Natural Burial at Bluestem
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Natural burial at Bluestem is simple, personal and light on the earth. Individuals are returned to the earth using only biodegradable materials such as a plain wooden casket or cloth shroud. Ashes are removed from urns, amended with a soil solution, and poured or placed into the grave.
Natural burial is not new. It simply reclaims traditions of old and provides families and friends with a personal and embodied experience of saying farewell. Graves naturally settle into the landscape as native plants return and wildlife habitats flourish. All are encouraged to visit the nature preserve as often as they like, all of Bluestem serving as a living memorial to the beloved ones buried here. |
How It WorksSTEP ONE: GET TO KNOW BLUESTEM Bluestem is open to the public from dawn to dusk every day. If possible, we encourage you to come for a visit on your own or sign up for a volunteer-guided tour before beginning the planning process. As an 87-acre nature preserve that is carefully managed under conservation principles, Bluestem operates under a unique set of standards and guidelines that differ greatly from a conventional cemetery. Take your time to get to know this place and discern if it is the right fit for you and your loved ones.
STEP THREE: REVIEW THE OPTIONS AND COSTS To get to know the options available to you in a conservation cemetery, we encourage you to carefully review this brief Bluestem Burial Guide and visit the Natural Burial Costs page. You can also join one of our monthly information sessions or request an initial appointment with a Bluestem staff member and we are glad to talk through any questions you may have. STEP FOUR: MAKE A RESERVATION WITH BLUESTEM When you are ready, Bluestem staff will schedule a two-hour appointment with you to show you available plots, choose a burial location, and complete the necessary paperwork to confirm your reservation. Please note that Bluestem cannot make plot reservations without a completed contract and full payment of interment rights. STEP FIVE: MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH A FUNERAL HOME As Bluestem is not a funeral home, it is important to simultaneously make arrangements with other service providers to complete your after-death care plans. You may want to work with a funeral home or a home funeral guide to provide for: the care of the body, shrouding or casketing, filing the death certificate, and transportation to Bluestem on the day of burial. You will also need to secure a biodegradable shroud or casket. Bluestem does not endorse specific providers, but we keep a list of service providers who have experience supporting Bluestem families as a resource for you. STEP SIX: COMMUNICATE YOUR PLANS WITH LOVED ONES It is important to communicate your plans and wishes with your loved ones. Knowing one another's wishes can relieve much stress at the time of death and make space for grieving to begin. When the time of burial comes, Bluestem will work with designated family or friends and your chosen funeral home to schedule and support the burial service. It is usually helpful if key planners understand some about natural burial and can convey necessary information to other guests. Bluestem encourages families to participate in the burial process as much or as little as they like. Naturally, this place inspires family and friends to participate in saying farewell — the sound of the birds, the feel of the wind, the smell of the earth, each bend into a shovel full of dirt, imprints an unforgettable farewell. Families are invited to return to Bluestem anytime and memorialize their loved one in simple but meaningful ways that respect conservation principles. Pet BurialPets can be buried at Bluestem in the reserved burial plots of their people. Every being buried at Bluestem pays a burial right and burial fees. Pet burials have a range of prices and must be arranged with staff. For more information about fees see Burial Costs.
We do not currently have a pet cemetery, although we have selected an area for it and are currently fundraising to realize it. Donations to the pet cemetery can be made here. Thank you for your interest in burial at Bluestem. Staff continue to refine our educational materials to help you with your decisions. If you have any questions you can't find the answers to, please email us at [email protected].
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