THE MEADOWS

By DELL ARTHUR

            It is a unique quiet, serene bucolic place. The field appears natural in every way and wild flowers of every sort bloom and the ground is covered with undisturbed grass and ferns and weeds and swaying wheat-like strands softly bowing to a gentle wind. The name of this field is simply called “The Meadows.” It is described as a natural green burial cemetery.

            You would think that such a place would emote a sense of sorrow, hurt or pain. True, cemeteries do leave that sense of fatalness but somehow the Meadows conveys a different feeling; a feeling of peace and rest. The quietness and beauty of the natural surroundings offset the harsh reality that here consigned are those who are no longer of this world.

            Located at Ferndale, Washington State, the site is situated at the far-east side to Greenacres Memorial Park. The Meadow, is a 40 acre piece of pasture land completely undeveloped and dedicated exclusively for natural burials.

Greenacres, owned and operated by the Moles family, was originally founded over 100 years ago by John Moles and has continued service to the community throughout all those years in many ways. Currently the great grandson, John Moles, is president of the organization and a few years ago, with the assistance of his general manager in charge of The Meadows Brian Flowers, came about the first such natural cemetery of its kind as a natural burial ground in Washington State and it is only one of 12 such sites in the United States.

“I come from a cabinet and furniture making background and came in contact with John who wanted to purchase plain pine caskets,” Flowers explained. After discussion about the lack of such a burial site, Flowers soon joined the funeral home and was instrumental in development of “The Meadows.”

Flowers, an affable caring man said that the reason for the development of such a burial site was a genuine need. “There are many people who wish to be buried in a way that gives them a closer relationship with the land, and there are others who have ecological reasons,” he said. Also there are many who believe in the scriptural principal of “ashes to ashes and dust to dust.” Whatever the reasons, most family members left behind wish to be entombed the same way.

Flowers said that those who choose to be buried at The Meadows are given several choices. However, there are certain requirements as well. Decedents must not have been embalmed or if they have, the procedure must have been with nontoxic products.  As for burial containers they must be 100 per cent biodegradable and non-toxic. No metal caskets and fasteners or synthetic linings or formaldehyde glues or high volatile organic compounds are allowed according the companies brochure. As a result the funeral home has three choices for internment; a plain pine casket; a hand woven wicker or other natural material container or a burial shroud made of muslin and Irish linen. There are no prohibitions for those who wish to construct their own caskets as long as they meet the required standards. About 70 percent of people choose to be buried in a shroud, Flowers said.

As for the burial sites a great deal of care is utilized. The Meadows allots about 300 burial sites per acre whereas conventional cemeteries intern as high as 1000 burial sites per acre. And there is a good reason for it. Burial liners are prohibited. Also when a new site is being prepared the neighboring grave site is undisturbed. In addition, according to the company, the density separation also lowers the concentration of nutrients being placed in the ground. “Everything is mapped by surveyors,” Flowers explained, and each and every grave site is recorded.

Regarding tombstones; again every natural material is incorporated. Most headstones are river rock boulders weighing anywhere from 100 to 500 pounds. Individual or two people inscriptions can be engraved depending on the size of the rock. The boulders are harvested from a river source and not from a quarry. This, said Flowers, conforms to the natural aesthetic and environmental specifications of The Meadow.

In addition Flowers said families can choose any tree, shrub or groundcover from a list the cemetery furnishes. According to the funeral home families and loved ones are encouraged not only to participate in the planting of these “living memorials,” but also assist in the actual burial as well.

When the deceased is prepared it is placed on a wood carrier that has been used since the late 1890’s, and transported to the gravesite. Originally this same cart was used to transport caskets from town to the outlaying cemetery covering a distance of over three miles. Mourners would follow behind accompanying the casket. Today the same procedure is used by Greenacres. Once reaching the grave site family and friends surround the open grave and commence services. Once completed the body is usually lowered, with the help of friends and family members, into the final resting place and then filled.

“We encourage families and loved ones to participate in the closing of the grave if they choose,” Flowers said. He believes there is a certain therapeutic benefit when the family actually takes part.

As for himself Flowers plans to be interred at The Meadows when the time comes. And as his business card says, it is “The natural way to say goodbye.”