Could Western Lutheran Cemetery Become a Green cemetery?
			Immanuel's first challenge is putting together the resources and the plan for caring for Western Lutheran Cemetery perpetually.  If we are able to do that, what then.  Would it be possible for the cemetery to again have burials?  Probably not in the traditional sense.   However, a new and growing movement in the United States and other countries toward "natural burial" and "green cemeteries" provides an interesting alternative that is worth considering.   A modern natural burial is an environmentally sustainable alternative to existing funeral practices, where the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and be recycled into new life. The body is prepared without chemical preservatives such as embalming and is buried in a biode- gradable casket or simple shroud. A natural burial preserve often uses grave markers that don’t intrude on the landscape. These natural markers can include shrubs and trees, or a flat indigenous stone, which may be engraved or centralised memorial structures where visitors can sit within the emerging forest. As in all cemeteries, there are careful records kept of the exact location of each internment, often using modern survey techniques such as GIS (geographic information system). Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers on or near the grave establishes a living memorial and helps form a protected wildlife preserve. A completed natural burial preserve is a green place with trees, grasses, and wildflowers, which in turn bring birds and other wildlife to the area. Irrigation is not used, nor are pesticides and herbicides applied; instead, a natural burial preserve protects and restores nature while establishing a place where family and friends can visit and be at peace. Cemetery legislation protects natural burial preserves in perpetuity from future development while the establishment of a conservation easement prevents future owners from altering the original intent for these burial grounds. These protective covenants are what permit natural burial preserves to function as landscape level conservation tools. Natural burial is a statement of personal values for many people who seek to minimise their impact on the planet. For people who are mindful of the cyclical nature of life a natural burial is a spiritually fulfilling alternative to the conventional burial.  That is not to mention the possibility of creating a low- cost burial option for our low-income neighbors. We invite you to explore this fascinating possibility for this historic and sacred plot of ground.