Resource: Life Forest
Life Forest is a natural forest of memorial trees under which the cremated remains of loved ones rest. Its mission is to combine the healing found through nature with the protective qualities of a traditional cemetery.
The first step is choosing the memorial tree. Life Forest is dedicated to providing as many options as possible so that you can find the perfect tree to represent your loved one. Some examples of their memorial tree offerings are Cherry Trees, Juniper Trees, Fragrant Lilac, and Japanese Maple.
The next step is the burial and planting. Life Forest can accommodate both cremated and composted remains. Families or multiple loved ones can be buried together under one large tree or buried under separate trees in their own alcove. Burial services are entirely optional but if you do choose to have one, Life Forest will assist you in any way that they can. The burial and planting of the tree is performed (with the utmost respect) by the Life Forest team. To ensure that you will always be able to find your loved one’s memorial tree in the future, Life Forest provides a Certificate of Internment Rights which include the exact GPS coordinates of the memorial tree, which are also legally recorded to the Life Forest Deed (but owned by you). Your loved one’s memorial tree will legally be considered a “burial monument” and therefore have legal protections.
Explore the Life Forest website for more information on how it works as well as pricing and planning, or to submit a question through their contact form:
https://www.thelifeforest.com/
Life Forest also offers a free course on topics related to cremation. It is called the “Cremation Guidebook” and it goes over what cremation is, the different options available for the disposition of cremated remains, and alternative methods of memorialization with cremated remains. The course instructor is Dr. Caitlyn Hauke, phD. She is the President of the Board of Directors of the Green Burial Council International and the Lead Cemetarian at Life Forest. Her extensive educational background and passion for green burial alternatives and compassionate deathcare allow her to educate others on their end-of-life options with incredible knowledge and empathy. If you are interested in this free course, you can find it at the following link:
https://www.redesigningtheend.com/courses/cremation-guidebook
