomes obscured. 
HOW ARE GRAVES MARKED AND LOCATED?
Every grave is identified with an aluminum marker stamped with the resident's name and dates. Bluestem provides families with a flat gravestone that can be etched offsite (and paid for by the family) then returned to lie flat to the grave. Stones must be etched. No metal or other mterial plates can be affixed to stones. (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 supplies GPS coordinates to families after interment.  Cemetery records are maintained according to the highest standards of nonprofit management.
​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.
WILL 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. 
​CAN I put A TREE, PLANT OR BENCH AT MY LOVED ONE'S GRAVE? 
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. 
how can you assure me that bluestem will be around into 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.

Questions About Body Disposition

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 do not allow scattering of ashes.
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.
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​what about human composting?
Returning your body to the earth naturally, is the simplest and most environmentally friendly form of body disposition.