In Vermont and across the country, a quiet shift is happening in how people think about burial. Increasingly, families are seeking a simpler, more environmentally conscious option – one that reflects both their values and a desire to return to the earth naturally.
This approach is known as natural burial (or green burial), and while it might sound new, it’s actually the oldest form of burial there is. For thousands of years – and well into the 19th century – burial was simple: the body was laid to rest in a wooden box or cloth shroud, without embalming, concrete vaults, or metal caskets. The goal was straightforward: return the body to the earth.
Waitsfield Cemetery Commission member Robin McDermott explained that embalming only became common in the United States during the Civil War, when bodies were preserved so soldiers could be transported home. Concrete vaults were added later for cemetery maintenance convenience, not environmental or health reasons. Today, most conventional burials include embalming, non-biodegradable materials, and vaults – practices that use significant resources and introduce chemicals into the soil.
She explained that natural burial returns to those older traditions, while meeting modern environmental values. The body is placed in a biodegradable container – a simple wooden coffin, a woven casket, or a shroud – and buried at a depth that supports natural decomposition. For many, it’s a meaningful way to reduce environmental impact, simplify end-of-life planning, and maintain a deep connection to the land.
"Here in the Mad River Valley, interest in natural burial is growing. Waitsfield currently allows natural burial, and other towns are exploring how to provide this option as more people express interest for reasons ranging from sustainability to religious or cultural traditions,” McDermott said.
To help deepen community understanding of what natural burial is – and how it might be offered more widely in The Valley – the Mad River Valley Cemetery Commissions are hosting an event this fall, “From Earth to Earth: Exploring Natural Burial in the Mad River Valley and Beyond” on October 16, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Big Picture Theater. It is free and open to the public.
The evening will begin with a 20-minute screening of “From Earth to Earth,” a short documentary that explores the meaning and benefits of natural burial through the voices of those who helped make it legal in Vermont.
Following the film, there will be a Q&A and open discussion with Michelle Acciavatti, founder of Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury, Jim Hogle, president and outreach coordinator of the cemetery, and members of the Mad River Valley Cemetery Commissions.
