Therapeutic Landscapes did a lovely, thoughtful post about Landscapes of Remembrance last week and asked for some input. Well, since I spent my Sunday at a cemetery, I can do just that.

Let me start by talking about me, because that’s my favorite subject. I’m terrified of pain and suffering, but once I’m dead, I don’t care what you do with me. I won’t feel it. I don’t want my decomposing body to take up good space on this earth. So, I’ve signed up to recycle my organs and the rest of me can be cremated and flushed down the toilet for all I care.

With the green movement well under way, are there more options for eco friendly burials these days?

Absolutely! But let’s backtrack by talking a bit about religion. Ok, I don’t know anything about religion, being the heathen that I am, but I did find out one thing over the weekend. Jews don’t embalm. They also don’t cremate (or tattoo, but that’s off topic). It has something to do with leaving the body as it came into this world. I’m sure Judaism isn’t the only religion to opt out on the hazardous embalming fluids, but I’ll let you fill me in if you know of others.

A green burial simply means no embalming fluids and a bio-degradable casket. There are green burial grounds popping up all over.

Going back to my cremation, I’ve learned that the use of fossil fuel during the process doesn’t make it the  most sustainable alternative.

The Great Burial Reef offers a burial of ashes at sea. Sounds like a fantastic idea! But the cheap bitch in me says “Why can’t my friends and family just take my ashes and throw them overboard themselves?”

A sky burial seems like the best option to me, but alas, it is SO NOT legal in the states! This is the Tibetan funerary practice of cutting up the body and letting the birds eat it. Talk about recycling! There is a sky burial cemetery in Texas, but the bird eating thing is only allowed for pets. Pets that may be buried with you. Now, I like THAT option! But dead or not, I’m not spending my eternity in Texas.