Posted on 10/14/2010 7:47:17 AM PDT by greatdefender
GOLDENDALE, Wash. Steve Sall moved forward on uneven, rocky terrain in his motorized wheelchair and came to a stop at the edge of a sweeping vista of ponderosa pines and bright pockets of yellow wildflowers.
Sall wanted to see the canyon he used to hike before Lou Gehrig's disease left him near death. Three months later, the 61-year-old Sall was laid to rest in the forest.
He would be among the small but growing number of Americans choosing environmentally friendly burials. The so-called "green burials" are a departure from the norm in that they don't use concrete vaults, metal coffins or any chemicals.
The Green Burial Council, an industry group that sets standards, now counts more than 300 approved providers in 40 states, while only a dozen existed as recently as the beginning of 2008.
And a March 2010 survey commissioned by the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association found a quarter of those polled liked the concept of environmentally friendly burials.
"We think of this as a new idea, but this is really an ancient idea we're returning to," said Joe Sehee, executive director of the New Mexico-based council.
A burial in the wilderness was especially appealing to Sall after spending so much of his life hiking mountains and forests across the Pacific Northwest. He was also heavily involved in his son's Boy Scout experience, often accompanying the troop on nature excursions.
As Lou Gehrig's disease advanced earlier this year, Sall knew it was time to consider end-of-life logistics. He thought about cremation, but didn't like the idea of pumping gases into the atmosphere, said his son, David.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
USS SIGSBEE DD-502 BURIALS AT SEA 0853 APRIL 15, 1945
Ah. Now for an upsurge in bell sales.
Run me through a wood chipper and spray me on the lawn.
Soylent True Green.
Hikers drink water from runoff and other nearby water sources. Disease anyone?
“As Lou Gehrig’s disease advanced earlier this year, Sall knew it was time to consider end-of-life logistics. He thought about cremation, but didn’t like the idea of pumping gases into the atmosphere, said his son, David.”
Oh please.
Cowboy Rule #1. ALWAYS drink upstream from the herd.
My grandmother’s funeral was $12,000, so $4000 doesn’t sound so bad. But yeah, I get what you are saying. I actually like this concept and am considering it myself (hopefully won’t need it for many more years!), but my consideration has nothing to do with Mother Earth.
Too funny, unfortunately I bet you mean it.
I guess animal feces, rotting orgainics and the plethora of bateria normal in the woods aren’t a risk?
I mean, nature ain’t exactly sterile.
Hikers who drink runoff or stream water w/o proper treatment are asking for disease.
Digging a hole in the mountain and tucking in in a corpse is a significant departure from critters dying and beeing scattered about, actually, probably safer than the latter.
My only concern would be proper siting to minimize erosion.
No embalming fluid, $10,000.00 casket, or creepy funeral home for us. It will be a celebration of life, not a gloom and doom crying fest.
The current funeral ritual in the U.S. is one of the most gruesome (and one of the biggest rackets), in the world, IMO.
I am interested in this concept. What can you tell me about it in greater detail? What State? Etc.
“Hikers drink water from runoff and other nearby water sources. Disease anyone?”
Honestly? Anyone drinking surface water without treating it first, is looking for disease regardless.
http://www.dhpe.org/infect/giardiasis.html
The Giardia parasite is found in every region of the United States and throughout the world. Giardiasis occurs often in mountainous areas where water supplies from lakes, ponds, or streams have become contaminated with animal droppings or human waste.
“Our bodies don’t belong to us. They belong to nature.”
Then nature needs to issue a recall on your thinking parts.
I keep telling my sons to drag me out back and throw me in a ditch.
Are you series?
If you people really want to not be a burden to nature then maybe you would reconsider living because every day you spend on this earth eating, drinking, clothing yourself, housing yourself, warming yourself, cooling yourself, entertaining yourself and defecating you are a burden.
Double-cross the mob and your body will be disposed of without a trace for FREE!
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