Frequently Asked Questions

According to the Green Burial Council, green or natural burial is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that furthers such legitimate ecological aims as the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.

A green burial is one in which there is no embalming, no vaults, and everything used in the burial process is natural and biodegradable. Instead of burying expensive caskets and hundreds of pounds of steel and concrete, the burial is done as it has always been throughout history: simply and with dignity.

Conservation burial is natural burial that goes a step further to conserve land. The model calls for a cemetery’s adherence to a number of protocols to ensure that burials do not harm the surrounding ecosystems and facilitate ecological restoration.

Conservation burial requires that an independent conservation organization, most often a land trust, serve as a steward of the land and be willing to hold a conservation easement. This legally enforceable instrument, which runs with ownership of the property, guarantees the standards for conservation burial will be upheld in perpetuity and prevent any activity that would adversely affect the land.

Conservation Burial is more than just having an easement, though. It necessitates an active engagement with the land. By protecting rare and fragile ecosystems and restoring areas that have been harmed, every burial physically and monetarily helps heal the land. Conservation Burial Grounds are not just cemeteries. They are sanctuaries where native animals and plants can flourish, visitors can mindfully be in nature, students can learn, and so much more.

No two burials at Larkspur are the same, but the basic steps are generally similar. On the day of the burial everyone gathers at the trailhead and makes a memorial hike together up through the preserve to the gravesite. Those attending have the opportunity to look into the grave decorated with flowers and native vegetation and touch the casket or shrouded body.

Family and friends then have whatever ceremony is meaningful to them. Most share in stories, prayer, and reflection together; others bring religious leaders or a picnic. When everyone is ready, those who wish to participate will join in lowering the body into the earth. Then everyone, starting with the family, is invited to ceremonially place a handful or shovelful of earth into the grave.

When everyone has had the opportunity, the grave is actively filled in by those attending. After all the soil has been returned to the grave, a mound is formed, which is then covered with pine straw and decorated with any extra cut flowers that may have been brought.

No. You can use refrigeration or dry ice to keep the body cool, and thereby wait for days/weeks to have the burial. Many people following natural burial methods for their loved ones have delayed the funeral process for up to a week or more using refrigeration and dry ice as tools to delay decomposition.

No, for the organic matter from a body to reach a natural water source it would have to rapidly penetrate many feet of soil and rock. Water contamination has not occurred in conservation cemeteries across the nation, and natural burial has actually been shown to strengthen the natural landscape.

No. Natural burial has occurred throughout civilization. Only at the turn of the twentieth century did society begin using embalming and later metal caskets and concrete vaults for burial purposes. Cemeteries throughout history have been vastly populated by wild animals and the graves were not threatened by wildlife.

Larkspur digs graves to a sufficient depth to prevent this animal disturbance of graves. There has been no documented animal disturbance of graves at any natural or conservation burial ground.

The process of returning to the earth happens gradually and is influenced by many natural factors. Soil conditions at the time of burial—whether the ground is moist, dry, warm, or cold—play a significant role. So does the location of the grave: meadow, woodland, hilltop, or lowland. Other considerations include the person’s body composition and age, and what they were buried in—a cotton shroud, a pine casket, or a willow basket.

Generally, the soft tissues of the body are absorbed first, while the bones are the last to return to the earth. At Larkspur, graves are about 36 inches deep—shallower than conventional cemeteries, which often bury caskets inside concrete vaults at an average of 48 inches or deeper. This more natural depth allows for greater interaction with living soil rich in bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms that support natural decomposition and return.

We treat our soil as sacred. During burial, each layer is carefully removed and then returned in the same order to protect and preserve the natural life of the land. Through this process, the body becomes part of the ecosystem again—slowly, gently, and in harmony with nature.

So while we can’t offer an exact timeline—like “one year”—please understand that this transformation unfolds gradually, guided by the seasons and the land itself.

When someone dies that wishes to be buried naturally the family will generally contact a funeral home to provide minimal services such as:

• Transportation to funeral home from hospital or home
• NO EMBALMING
• Bathing, cleansing, dressing
• Refrigeration until the time of the burial
• Death certificates and social security notification
• Transportation from funeral home to Larkspur

*Some families choose to bathe, cleanse, and dress the body.

Please see the How It Works page for more information.

Exact gravesite selection occurs at or near the time of death by family and/or friends. When planning ahead a landscape preference is made, such as meadow (tall grasses, wildflowers and butterflies with sky views) or woodland (ferns, trees, and shady canopy).

At the time of death and gravesite selection an adjacent gravesite can be purchased for the surviving spouse/partner, parent/minor child.

No. Larkspur does not provide a refund for burial rights purchased. The owner of the burial rights can return the burial rights to Larkspur as a tax-deductible gift or transfer the burial rights to another person in writing by contacting Larkspur.

No. Posthumous exhumation (removing the body from a grave after burial) is not an option at Larkspur Conservation due to natural processes following burial.

No. Larkspur Conservation welcomes people of all faiths and the non-religious alike.

Yes. Choosing to be an organ and tissue donor does not prevent you from having a natural burial. However, it is important to know that donation may involve the removal of organs such as the heart and kidneys, as well as tissues like bone and skin.

Afterward, the donation agency will reconstruct the body where tissue has been removed. This reconstruction often involves materials such as plastic or PVC piping, plastic tubing, glues, and prosthetics, which are not suitable for natural burial. If these materials are used they must be removed by a funeral director prior to natural burial.

If you or your family wish to combine donation with a natural burial, it’s important to inform the donation agency at the time of consent. Request that no plastics, metals, glues, or PVC prosthetics be used during reconstruction. Your funeral director can then ensure the body is prepared in harmony with natural burial practices.

The use of a shroud for natural burial is not possible following organ or tissue donation.

With the exception of battery-operated pacemakers, we will not require the removal of artificial implants because we do not believe the lasting effects of such items will damage the natural environment.

Yes. Families are welcome to build their own caskets for use in natural burial, and we love seeing the care and intention that goes into this process.

If you’re considering building a casket, here are our general guidelines:

• Use softwoods like pine or poplar. Avoid dense or slow-to-decompose woods like oak or cedar.
• Exterior dimensions should not exceed 84″ long x 28″ wide x 18″ high. (If these parameters are not sufficient let us know and we can talk it through.)
• No coatings or finishes. Please do not use stains, sealants, polyurethane, or paint.
• No metal hardware. The casket should be built entirely from natural materials using joinery, dowels, or non-toxic glue.

Please review your plans with us before you begin construction—just send us a sketch or description of your design. We also work closely with a local casket maker that can provide assistance to you if needed. Let us know if you’d like to talk it through—we’re here to help.

We suggest using the following language:

Upon my death I wish my body to be buried naturally without the use of chemical embalming, concrete, plastics and metals. I request that my body be buried at a conservation burial ground operated by Larkspur Conservation or other suitable conservation burial cemetery. It is my request that my family, power of attorney, or other person/agency tasked with the responsibility of my final disposition follows the request made herein.

Graves are marked in multiple ways.

First, a small aluminum marker stamped with the deceased’s name, birth year, and death year is placed in the center of the grave so it can be physically identified.

Next, GPS coordinates are collected and made publicly available on the Larkspur website for visitors to be able to use when they visit the preserve.

Lastly, a native stone may be sourced and engraved through Larkspur and purchased by the family.

No. Larkspur collects and sources only naturally occurring stones specific to the regional geology of each burial ground.

No. The carver selects each stone based on the number of characters in a person’s name.

No. Larkspur only allows the person’s name and year of birth and year of death to be added to the stone. This policy serves as a reminder that we are all equal in death.

No. Larkspur honors its natural surroundings by maintaining minimal permanent infrastructure. As a result, there is no traditional restroom on the grounds.

However, we understand the practical needs of visitors and ceremony attendees, so we provide a composting toilet deep in the woods to preserve dignity and privacy of the preserve. We encourage visitors to plan accordingly and use the restroom prior to arriving on site at Larkspur.

We can comfortably accommodate up to 25 people at a burial ceremony. Groups larger than this may experience limited seating and reduced access to the gravesite area.

We’ve heard from many families that having a smaller group allows for a more intimate, focused experience—one that supports presence, reflection, and connection to the moment. Larkspur staff will ask for a guestlist/headcount.

While we understand the desire to include everyone, it’s sometimes helpful to be intentional about who gathers at the graveside. If a larger number of people wish to honor your loved one, we encourage planning a separate memorial gathering in a more accessible location such as a church, community center, or event space.

Larkspur Conservation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization led by an Executive Director and staff, and supported by a volunteer board of directors. The board provides professional and financial oversight of the organization and is bound by a charter and bylaws that ensure their roles and responsibilities will evolve and endure over time.

As a nonprofit, Larkspur is different from traditional businesses: instead of distributing earnings to investors, we reinvest all resources back into the organization to further our mission. Larkspur has established an endowment fund to ensure the perpetual care and maintenance of our nature preserves and burial grounds. We have also created a designated fund for future land acquisition and conservation projects.

As a member of the Conservation Burial Alliance, Larkspur is supported by a nationwide alliance of conservation burial sites. These checks and balances ensure that Larkspur will be here to serve people and the planet for generations to come.