Green Burial Options

A foggy dirt pathway winding through a forest with mostly leafless trees and some bushes with white flowers.

At Penn Forest we offer many green burial options for those who choose our beautiful natural cemetery as their final resting place. You can click any of the links below to navigate quickly to a section of your interest.

Green Burial Options

A fresh dirt mound and a wooden pallet with a coffin draped in a white cloth and colorful flowers, set outdoors in a grassy area with tall green trees and wildflowers in the background.

Whole Body Burial

Natural Burial - Whole body is lowered in a grave depth of 4 feet, and inside will be a soft bed of straw. A depth of 6 feet is not required while 4 feet is appropriate for the natural decomposition process and meets all state requirements. Habitat options for whole body burials are located in the Meadow and Wooded Groves.

Small memorial on the forest floor with rocks, pinecones, evergreen branches, and fall leaves.

Cremation Burial

Cremation Burial - Cremated remains is lowered in a grave depth of 2 feet that is hand dug by cemetery staff. Ashes can be interred with a biodegradable urn or directly poured into the grave. Habitat options for cremated remains are located in designated cremains grounds in the Meadow and Wooded Groves.

A small, circular stone wall surrounds a gravel area with trees casting long shadows on the ground, in a wooded park setting.

Scattering of Ashes

Scattering of Ashes - Cremated remains can only be scattered within Penn Forest’s Remembrance Garden and with Penn Forest staff present. Loved ones are welcome to walk the garden path while they scatter. Memorial stones are not permitted in the garden.

Biodegradable Burial Containers

Penn Forest Natural Burial Park is certified by the Green Burial Council and we must adhere to natural burial guidelines.
Below are some examples of burial containers that are eco-friendly and comply with our certification.

Please note: Penn Forest does not sell or provide burial containers. We encourage you to research burial container options, and to help you get started, we recommend exploring the following sites for inspiration. 

Passages, Natural Burial Co. Store, The Old Pine Box, Nature’s Casket, Kinkaraco, Last Dance Shrouds, and Urns Northwest. 

A wooden casket placed outdoors in a wooded area with green trees in the background, a flower vase with purple and white flowers next to it.

Caskets and Coffins

Caskets and Coffins can be purchased by artisans, funeral home providers or made by hand. They must be free from non-biodegradable glues, finishes and any other materials. Metal, fasteners, screws and hinges are not permissible. Learn more here. There are many options to choose from such as pine, willow, bamboo and seagrass casket, to name a few. Cardboard is also an option that is accessible, affordable and compact. Families are welcome to personalize and decorate the burial containers with either 100% natural materials or non-toxic applications. Caskets and coffins must have handles for pall bearing and lowering.

A table with a white cloth holds a bouquet of pink, yellow, white, and red flowers set outdoors, with a garden full of purple and white flowers in the background.

Burial Shrouds

Shrouds are made from an all natural cloth such as cotton, silk or wool, and is used to wrap a loved one for burial. Like caskets and coffins, these can also be purchased from an artisan, funeral home provider or handmade. A support board must be inserted or added to the shroud to stabilize the body. Handles are a must for pall bearing and lowering. Shrouds are a wonderful opportunity to personalize a loved one’s burial container.

Crocheted urn in pastel colors on a floral-patterned surface with a yellow cushion in the background.

Urns

Urns are permissible for cremation burials and must also be biodegradable. There are excellent material options for urns, including but not limited to paper, cardboard, wood, and sand. To learn more about biodegradable urns, you can follow this link. These can also be purchased from the same sources as shrouds and caskets.

Day of Burial Service

Here are a few things to consider for a burial service at Penn Forest and what to expect.
Our staff can guide you in creating a special service that meets your family's needs and reflects the uniqueness of the decedent.

A wooden cart with black metal side rails, decorated with flowers and a white cloth, is parked on a gravel path in a forest with green trees and grass.

GATHER

Loved ones will gather in our parking lot before the burial service. During bloom seasons, visitors are welcome to cut flowers from our flower picking garden for the burial. Penn Forest staff will direct parking, meet with the family and pallbearers, and lead a walking procession when everyone has arrived. For mobility concerns, a golf cart can transport guests close to the gravesite. Cars are not permitted in the cemetery.

Construction site in a forest with wooden planks forming a frame, and a mound of soil with a small green bush on top, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.

BURIAL SITE

At the gravesite, tall grasses and fallen branches are cleared. The grave will be 4 ft deep with a soft straw bed for the body to rest on. Wooden boards line the edges, with two wooden cross boards supporting the body during the ceremony. Long straps assist with lowering when ready. A soil mound, seasonally decorated by Penn Forest staff using flowers and plants from our garden, and fallen tree branches from our forest. A shovel is available for backfilling. Chairs and tents can be provided upon request.

Group of children sitting on white folding chairs in a wooded outdoor area, participating in an activity around a makeshift platform with a white cloth bag on top.

CEREMONY

Penn Forest is inclusive and welcomes all ceremonies that honor the unique expression of the decedent. We encourage loved ones to participate in meaningful acts of service and tributes that align with our natural burial requirements. Our staff will guide and assist family and friends with pallbearing and lowering. If loved ones are unable or prefer not to participate in the handling of the body, Penn Forest staff are happy to provide any and all aspects of this service.