The wooden coffin thread made me remember a plan I have been kicking around. Dad will be leaving me the 40 acre farm I grew up on when he passes on (He's 80 this year). Anyway I want to do something a little more environmentally friendly with it than dad did. He's practically killed the soil with all the agri-chemicals he used. My thought is to first plant a fledgling forest. Then I would allow people to sprinkle the ashes of a loved one under a particular tree. They would get a nice plaque placed on or near the tree included in the price. I would plant something like clover instead of grass because I wouldn't have to mow it and it would be good for the bees and other insects. There is also a pictuesque little pond that could have a couple of benches on the bank. I live 100 miles from this farm so this seems like a good way to make it at least pay for the taxes while lowering the amount of upkeep required. So what do you think?

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001

Answers

Sounds like a good idea to me. You'd have to check on the rules. The only problem I see is that you'd never be able to change your mind, and would probably make it unsaleable (if that's a real word!).

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001

Debra: I've got both my parents ashes scattered on my propery. I wasn't to sure how it would feel but now I know it much better than buryed in a box. New trees are growing on the site and its a constant reminder that things don't die but just change form!! Anyway I think its a great idea!.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001

Sites that might be of interest to you:

http://www.memorialecosystems.com/ Memorial EcoSystems http://www.naturaldeathcare.org/ The Natural Death Care Project http://www.reclaiming.org/dying/greenburial.html http://members.aol.com/pantheism0/death.htm

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001

I like it!

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2001

I wonder if you might need to put the land into some kind of trust to protect it after you're gone? I know that the developers here in Indiana have no qualms about digging up historic cemetaries to put in strip malls. If the graves are over a certain age they don't even have to move the bodies! Since your park wouldn't gave actual graves it seems like it would be even easier to someone to buy up and build overtop of it. I like your concept though.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2001

We used to have family property at the ocean south of here. Because of dredging on one of the nearby rivers, the shoreline eroded back almost a mile (very long story.) Our place was next door to an old overgrown cemetary (very interesting place.) What amazed me is that the cemetary was allowed to just wash away. (Oh yeah, our house and property, too. )I recall no re-interment for any of the remains. Weird, huh. Probably a good idea to check into some local regs.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2001