Posted on 10/14/2010 7:47:17 AM PDT by greatdefender
GOLDENDALE, Wash. – Steve Sall moved forward on uneven, rocky terrain in his motorized wheelchair and came to a stop at the edge of a sweeping vista of ponderosa pines and bright pockets of yellow wildflowers.
Sall wanted to see the canyon he used to hike before Lou Gehrig's disease left him near death. Three months later, the 61-year-old Sall was laid to rest in the forest.
He would be among the small but growing number of Americans choosing environmentally friendly burials. The so-called "green burials" are a departure from the norm in that they don't use concrete vaults, metal coffins or any chemicals.
The Green Burial Council, an industry group that sets standards, now counts more than 300 approved providers in 40 states, while only a dozen existed as recently as the beginning of 2008.
And a March 2010 survey commissioned by the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association found a quarter of those polled liked the concept of environmentally friendly burials.
"We think of this as a new idea, but this is really an ancient idea we're returning to," said Joe Sehee, executive director of the New Mexico-based council.
A burial in the wilderness was especially appealing to Sall after spending so much of his life hiking mountains and forests across the Pacific Northwest. He was also heavily involved in his son's Boy Scout experience, often accompanying the troop on nature excursions.
As Lou Gehrig's disease advanced earlier this year, Sall knew it was time to consider end-of-life logistics. He thought about cremation, but didn't like the idea of pumping gases into the atmosphere, said his son, David.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
“Look at the big bone Fido just dragged in!”
The Zorastrians would put a body up on a 10 ft high platform and let the carrions do the rest.
Do not feed the bears.
As long as there are no laws specifically banning such a practice, you should be able to bury a loved one on any private property where you have permission from the land owner.
My personal opinion is to put me in a simple pine box, dig a hole 6 feet deep, drop me in, and cover the hole with dirt. A simple stone marker will suffice, and I’m thinking of learning how to do that myself (now), so that it’ll be ‘shovel ready’ in another 60 years or so.
I agree, but in my state, after 24 hours a body must be embalmed even if it is to be cremated. So stupid. No way do I want to be drained and pumped full of chemicals.
Not only that but people feel obligated to go through the whole weeping spectacle of looking at a bloated painted up corpse in order to have "closure". No thanks.
I have seen enough dead people who have had the funeral home treatment to know that in no way do I want anyone I love to be messed with like that, and I certainly don't want the final image of myself that is imprinted on my loved one's memories to be that of a giant sickly barbie doll who looks like a dime store Halloween decoration.
that’s pretty much my opinion. don’t waste money on some sad ceremony, dig a hole in the ground and drop me in. no markers, no memorials.
Hunter Thompson had it right. A giant skyrocket.
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