Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is natural burial?
A: Natural burial (also known as green burial) describes a way of carrying out cemetery activities without harming the local ecosystem. Broadly, this means that only bodies and other readily biodegradable objects are placed in the ground.
Q: What conditions are the most favorable for natural burial?
A: Well drained soils with some clay content (to absorb organic compounds) are ideal, as is the presence of a healthy microbial population to support efficient decomposition. This allows for aerobic decay, which produces soils rich in nitrogen and organic compounds.
Q: Can cremated remains be scattered or buried in a natural burial cemetery?
A: This is a matter of cemetery policy because cremated remains are a dense source of calcium, phosphate, and sodium. Alaska Natural Burial plans to permit the scattering and burial of cremated remains.
Q: Does natural burial attract animals? Will animals dig up the graves?
A: No. Approximately 12 inches of earth is considered an adequate “smell barrier” for animals. Natural burials at approximately 3.5 – 4 feet also include ~18 inches of mounded earth above ground. The overall depth of soil is approximately equivalent to that of conventional graves.
A: Natural burial (also known as green burial) describes a way of carrying out cemetery activities without harming the local ecosystem. Broadly, this means that only bodies and other readily biodegradable objects are placed in the ground.
Q: What conditions are the most favorable for natural burial?
A: Well drained soils with some clay content (to absorb organic compounds) are ideal, as is the presence of a healthy microbial population to support efficient decomposition. This allows for aerobic decay, which produces soils rich in nitrogen and organic compounds.
Q: Can cremated remains be scattered or buried in a natural burial cemetery?
A: This is a matter of cemetery policy because cremated remains are a dense source of calcium, phosphate, and sodium. Alaska Natural Burial plans to permit the scattering and burial of cremated remains.
Q: Does natural burial attract animals? Will animals dig up the graves?
A: No. Approximately 12 inches of earth is considered an adequate “smell barrier” for animals. Natural burials at approximately 3.5 – 4 feet also include ~18 inches of mounded earth above ground. The overall depth of soil is approximately equivalent to that of conventional graves.
Natural burial at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary
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Natural burial at The Forest Conservation Burial Ground
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Q: Will a natural burial cemetery present an infectious disease risk?
A: No. Bacteria and viruses do not survive for long without a host. There are no restrictions for burying persons who had viral hepatitis, HIV, or Covid19. If someone were to die from anthrax or Ebola on the other hand, the CDC would become involved and cremation would be required.
Q: Will a natural burial cemetery pollute the soil or water?
A: The human body is made up of the same basic elements (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, etc.) that make up every living thing. Reintroducing these elements to the earth through the process of low-density natural burial is not harmful. The pollutive potential of cemeteries stems from the leachate of casket materials and metals in high-density, conventional burial cemeteries. Anchorage municipal code requires mandatory setbacks from property lines and from any surface water.
Q: Natural burial cemeteries require only natural fiber materials – why does this exclude concrete and metal?
A: A reasonable argument can be made that concrete and metal are considered natural materials. However, because of the resources required to manufacture and transport such materials, and because of their incompatibility with decomposition-related processes, their use in natural burial cemeteries is discouraged.
Q: Why are graves dug to 3.5 – 4 feet only?
A: Microbial activity in the top 4 feet of soil facilitates decomposition activity. Deeper than this, there is a lack of oxygen and microbes.
A: No. Bacteria and viruses do not survive for long without a host. There are no restrictions for burying persons who had viral hepatitis, HIV, or Covid19. If someone were to die from anthrax or Ebola on the other hand, the CDC would become involved and cremation would be required.
Q: Will a natural burial cemetery pollute the soil or water?
A: The human body is made up of the same basic elements (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, etc.) that make up every living thing. Reintroducing these elements to the earth through the process of low-density natural burial is not harmful. The pollutive potential of cemeteries stems from the leachate of casket materials and metals in high-density, conventional burial cemeteries. Anchorage municipal code requires mandatory setbacks from property lines and from any surface water.
Q: Natural burial cemeteries require only natural fiber materials – why does this exclude concrete and metal?
A: A reasonable argument can be made that concrete and metal are considered natural materials. However, because of the resources required to manufacture and transport such materials, and because of their incompatibility with decomposition-related processes, their use in natural burial cemeteries is discouraged.
Q: Why are graves dug to 3.5 – 4 feet only?
A: Microbial activity in the top 4 feet of soil facilitates decomposition activity. Deeper than this, there is a lack of oxygen and microbes.
Natural burial at Ramsey Creek
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Natural burial at Foxfield Preserve
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Q: Why is soil mounded on top of natural burial graves?
A: Any soil displaced during the interment process is returned to the same site. As the soil settles with time, the mounds will become less pronounced over the course of several years.
Q: How long does it take for a body to completely decompose?
A: It varies widely, depending on many factors including soil type, oxygen availability, moisture content, and temperature. Decomposition processes are significantly slower in cold climates. It can take twenty years or more for bones to completely decompose.
Q: What’s wrong with conventional funeral and cemetery practices?
A: Inherently, nothing. We don’t condemn any practice, tradition, or ritual that a person finds meaningful. Anchorage’s small community of dedicated funeral professionals is committed to the families they’ve been serving for generations, and ANB is honored to join them in serving Alaskans.
Q: How do the prices for natural burial differ from conventional burial?
A: Cemetery prices, based solely on the classification as “natural” vs “conventional”, are roughly equivalent. Consumers are paying for interment rights to a specific grave site, for interment services, and for perpetual care and maintenance of that space. Price variations between cemeteries vary in general. The overall price for funeral and final disposition expenses may be reduced in a natural burial setting if, for example, there is no embalming or casket.
Q: How do you make sure the cemetery won't become abandoned and fall into disrepair?
A: Abandoned cemeteries throughout the US can be attributed to a combination of historical, social, economic, and environmental factors. Alaska Natural Burial's situation is more complicated because in addition to caring for the gravesites, we also need to plan for the conservation of this habitat alongside safe, outdoor recreation for generations to come. Our plan for avoiding such a fate is build on these two main pillars:
A: Any soil displaced during the interment process is returned to the same site. As the soil settles with time, the mounds will become less pronounced over the course of several years.
Q: How long does it take for a body to completely decompose?
A: It varies widely, depending on many factors including soil type, oxygen availability, moisture content, and temperature. Decomposition processes are significantly slower in cold climates. It can take twenty years or more for bones to completely decompose.
Q: What’s wrong with conventional funeral and cemetery practices?
A: Inherently, nothing. We don’t condemn any practice, tradition, or ritual that a person finds meaningful. Anchorage’s small community of dedicated funeral professionals is committed to the families they’ve been serving for generations, and ANB is honored to join them in serving Alaskans.
Q: How do the prices for natural burial differ from conventional burial?
A: Cemetery prices, based solely on the classification as “natural” vs “conventional”, are roughly equivalent. Consumers are paying for interment rights to a specific grave site, for interment services, and for perpetual care and maintenance of that space. Price variations between cemeteries vary in general. The overall price for funeral and final disposition expenses may be reduced in a natural burial setting if, for example, there is no embalming or casket.
Q: How do you make sure the cemetery won't become abandoned and fall into disrepair?
A: Abandoned cemeteries throughout the US can be attributed to a combination of historical, social, economic, and environmental factors. Alaska Natural Burial's situation is more complicated because in addition to caring for the gravesites, we also need to plan for the conservation of this habitat alongside safe, outdoor recreation for generations to come. Our plan for avoiding such a fate is build on these two main pillars:
- A portion of all interment fees (at least 10%) will be placed into a Perpetual Care and Maintenance Fund which may not be accessed until after the cemetery reaches capacity.
- Implementing a legally binding agreement (such as a deed restriction or conservation easement) with a third party to ensure perpetual monitoring and care which is irrevocable and perpetual.
Grounds at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary
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Grounds at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary
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Natural Burial vs. Conventional Cemeteries
Natural Burial Cemetery |
Conventional Cemetery |
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Burial Depth |
Graves are dug to 3.5 - 4 feet and soil is mounded to a height of about 18 inches. |
Grave depth may exceed 4 feet. Soil is filled to ground level only. |
Burial Density |
On average, 500 graves per acre. Conservation Burial Cemeteries have an average of 300 graves per acre. |
Often more than 1000 graves per acre. |
Body Preparation |
Bodies are unembalmed, or embalmed with non-toxic fluids only. Bodies are dressed in natural fibers, like wool or silk. |
Bodies may be embalmed and dressed in any manner. |
Casket, Shroud, and Urn Materials |
Any casket, shroud, or urns are made of natural fibers. Products sourced from local materials and local artisans are especially encouraged, when possible. |
Caskets and urns may be made of various materials including exotic hardwoods, metal, plastic, paint, and varnish. |
Grave Markers |
Grave markers are often much smaller and less noticeable. Depending on cemetery policy, a grave may be marked with a GPS marker only. |
Grave markers are prominent features of conventional cemeteries. Granite and marble are popular materials. |
Monuments, Statues, and Other Memorials |
Memorialization by planting a native tree, shrub, or other plant is common. |
Families may choose to purchase and install benches, statues, or other memorial objects allowed by cemetery policy. |
Grave Liners and Vaults |
Grave liners and vaults are not used in natural burial cemeteries. |
Liners and vaults are made of cement or metal. They surround the casket on all sides and prevent the ground from sinking over time. |
Cemetery Appearance |
Natural burial cemeteries look and feel like parks, often without paved walkways or roadways. Grave sites may by only subtly identifiable, especially after many years. |
Conventional cemeteries have a manicured appearance with grass and rows of headstones. They often have paved roadways and trails. |
Cemetery Maintenance Activities |
Property maintenance may include cultivating habitat for wildlife, non-chemical efforts to mitigate invasive species, etc. |
Turf maintenance, ornamental flower planting. |
