Larkspur works with so many amazing people in the nashville community and we want to shine a light on one of those people today.
Read all about what license funeral director and mortuary science educator thinks about natural burial at larkspur and how she sees the positive impact of green burial as an option for families.
Larkspur is not an island. We know it takes a village to care for people and we are proud to collaborate with many funeral professionals in and around the Nashville area in order to give those we serve the best care possible. Be it funeral directors or death doulas, casket makers or social workers, Larkspur is forever grateful to the people we join forces with to help our families in their hardest moments.
One of our incredible community partners is Kimberly Seaman Carter. She is a licensed Funeral Director and Mortuary Educator at John A. Gupton College. Before going back to school to become a funeral director, Kimberly received a Bachelor in Environmental Science from Lipscomb University and a Masters in Agronomy from University of Florida, where she studied organic triple cropping systems and their nitrogen rich effects on soils. Since her expertise straddles both the death care and the natural worlds, we wanted to ask for her thoughts about natural, green burial and what she thinks Larkspur provides to those who choose us. Read her full interview below:
1) What drew you into caring for the dead and their families?
After I completed what I thought was my last stint of schooling, I spent a lot of time striking about trying to find a career that contributed to society in some way. I ultimately wanted to do something that “helped,” and I wound up pursuing a career in environmental science trying to chase that dream.
My experience in that world wound up being a rather sour one, but during my time working at an environmental consulting firm an acquaintance suggested that I look into a profession in death care. Intrigued by this, I enrolled in an online course at a local community college regarding the history of the funeral profession. That’s all it took, honestly, I was hooked at that point. I was amazed that a profession existed that provided support for grieving people through the care of the deceased. Not everyone feels comfortable around death, and I am one of those weirdos that do, so it certainly seemed like I had stumbled upon my dream career.
2) As a licensed Funeral Director, what is your opinion on natural/green burial?
I am very excited to be a licensed funeral director in a time when more options than ever for final disposition are available! The option of natural/green burial is one that is very appealing to me not only because of my background in environmental science, but because of the nature of this type of disposition.
The concept of peacefully and wholly returning to an earth from whence we came just has a completeness involved that is unique to this method of being put to rest. The serenity surrounding being laid to rest in a beautiful setting that you will then help to nourish seems pretty amazing to me. The ability that accompanies natural/green burial to give back to this world with your physical being is incredible.
3) Do you see natural burial offering more healing and closure to families that choose it as opposed to conventional burial with embalming and entombment?
I believe that natural burial can provide a completely unique type of healing to those that are open to it. Family and friends of the deceased can physically be involved at a more in-depth level with the care of the deceased throughout the natural burial process than with other methods of disposition. Choosing natural burial for final disposition allows loved ones to be within much closer proximity to the deceased and to experience closure in an entirely different way than conventional burial practices do. I think for those that desire that level of connection with the deceased, natural burial offers a level of healing that is distinct.
4) In your opinion, why do you think we are seeing more people choose a natural burial as a preferred disposition method after death?
I think several factors have been contributing to an increase in natural burials. I believe that awareness of environmental impact has increased. I also think the demographic of those making final arrangements has shifted. I feel the mindset of those making final disposition decisions is evolving to consider additional options other than what “our family has always done” or “what our community does.”
5) Along with being a licensed Funeral Director, you teach at John A. Gupton College as a Mortuary Science Educator. Do you see a rising interest in learning about green burial among your students?
Yes, I have indeed experienced an increase in interest among our students regarding natural burial! I have found that this approach to final disposition is very interesting to students and that they express a lot of curiosity towards it. Natural burial is not something that most of them (if any) have been exposed to before and new topics associated with death care seem to generate a lot of inquisitiveness on their part.
6) How do you see green burial practices, and conservation burial grounds like Larkspur, impacting the education of future funeral directors?
Being able to present information about green burial practices to our students does nothing but improve their level of understanding regarding death care. The ability to physically take students to a conservation burial ground and have them experience Larkspur has been an amazing way for us to add to their mortuary science curriculum. Learning that organizations such as Larkspur exist increase the student knowledge base and broaden the scope of their education. Exposure to places such as Larkspur contributes to our efforts to make them more successful funeral professionals who are better armed to meet the diverse needs of their client families.
7) If you could give someone considering death care as an occupation a word of advice, what would you say?
Enter this profession with the knowledge that it can be draining, more so than a lot of professions. You will experience the highest highs and potentially some of the lowest lows in this world. You are the only one who is responsible for taking care of YOU, and you must take that responsibility seriously. Compassion fatigue is a very real condition. Also, explore all options. Just because you do not have personal experience with something does not mean you cannot help a family realize a dream or desire or wish. Be open to investigating practices that are beyond your area of expertise, it will do nothing but make you a better funeral professional!
If you want to learn more about a natural burial at Larkspur and if it’s right for you or your loved ones, please reach out! We love helping people learn more about what we do.