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Green Life, Death & Future 2021
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The 2021 Green Burial Council virtual conference, Green Life, Death & Future, was a success by every metric. Green burial professionals, advocates, and explorers joined us from across many time zones to learn, share, and grow together, and we are grateful for your participation.
We will provide a more in-depth look at this year's conference soon, but for now, here are some notable numbers!
- We had more than 300 registrants for Green Life, Death & Future – meeting and exceeding our registration goal!
- Registrations came from locations across the globe including Okinawa, Japan; Melbourne and Wollongon, Australia; Christchurch, New Zealand; and Vitacura, Chile!
- The most common place in which registrants live was Vancouver, BC.
On behalf of the behind-the-scenes team at the Green Burial Council, an enormous thank you to the irreplaceable Jane Black, vice president of the GBC's 501(c)3 board of directors and 2021 conference chair. Jane, we have endless admiration for your hard work, enthusiasm, compassion, and vision.
Green Life, Death & Future was planned by a volunteer committee, with support from the GBC staff and board. Thank you all for using your talents and offering your time. We could not have done this without you!
Finally, our deepest appreciation to our sponsors, listed in the image below. These organizations and the people behind them are leading the movement. We encourage you to keep an eye on them and join us in thanking and celebrating them!
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What we heard...
“Talking about sex won’t make you pregnant, talking about funerals won’t make you dead.”
Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death from her opening night program - Are You “Green Burial Curious?”
“This is blowing my mind! James Cassidy, I feel like you could start a soil-based religion.”
from Soil: What It Is and How It Works with James Cassidy
“Always speak your truth! Share if you dare - others will follow your example.”
from Green Future: The Next Generation of Deathcare Workers with Laura Faessel, Maria St. Clair and Mary Ann Perry and guests Joél Simone Anthony, Dr. Basil Eldadah, and Carlos Gonzalez
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Compliance Certifier Updates
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Meet the GBC's newest cemetery compliance specialist, Anna Mehrer! Anna is an Oregon-based marketing consultant providing services to cemeteries since 2012. Her curiosity for cemeteries has been lifelong. She provides technical expertise and creative services to industry organizations. Having lived along the eastern seaboard, in Germany and Austria, as well as Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, she is grateful for the opportunities to visit as many cemeteries as possible. She is excited to be on board with the Green Burial Council facilitating cemetery certification as it combines promoting a sustainable end-of-life practice, her skill for attention to detail, and learning as much as possible about new (to her) cemeteries. Anna loves metal detecting anywhere except cemeteries, baking butterscotch pie, speaking German, and her partner and their cats.
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The GBC is seeking volunteers interested in certifying funeral providers for compliance with the Green Burial Standards.
The work typically takes about 5 - 10 hours per month. Ideal volunteer(s) are licensed funeral directors who are familiar with funeral directing, funeral home operations, and funeral laws. This role involves reviewing websites and written materials, and talking to potential providers on the phone. Physical funeral home visits are not involved in the process, so candidates from all locations are encouraged to apply.
If you are interested, please send an email to info@greenburialcouncil.org with the subject line "Funeral Provider Compliance Certifier." Please include your resume and/or relevant experience, as well as your contact information.
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Certified Providers Joining the
Green Burial Council
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Congratulations to the following providers for receiving
Green Burial Council Certification!
Click on the photos below to learn more about their services.
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"From fiction to reality: Could forests replace cemeteries?
From tree pods and mushroom suits to plain old dirt, death may have a greener future."
This recent article by Claire Elise Thompson in Fix Solutions Lab discusses the complicated resurgence of green burial, from the cultural and religious barriers, to the legal issues surrounding handling the deceased.
"Much like other eco-conscious movements...green burial, at its heart, is about reclaiming and re-familiarizing ourselves with a process. In this case, death."
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"Green burial? Home funeral? Local advocates want you to know your options"
This article by Abbe Hamilton in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript discusses the options available to those wishing to plan a greener burial. Though the article is about the options specifically in New Hampshire, the author explains many of the reasons one would choose a more natural burial, and how funeral homes and cemeteries accommodate these wishes.
"Green burials are safe, legal and ecological, as are home funerals. Both practices have the potential to be less expensive, too, [former GBC president Lee] Webster said, which can be an important factor when a traditional funeral with 'all the trimmings' can cost more than $15,000, more than the annual income of the average widower in New Hampshire, she said. But, people need to know that a $4 sheet is a valid alternative to a metal or exotic wood casket that might cost upwards of $4,000, she said."
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Green Burial Explained: Provider Spotlight
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For more details about these events please go to the GBC webpage, What’s Happening.
5th Annual Before I Die NM Festival
A Good Goodbye with Gail Rubin
Sunday, October 30th - Monday, November 2nd
Learn more here
Green Burial with Caitlyn Hauke, president, board of directors, Green Burial Council International
The Interfaith Center at Miami University
Tuesday, November 2nd
7:00pm ET • Online
Register here
Green Burial Café
Green Burial Nova Scotia
The last Wednesday of every month • Online via Zoom
For more information, visit the Green Burial Nova Scotia Facebook page
Professional Women's Conference - Canada
National Funeral Directors Association
November 12-14 • Virtual Option
For more information on attending the virtual sessions, click here.
Beautiful Dying Expo
November 12-14 • Online
For more information, visit the Beautiful Dying Expo website
Supporting Loved Ones Before, During, and After a Burial
Conservation Burial Alliance
Wednesday, November 17
3:00pm ET • Online
Learn more here
Green Burial Masterclass
Course begins January 10 • Online
For more information, visit the Redesigning the End website
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Help Further the Movement
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We appreciate your support as we build the resources necessary to help further the green burial movement throughout the United States and Canada. Help us grow the movement with your donation by going to the GBC website, or you can use the button below.
Thank you!
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Green Burial Council International is a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit operating in the United States and Canada. For tax deduction purposes, our tax ID number is 45-4422635.
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Green Burial Council, 2720 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA 95667
Copyright © 2021, Green Burial Council, All rights reserved.
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