To the editor:
How very exciting it was to see green burials on the front page of Thursday’s issue! Especially so because green burials offer a solution to the other front-page story. Green burials are the solution to the problem of local cemeteries running out of burial space.
Ashley Saari did a nice job of scratching that surface. Taking it a step further, let’s consider that towns and conservation groups throughout this state have land in conservation. Land being maintained in a natural state for recreation and wildlife of all kinds. Green burial is such a very perfect compliment for the preservation of our natural spaces: no artificial chemicals and preservatives, flat or living headstones, burying nothing but truly organic materials into the earth. Green burial feeds soil biology, feeds the living plants and animals on even the smallest parcel.
In order for green burials to participate in this cycle, they need to be allowed. Town cemeteries need to allow for unembalmed bodies to be buried without a concrete vault, should families or individuals desire this option. Land trusts, conservation groups, forest societies and the like should consider what allowing green burials can do for their land. Not to mention what having another stream of revenue can do for their bottom line.
These days solutions are rarely this simple, but what a beautiful thing! The solution to the problems of space, the problems of burying precious and natural resources, problems of embalming fluid harming workers and lands alike, all lie in green burials.
Alisha DiMasi
Lyndeborough