His daughters, and his close friends, bathed him. He had been sick for several months so, as was the tradition in his community of farmers, dancers, musicians, storytellers, and everyday people that populated the mountains of Western North Carolina, a loving “Frederick” sewing circle joined together, and started quilting. …
GBM Newsletter: Fall Equinox 2023
Autumn is the time of year when the days start to get shorter, the leaves begin to change, and we harvest what was grown over the summer months.
Family Burial Plot: A Personal Account
Family Burial Plot: A Personal Account By Donald J. Teaching a class on “Dying and Death” at Smith College led me to think through my own end of life wishes, including what I want done to dispose of my body.
Beth’s final gift to the Earth, and to me
Beth’s Final Gift to the Earth, and to Me By Bryan L. When my parents died, seven months apart, they were fortunate to be at home and I was lucky to be with them at the time of their passing.
An Earth Goddess Goes Back to the Earth
An Earth Goddess Goes Back to the Earth By Joe Laur We buried Rosalind today in the forest above her home. Two dozen of us trudged up a hillside on a humid afternoon, carrying a plain pine box. Inside, wrapped
Why I Build Green Caskets
Why I Build Green Caskets Customs around death have always varied widely based on people’s religion and culture. In today’s world as we are witness to the impact of the human population on our planet’s environment and climate—polluting the air, water, land
Care at Home after Death
Care at Home after Death By Joan P. Dennis and I had been interested in green burial since 2009 when an NPR program featured Mark Harris. I immediately read Harris’s book Grave Matters. We valued the concept of reduce, reuse,
Why I Want a Green Burial
Why I Want a Green Burial by Eva Moseley My mother died in San Francisco in 1971. My brother and I had no idea what to do next; Mother never let us go to funerals or visit sick friends in