The Other Side of Community

Creating a natural burial site takes a lot of community engagement. It starts with looking around the geographic and social radius where the cemetery is planned or already exists. Who are the neighbors, the board of supervisors or other members of local governance, the service providers such as mortuaries, hospice and hospital social workers, local clergy, and social action groups that are always looking for event speakers?  

Building the community of support for a particular project involves getting the message out, building bridges, converting questioners into allies and fostering early adopters to champion your cause. It can feel pretty daunting at times.

But look what has already been accomplished!  The natural burial movement is only--and already--about 40 years old. Those of us engaged in furthering this work are cultural creatives, building upon a nascent tradition founded by the thought leaders who have provided us with clear navigational coordinates, a lexicon, tools and practices, values and a framework upon which to continue to evolve.

​Now it is up to us to bring our own creativity, tenacity and fresh ideas to the work already begun.