The color of money
The final municipal service that many people need...is a cemetery.
So, what's new in the cemetery world?
How about a cemetery where people can be buried without chemicals or even a coffin. According to the Wisconsin State Journal "green" graveyards are growing in popularity.
That's right... a cemetery where people can be buried without chemicals or even a coffin.
Well, maybe a bamboo casket like this one.
Dave Drapac, president of the Trust for Natural Legacies says... "You can pretend that your body's going to be nice and preserved if embalmed and air tight... but that's not the case. It's not a pretty picture any way you choose. "
Interest isn't exploding but it is growing...
James Olson, spokesman for the National Funeral Directors Association and owner of the Lippert-Olson Funeral Home in Sheboygan, said interest in green burials has increased, especially in the last two years.
While there aren 't many options for such burials in Wisconsin, cremation -- which doesn't take up any land or introduce chemicals into the ground -- remains a popular choice for people looking for a more environmentally friendly send-off, Olson said. Also, some caskets are made without metals and are biodegradable.
In addition, not all cemeteries require cement vaults to surround the caskets, which serve mainly to keep the ground from collapsing under heavy equipment such as lawn mowers and backhoes, he said.
Simpler can also mean cheaper when it comes to funerals and burials. The average cost of an adult funeral, including embalming, preparation of the body, buying a casket and paying facility and staff costs is $6,195, according to 2006 statistics from the National Funeral Directors Association. That doesn't include the cost of a cemetery plot, monument or other burial costs.
In all honesty, this topic interests me because of the cost of funerals. But according to Mr. Olson...
"Money isn't the reason for the increasing interest in green burials. It's about minimizing the ecological effects of traditional burials. "It really is a true concern for the environment."
Concern for the environment may be the reason some people will be interested in "green" funerals. But, a whole lot more will be interested because of the color of money.
That's what I think.
Al Arnold
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