How to Be Buried as a Tree

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If you’re an environmentally conscious person, you may have heard of tree pod burials, or natural burials. This eco-friendly alternative to a traditional burial not only saves you money, but it’s great for the environment as well. If you’d like to learn more about being buried as a tree, read through this article for everything you’ll need to know, including locations, cost, and legality.

Things You Should Know

  • With tree burials, a tree is planted alongside a buried pod full of your remains. Over time, the pod breaks down and provides nutrients for the tree to grow.
  • A tree pod usually costs between $400 and $500, not including any funeral services.
  • Tree burials are legal in the USA, and most states even allow you to have your burial take place on private property.
Section 1 of 5:

What is a tree pod burial?

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    Rather than a casket, the human body goes into a biodegradable pod that will break down over time. The pod is buried in the ground, and a tree is planted on top of it. As the tree grows, the person’s remains will provide nutrients for the tree. [1]
    • In a tree pod burial, the human remains can be whole, or they can be cremated.
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Section 2 of 5:

How much does a tree pod burial cost?

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    Depending on the company you go through and what you end up purchasing, you can expect to spend a few hundred dollars on the burial pod alone. Keep in mind that this cost doesn’t include any additional funeral services or the burial process itself. [2]
    • In general, a full funeral with a tree burial pod costs around $1,000 to $2,000.
    • Biodegradable urns are usually cheaper; those typically range from $65 to $300.
Section 3 of 5:

Where can I be buried as a tree?

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    Home burials are legal in the majority of the United States, with the exception of Washington, California, and Indiana. In some states, you must work with a funeral director to have a home burial, but in others, you can simply request a home burial. [3]
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    While traditionally cemeteries only focused on funeral services with caskets and a headstone, more and more are opting for natural or biodegradable options. If you have a cemetery nearby, reach out to the director and ask if they do any natural burial services. [4]
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Section 4 of 5:

Companies that Provide Tree Pod Burials

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    The Living Urn sells biodegradable urns that you can purchase with or without a tree. Shaped like a large pot, the urns get buried directly into the ground, and you can either plant your own local tree or continue growing the one that came with your urn.
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    Capsula Mundi is one of the most popular tree pod burial companies. Currently, they offer biodegradable urns that you can bury cremated remains in and then plant a tree on top of. They hope to get their egg-shaped biodegradable pods that hold whole human remains on the market soon.
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Section 5 of 5:

Are tree pod burials legal?

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    However, it’s worth looking into your local zoning laws to figure out the specifics of a home burial. Laws tend to vary from state to state, and a funeral director can give you the specifics on your local laws. [5]

Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Is the actual body in the pod or ashes?
    Blokboy 780
    Community Answer
    The actual body is in a pod buried underneath the tree. The body may be ashes if it is cremated prior to the burial.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ashes-ashes-and-trees
      2. ↑ https://www.lhlic.com/consumer-resources/green-burial/
      3. ↑ https://www.romemonuments.com/home-burials
      4. ↑ https://www.naturalburialcompany.com/where-to-go/
      5. ↑ https://www.romemonuments.com/home-burials

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