Introduction
Death is inevitable — but how we return to the earth doesn’t have to be. More families today are choosing a return to nature funeral home as a way to honor loved ones with compassion, simplicity, and deep respect for the natural world.
This guide covers everything you need to know about natural burial and return-to-nature funeral services — from what they actually involve and how much they cost, to how to find the right provider and what questions to ask. Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or navigating a loss right now, this article will give you clear, honest answers.
What Is a Return to Nature Funeral Home?
A return to nature funeral home is a funeral service provider that specializes in eco-friendly, natural burial options. Unlike conventional funeral homes that rely heavily on embalming chemicals, metal caskets, and concrete burial vaults, these providers focus on allowing the body to decompose naturally and return to the earth.
The concept is rooted in the idea that death is not an ending but a transformation — a rejoining of the body with the soil, water, and life cycle of the natural world.
How It Differs From a Traditional Funeral Home
| Feature | Traditional Funeral Home | Return to Nature Funeral Home |
|---|---|---|
| Embalming | Standard practice | Avoided or not used |
| Casket Material | Metal or hardwood | Biodegradable (wicker, bamboo) |
| Burial Vault | Typically required | Not used |
| Cemetery Type | Conventional lawn cemetery | Natural burial ground or woodland |
| Environmental Impact | High (chemicals, materials) | Minimal to none |
| Cost | $7,000–$12,000+ average | $1,500–$5,000 average |
| Land Use | Permanent, maintained plots | Restored to natural habitat |
Why Families Are Choosing Natural Burials
The rise of return to nature funeral homes reflects a broader shift in how we think about death, the environment, and legacy. Several key factors are driving this trend.
1. Environmental Awareness
Conventional burial in the United States alone involves millions of gallons of embalming fluid, thousands of tons of steel and concrete, and vast amounts of hardwood each year. Natural burial eliminates nearly all of this impact.
Families who care deeply about their ecological footprint — who seek harmony with the natural world in life — are increasingly extending that value into their end-of-life decisions.
2. Meaningful Connection to the Earth
There’s something profoundly comforting about the idea of a loved one becoming part of a forest, meadow, or living landscape. A tree may be planted above the burial site. Wildflowers may bloom. Life continues.
This mirrors what many find healing in exploring nature walks and hidden gem trails — the sense that the natural world holds something sacred and restorative that extends beyond our everyday lives.
3. Lower Cost
Green burials are significantly more affordable than traditional funerals. Without the cost of embalming, elaborate caskets, vaults, and highly maintained cemetery plots, families can save thousands of dollars while still creating a dignified, meaningful farewell.
4. Simplicity and Authenticity
Many people feel that conventional funerals are overly formalized and disconnected from genuine grief. A natural burial tends to feel more personal, more human, and more honest — a quiet return to something elemental.
Types of Services Offered at a Return to Nature Funeral Home
Natural Ground Burial
The most common service. The body is placed in a biodegradable shroud or simple wooden container and buried in a natural burial ground — often a protected woodland, meadow, or conservation land. No vault, no embalming.
Human Composting (Terramation)
One of the newest and most innovative green options. The body is placed in a vessel with organic material (wood chips, straw, flowers) and gently transformed into nutrient-rich soil over 30–60 days. Families receive the resulting compost to use in gardens or return to a natural landscape.
This option is currently legal in several U.S. states including Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, and California — with more states considering legislation.
Aquamation (Alkaline Hydrolysis)
A water-based alternative to cremation. The body is dissolved using warm water and an alkaline solution, resulting in a liquid and bone fragments. It uses 90% less energy than flame cremation and produces no direct emissions.
Biodegradable Cremation Urns
For families who choose cremation but want an eco-friendly memorial, many return to nature funeral homes offer biodegradable urns designed to dissolve in soil or water — some even contain tree seeds or wildflower mix.
Green Home Funerals
Some providers support home funerals, where the family cares for the body themselves with guidance from a licensed death doula or funeral director. This approach is legal in most U.S. states and reconnects families with the natural death process.
How to Choose the Right Return to Nature Funeral Home
Choosing the right provider is one of the most important decisions in this process. Here’s what to look for:
Key Questions to Ask
- Are you licensed in this state for natural burial services?
- What biodegradable options do you offer for containers or shrouds?
- Do you work with specific natural burial grounds or cemeteries?
- Is embalming required, or can it always be declined?
- What is included in your base price, and what are add-on costs?
- Can the family be involved in the burial process?
- Do you offer pre-planning services?
Green Burial Certifications to Look For
The Green Burial Council (GBC) is the primary certifying body for natural burial providers in North America. Look for providers certified at one of these levels:
- Hybrid Cemetery — Offers a natural burial section alongside conventional options
- Natural Burial Ground — Dedicated to conservation-based green burial
- Conservation Burial Ground — Partners with land trusts to permanently protect burial land
According to the Green Burial Council’s official standards, certified providers must meet specific requirements around embalming avoidance, biodegradable container use, and land stewardship — ensuring families receive genuinely eco-friendly services.
The Cost of a Return to Nature Funeral Home
One of the most frequently asked questions is: how much does a green burial cost?
Typical Price Ranges
| Service Type | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Natural ground burial | $1,000–$4,000 |
| Biodegradable shroud | $100–$500 |
| Natural burial plot | $1,000–$3,500 |
| Human composting | $3,000–$7,000 |
| Aquamation | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Green home funeral support | $500–$2,000 |
| Biodegradable urn (cremation) | $50–$300 |
Factors That Affect Cost
- Location — Urban areas tend to have higher prices than rural regions
- Type of burial ground — Conservation burial grounds may have different pricing structures
- Level of family involvement — More DIY participation typically lowers costs
- Add-on services — Memorial planning, death doulas, grief support
The National Funeral Directors Association reports that the median cost of a traditional funeral with burial is over $9,000 — making green burial a meaningful financial alternative for many families.
What Happens During a Natural Burial
Understanding the practical process can ease anxiety for families navigating this for the first time.
Step-by-Step Overview
- Death occurs — Notification to the return to nature funeral home or chosen provider
- Body care — Gentle washing, no embalming; dry ice or refrigeration for preservation if needed
- Preparation — Body is wrapped in a biodegradable shroud or placed in a simple wooden or wicker container
- Transportation — Moved to the natural burial ground
- Burial ceremony — Family may participate fully; graveside rituals, songs, readings, flowers
- Burial — Body is lowered without a concrete vault; a GPS marker or natural stone may mark the site
- Ecological restoration — The land is left to restore naturally; a native plant or tree may be planted
The entire process tends to feel more participatory and less transactional than a conventional funeral — giving families a tangible sense of presence and closure.
Planning Ahead: Pre-Need Green Burial Services
Many return to nature funeral homes now offer pre-planning services, allowing individuals to arrange and even pay for their natural burial in advance. This takes the burden off grieving family members and ensures your wishes are honored exactly as you intended.
Just as people thoughtfully plan for their lives — building routines, choosing values-aligned products, and connecting with nature through eco-conscious choices — planning an eco-friendly end of life is an extension of living with intention.
Pre-Planning Benefits
- Locks in current pricing before costs rise
- Ensures your specific wishes are documented and legally binding
- Removes difficult decisions from grieving loved ones
- Allows you to choose your burial ground while you can visit and evaluate it
- Provides personal peace of mind
Return to Nature Funeral Homes by Region
While a comprehensive national directory is beyond the scope of this article, here’s how to find providers near you:
- Green Burial Council’s Provider Directory — Search by state and certification level at greenburialcouncil.org
- The Natural End Map — An interactive map of natural burial sites across the U.S. and Canada
- Local hospice organizations — Often maintain referral lists for green funeral providers
- Death Positive movement communities — Online groups like The Order of the Good Death connect families with natural death care professionals
Grief, Healing, and the Natural World
There’s growing evidence that nature itself plays a role in healing grief. The practice of returning a loved one to the earth — and being able to visit a living landscape rather than a manicured cemetery — can provide ongoing comfort.
Much like the quiet restoration found on a peaceful nature walk through hidden gem trails, returning to a natural burial ground offers something that a conventional cemetery rarely does: the feeling of life continuing, growing, and persisting.
For many families, the act of choosing a return to nature funeral home is itself a form of grief work — a meaningful, intentional decision that honors the values of the person who has died and brings comfort to those left behind.
According to Psychology Today’s research on grief and nature, spending time in natural environments has measurable positive effects on grief processing, reducing anxiety and helping individuals find meaning after loss.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a return to nature funeral home legal everywhere?
Natural burial is legal throughout the United States, Canada, the UK, and most of Europe. However, specific services like human composting or aquamation have varying state-by-state legality in the U.S. Always confirm with your provider which services are legally available in your jurisdiction.
Can I still have a funeral ceremony with a return to nature burial?
Absolutely. A return to nature funeral home can accommodate virtually any type of memorial service — graveside ceremonies, religious rites, family-led rituals, or fully customized celebrations of life. Natural burial does not mean no ceremony; it simply changes the method of disposition.
How is the burial site marked at a natural burial ground?
Most natural burial grounds use a GPS coordinate, a flat natural stone, or a native plant or tree to mark the site. Conventional upright headstones are generally not used, as they would interrupt the natural landscape. Families are given permanent access records of the exact location.
Is embalming required for a return to nature funeral?
In most cases, embalming is not required and is actively avoided at return to nature funeral homes. Refrigeration or dry ice is used for body preservation if needed before burial. Some states require embalming only if the body is being transported across state lines or if burial is delayed beyond a certain time — but exceptions are often available.
Can I pre-plan and pre-pay for a natural burial?
Yes. Many return to nature funeral homes offer pre-need planning contracts. You can select your burial ground, choose your container type, document your wishes, and pay in advance (either in full or through a payment plan). This is highly recommended to relieve family members of decision-making during bereavement.
What is the difference between a natural burial ground and a green cemetery?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but technically: a natural burial ground is dedicated exclusively to green burial, while a green cemetery may offer both conventional and natural burial sections. A conservation burial ground goes further by partnering with land trusts to protect the land in perpetuity as wildlife habitat.
Conclusion
Choosing a return to nature funeral home is one of the most profound, values-driven decisions a person or family can make. It honors the earth, reduces environmental harm, lowers costs significantly, and — perhaps most importantly — offers a deeply human and meaningful farewell.
Whether you’re drawn to a simple burial shroud beneath a native oak, a meadow where wildflowers will bloom each spring, or an innovative process like human composting, the options available today are more accessible, more affordable, and more moving than ever before.
The earth gave us life. A return to nature funeral allows us to give something back.