Full Circle of Living and Dying
  • Home
    • Donate Here
  • About us/Contact
    • Board of Directors >
      • Akhila Murphy, Founding Director, End-of-Life Doula, Death Care Midwife
      • Carolyn Seyler, Co-Chair President
      • Rosie Mariani, Board Treasurer
      • Mary Good, End-of-Life Doula, Secretary of the Board
      • Amanda Kenney, Death-Care Midwife, Board Director
      • Mary Jo Curtin, Board Director
    • FCLD Core Circle Volunteer Team >
      • Bonnie McKeegan, LCSW, Past Vice President Board Director
      • Martha Turner, Midwifery, Past President
      • Linda More, End-of-Life Doula, Past Board Director
      • Donna Peizer, Past Treasurer
      • Nandi Szabo, Co-Founder
      • Nancy Parraz, Death Care Midwife
      • Sushila Mertens, End-of-Life Doula >
        • Sushila Mertens, End-of-Life Doula, Outstanding Volunteer of the Year!
        • Spotlight Sushila Mertens
      • Rebecca Sengolu
    • Advocates for end-of-life choices and death-care rights
    • FAQ
    • What is an End-of-Life Doula or Death Midwife?
    • Sign up for Newsletter/send email
    • Contact Us
    • Pregnancy and Infant Loss >
      • Cuddle Cot 2021
      • Support group: Pregnancy and Infant Loss
    • Gallery
    • Donate Here
    • JOIN OUR TEAM
    • Our Education >
      • Our Final Passages Death Midwifery Training
      • Home Funeral Article by Jerrigrace Lyons
  • In-Home Funeral Guidance
    • Know your rights. Home death care is legal.
    • Home Death Care in California >
      • Home Funeral Paperwork
    • CALIFORNIA DEATH CERTIFICATE Instructions
    • Tattoo Preservation after Death
    • Death Care >
      • Sacred Death Care
    • What is "Lying in Honor?"
    • Symbolism of our LOGO
    • Donate Here
    • Pet Funeral >
      • Pet Euthanasia in the Home
    • Death Certificate Worksheet >
      • Nevada County-File Your Own Paperwork for Death Certificate - Vital Records Office
    • Video: A Conversation about After Death Care
  • End-of-Life Care Options
    • Pregnancy and Infant Loss >
      • Support group: Pregnancy and Infant Loss
      • Cuddle Cot 2021
    • Advance Directives, Dementia, Covid-19, Five Wishes
    • End-of-Life Doula
    • California End of Life Option Act (MAID)
    • VSED: Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking
    • Sacred Bridges, Local End-of-Life Caregivers
    • Remembrances
    • Contributions
    • Testimonials
    • Physician Support: Medical Aid in Dying
  • Green Burial
    • History of Natural Green Burial, Cherokee Cemetery, Nevada County >
      • Green Burial Santa Monica 2016
      • Green Burial Video from GBC
    • Natural Organic Reduction -Composting Human Remains >
      • Presentation: Natural Organic Reduction + YouTube link
    • Natural Organic Reduction Amigo Bob's story
    • Rules for Scattering Ashes
    • Find A Grave (website)
    • Aquamation: Water Cremation >
      • Desmond Tutu: Aquamation
    • Cremation- Not so Environmentally Friendly!
  • Events & News
    • Upcoming Educational Series MAR 14, 2023: AS YOU WISH: Creating a Beautiful End-of-Life
    • Upcoming March 16, 2023 Death Conversations Event
    • Presentation April 30, 2023 In-Home Death Care
    • Past event Aquamation Presentation Jan. 18, 2023 link to recording
    • Past Death Conversations Event Nov. 17, 2022
    • Past Film Event: Jack Has a Plan Aug. 2022
    • LA TIMES Article about Lawsuit Aug. 2022
    • Article: Death Doula Lawsuit Dec. 2021 >
      • California Death Doulas Fight
      • Death Doulas C&C Article Nov. 2021
    • Article: Pregnancy Loss Conversations Feb, 2022
    • Past Event June 24, 2022 Presentation Organ and Tissue donation
    • Past Event Apr. 28, 2022 After-death Care presentation
    • PAST March 26, 2022 Cemetery Field Trip
    • Past Event March 17, 2022 Death Conversations- Breaking the silence
    • Past Event Jan 20, 2022 Death Conversations- Breaking the silence
    • Review: 2021 City of Hope, End:0f-Life Symposium December
    • PAST EVENTS 2021 >
      • Presentation Dec. 9th : "There's No Place Like Home." Home funeral Basics
      • Past Event: Nov. 2021- Medical Aid-in-Dying Update
      • Past Event: Natural Organic Reduction - Register
      • Past Events 2021 : June 18 -Field trip to Cherokee Cemetery
    • Newsletters
    • KVMR Podcasts: Featuring End-of-LIfe Doulas
    • PUBLISHED ARTICLES >
      • Article from The Order of the Good Death
      • Article: California's End-of-LIfe Option Act
      • Article Amigo Bob -Natural Organic Reduction Human Composting
      • April 2020 Ventilators in times of COVID-19
      • Union Article Caring Cradle Sept 2019
      • Giving Back After Tragedy, September 2019 The Union
      • Article The Union May 2019 New nonprofit
      • Article The Union August 2019 HBO Documentary
      • Choosing When to Die
      • Home Funeral Visitation
    • PAST EVENTS 2019/20 >
      • Past Event Oct 7 & 8, 2020 Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss
      • Death & Grieving around Corona Virus March 26, 2020
      • Past Event: Jan 26, 2020 Your Life, Your Choice, Your Plan
      • End-of-Life Doula Training with Inspired Endings - Oct 2019
      • June 9, 2019 Short Film & Death Conversation
      • Mar, Apr, May 2019
      • SEPT 2019 EVENT: Advance Directives + Dementia Directive
    • 2018 Past Events >
      • A Matter of Life & Death: Workshop Series Sept. 22, 2018
      • Nandi's Cancer Support Group September-October 2018
      • Past Events: 2018
      • Event May 20, 2018- Creating a Death Care Plan: Exploring Unconventional Options
      • Event: July 22, 2018 Death Cafe
    • 2017 PAST Events: August 27th -Understanding California's End-of-LIfe Option Act >
      • Deathwalker Training with Zenith Virago Sept 2017
      • Past Event: Film screening: Zen & the Art of Dying August 13, 2017
      • PAST Event: Film screening: Zen and the Art of Dying June 11, 2017
      • Past Event: Death Salon, A Gathering of Community to Discuss Death -MAR 26
      • Past Event - Exploring After Death Options: What Happens to our Bodily Remains? Feb 19, 2017 2-4pm
      • Going Out Green: Learn about Eco-friendly Home Funerals and Green Burial Cemetery JAN. 8, 2017
      • International Death Doula Training 2017
    • 2016 Events Planning Your Own Send-off May 1, 2016 >
      • Stephen Jenkinson Comes to NC March 14, 2016
      • Education, Presentations, Death Cafe
      • Event: Sunday Aug 28 2-4pm Home Funerals & Green Burial
    • EARLY YEARS 2013-2015 EVENTS
  • Resources
    • MAiD/California End of Life Option Act + Update SB 380 >
      • Links for California's End-of-Life Option Act
    • Bereavement Support in Nevada County >
      • Bereavement support Hospice of the Foothills, Nevada County
      • Grief Support: Jemma Skye Champeau
    • Advance Directives California + Dementia
    • Hospice of the Foothills, Nevada County
    • Senior Outreach Services, Nevada County
    • One Source Empowering Caregivers
    • Pregnancy and Infant Loss >
      • Cuddle Cot 2021
      • Union Article Caring Cradle 2019
    • Support group: Pregnancy and Infant Loss
    • End-of-Life Plan of Care
    • American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying >
      • ACAMAID: Mixing medications
    • Physicians & Local Pharmacy >
      • Dr. Stephen Banister, Nevada County
    • VSED: Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking >
      • Supporting a Loved One at End of Life
    • Body / Organ Donation
    • Threshold Choir
    • Resources and Links
    • People in the Death Trade & Training
    • Holding Space
  • FAQ
  • Companions for Pregnancy Loss
    • Cuddle Cot 2021
  • Death Related YouTube
  • Beauty of EOL Study
  • JOIN OUR TEAM
  • Bardo, Buddhism and the Art of Dying
  • Accomplishments
  • Remembrance donation
  • Kids Sit Vigil with their Granny
  • Sharon's End-of-life days
  • Nearing Death Awareness
  • After-Death Care of my Mom by Akhiila Murphy
  • Archive Video FCLD Collective
  • A Remembrance Gathering for Mom?
  • Marina Bokelman Legacy
  • Register for Aguamation

Natural Green Burial 

NATURAL GREEN BURIAL IN WESTERN NEVADA COUNTY
 Cherokee Cemetery, Rough & Ready, and Reg Dog Cemeteries

Most people in the United States are unaware of their options when it comes time to plan a funeral and explore cemetery options. Nearly all cemeteries in the United States use conventional burial practices.  These practices include embalming the body with toxic chemicals, burial caskets made of heavy metals, and the use of concrete or metal grave liners are required. All of these practices are environmental hazards and are not required by law. Additionally, conventional cemeteries use pesticides, lawn care machinery and unknown amounts of precious water in the maintenance of lawns, trees and shrubs. There are very few natural or green burial grounds in California. The good news is Nevada Cemetery District is now offering Natural Green Burial Grounds in Western Nevada County. In July 2016, Cherokee Cemetery opened the first Natural Green Burial section in the county.  Within three years all plots at Cherokee sold out! Now, as of January 2020 there are new NGB sections in Rough & Ready Cemetery and  as of May 2021, Red Dog Cemetery opened for Natural Green Burial. 
 www.nevadacemeterydistrict.com/green-burial/ 

You may purchase these low cost burial plots by calling Nevada Cemetery District (530)265-3461. Tell them you heard about it from Full Circle of Living and Dying. 

Natural Green burial is a traditional form of burial that allows natural decomposition of human remains back into the earth. Concrete and steel grave liners are not allowed. This form of burial offers the least environmental impact possible in a wilderness-like setting. No toxic chemicals are allowed, and only earth friendly caskets or shrouds may be put into the all-natural grave. Ground maintenance is minimal due to the natural setting of shrubs and trees. Families and communities can be involved in burial of loved ones.

Timeline Background Details:

June 2014, Nevada Cemetery District Operations Manager and longtime Nevada County resident, Matt Melugin began researching the feasibility of green burial in the district. There were no established protocols and procedures for green burial grounds in California, so Melugin had to devote countless research hours, and created methods and procedures for Natural Green Burial in his district.

Spring 2015
As an advocate for green burial in Nevada County, Akhila Murphy Co-founder of Full Circle of Living and Dying attended several Nevada Cemetery District Board Meetings in order to compel the trustees of the district to establish natural green burial in our local cemeteries. Green burial allows the body to return to the earth in a manner that does not inhibit decomposition and allows the body to recycle naturally. Green burials are an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional funeral practices using non-toxic and biodegradable materials. Each year across the US conventional funeral practices may use toxic embalming fluid (not required by law), tons of steel, copper and bronze in caskets, millions of board feet of hardwoods, over a million tons of reinforced concrete for grave liners (vaults) or over 10 thousand tons of steel in vaults.  These are environmentally destructive practices that are not required by any laws, but are simply cemetery policies that are not necessary.


A letter writing campaign ensued with many community members expressing the desire to see Natural Green Burial as an option in Nevada County. 

Our community request to the Nevada Cemetery District:
  • A section of cemetery where vaults are prohibited allowing for natural decomposition of the body.
  • Use of  biodegradable caskets or a shroud
  • Prohibit Formaldehyde-based embalming 
  • A natural burial ground with native trees and plants.
  • No lawns which require gas powered equipment to maintain, and no use of pesticides.
  • Family participation at graveside burial.

October 21, 2015 The Nevada Cemetery District monthly board meeting agenda included Green Burial. Community members Susan Pelican, Pam Jung, and Akhila Murphy attended to hear the district’s plans and voice our need for true Natural Green Burial grounds. Akhila advised the board that a group of local citizens took a field trip to Red Dog Cemetery. This was the site offered by the district as a possibility for Green burial using a grave liner made of some sort of plastic. At this time, the group felt that although the cemetery has great historic value, provides a natural forest and beautiful location, access was unacceptable along a 2 mile rutted dirt road. Poor access was a huge factor. The group also felt we cannot accept any grave liner in order for this to be true Natural Green burial. UPDATE: The road to Red Dog Cemetery has been greatly improved and now offers a beautiful setting for natural green burial. Note: We are ever so thankful for Nevada Cemetery Board Trustee Sushila Mertens for being a tireless advocate and sometimes lone voice for bringing Natural Green Burial to Nevada County. 

November 2015 Nevada Cemetery District Board Meeting
​Matt Melugin Manager of Nevada Cemetery District spoke about another cemetery 
location that he researched for Natural Green Burial,  Cherokee Cemetery which was acquired by the district from Ananda. This is a small cemetery off Tyler Foote Road, in Nevada City with a natural forested environment, no lawn, plenty of room for green burial, and decent access along a short gravel road.  At this point the cemetery board also offered a plan to use gravel, soil and rocks in the burial process without use of a grave liner. The rocks are necessary for the cemetery district to be able to identify boundaries of a grave when future digging is needed for new burials. Pam Jung and Akhila Murphy representing the community agreed that this would be much closer to true natural green burial than the prior plan to use a plastic grave liner. At the close of this agenda topic the Cemetery District agreed to pursue green burial at Cherokee.

​UPDATE July 2016: Matt Melugin, Manager of Nevada Cemetery District  completed his  research about green burial from resources around the state and country. He poured endless hours of research talking with other cemeteries managers around the country, health officials, anthropologists from several universities, lawyers, and other environmental officials to create a viable plan of protocol for green burial at Cherokee Cemetery.  Matt presented the report before the Nevada Cemetery District Board for a vote on Wednesday July 27, 2016. The board voted yes to move forward with the plan to include Natural Green Burial in select cemeteries in the Nevada Cemetery District, starting with Cherokee Cemetery! Call (530)265-3461

NOTE: There are only a handful of cemeteries in California that offer green or natural burial. The Green Burial Council outlines guidelines for various levels of green burial. The new option, a Natural Green Burial program adopted by the Nevada Cemetery District for Cherokee Cemetery in North San Juan is of the highest level of compliance. An entire section of Cherokee will be reserved for green burial only. Shrouds, cardboard and pine caskets without metals or toxic glues are allowed. Natural stone grave markers, family participation, and graveside ceremonies are allowed. Embalming and grave liners are not allowed. There are no lawns to be maintained and watered, no pesticides use, and the burial grounds at Cherokee consist of natural grasses, shrubs and tall oaks and pines. Very affordable fees.
www.nevadacemeterydistrict.com/green-burial/
__________________________________________


More about Nevada Cemetery District: Established in 1942 in an effort to preserve the historic cemeteries in Western Nevada County. It is an Independent Special District partially funded by Nevada county property taxes. The district oversees and maintains 28 cemeteries and is the largest district in California in both the number of cemeteries and square miles of territory. Local tax payers and their family members are eligible for burial in the eighteen active cemeteries which now includes Green Burial Grounds at Cherokee, Rough & Ready, and Red Dog Cemeteries (Note May 2021: the road to Red Dog has been substantially improved!)

From an environmental standpoint green burial offers the best environmental protection against toxic chemicals, and byproducts of enormous carbon emissions produced in the manufacturing and transportation of cement grave liners and caskets.  Cremation burns fossil fuels, and mercury is also emitted into the atmosphere when dental fillings are cremated. As a final act of life in death, Green Burial services and products help minimize environmental impact.

For more information about Natural Green Burial Plots contact the Nevada Cemetery District (530)265-3461 Thank you Matt Melugin for setting a new standard that all forward thinking cemetery districts in America should be adopting immediately. 
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  • Home
    • Donate Here
  • About us/Contact
    • Board of Directors >
      • Akhila Murphy, Founding Director, End-of-Life Doula, Death Care Midwife
      • Carolyn Seyler, Co-Chair President
      • Rosie Mariani, Board Treasurer
      • Mary Good, End-of-Life Doula, Secretary of the Board
      • Amanda Kenney, Death-Care Midwife, Board Director
      • Mary Jo Curtin, Board Director
    • FCLD Core Circle Volunteer Team >
      • Bonnie McKeegan, LCSW, Past Vice President Board Director
      • Martha Turner, Midwifery, Past President
      • Linda More, End-of-Life Doula, Past Board Director
      • Donna Peizer, Past Treasurer
      • Nandi Szabo, Co-Founder
      • Nancy Parraz, Death Care Midwife
      • Sushila Mertens, End-of-Life Doula >
        • Sushila Mertens, End-of-Life Doula, Outstanding Volunteer of the Year!
        • Spotlight Sushila Mertens
      • Rebecca Sengolu
    • Advocates for end-of-life choices and death-care rights
    • FAQ
    • What is an End-of-Life Doula or Death Midwife?
    • Sign up for Newsletter/send email
    • Contact Us
    • Pregnancy and Infant Loss >
      • Cuddle Cot 2021
      • Support group: Pregnancy and Infant Loss
    • Gallery
    • Donate Here
    • JOIN OUR TEAM
    • Our Education >
      • Our Final Passages Death Midwifery Training
      • Home Funeral Article by Jerrigrace Lyons
  • In-Home Funeral Guidance
    • Know your rights. Home death care is legal.
    • Home Death Care in California >
      • Home Funeral Paperwork
    • CALIFORNIA DEATH CERTIFICATE Instructions
    • Tattoo Preservation after Death
    • Death Care >
      • Sacred Death Care
    • What is "Lying in Honor?"
    • Symbolism of our LOGO
    • Donate Here
    • Pet Funeral >
      • Pet Euthanasia in the Home
    • Death Certificate Worksheet >
      • Nevada County-File Your Own Paperwork for Death Certificate - Vital Records Office
    • Video: A Conversation about After Death Care
  • End-of-Life Care Options
    • Pregnancy and Infant Loss >
      • Support group: Pregnancy and Infant Loss
      • Cuddle Cot 2021
    • Advance Directives, Dementia, Covid-19, Five Wishes
    • End-of-Life Doula
    • California End of Life Option Act (MAID)
    • VSED: Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking
    • Sacred Bridges, Local End-of-Life Caregivers
    • Remembrances
    • Contributions
    • Testimonials
    • Physician Support: Medical Aid in Dying
  • Green Burial
    • History of Natural Green Burial, Cherokee Cemetery, Nevada County >
      • Green Burial Santa Monica 2016
      • Green Burial Video from GBC
    • Natural Organic Reduction -Composting Human Remains >
      • Presentation: Natural Organic Reduction + YouTube link
    • Natural Organic Reduction Amigo Bob's story
    • Rules for Scattering Ashes
    • Find A Grave (website)
    • Aquamation: Water Cremation >
      • Desmond Tutu: Aquamation
    • Cremation- Not so Environmentally Friendly!
  • Events & News
    • Upcoming Educational Series MAR 14, 2023: AS YOU WISH: Creating a Beautiful End-of-Life
    • Upcoming March 16, 2023 Death Conversations Event
    • Presentation April 30, 2023 In-Home Death Care
    • Past event Aquamation Presentation Jan. 18, 2023 link to recording
    • Past Death Conversations Event Nov. 17, 2022
    • Past Film Event: Jack Has a Plan Aug. 2022
    • LA TIMES Article about Lawsuit Aug. 2022
    • Article: Death Doula Lawsuit Dec. 2021 >
      • California Death Doulas Fight
      • Death Doulas C&C Article Nov. 2021
    • Article: Pregnancy Loss Conversations Feb, 2022
    • Past Event June 24, 2022 Presentation Organ and Tissue donation
    • Past Event Apr. 28, 2022 After-death Care presentation
    • PAST March 26, 2022 Cemetery Field Trip
    • Past Event March 17, 2022 Death Conversations- Breaking the silence
    • Past Event Jan 20, 2022 Death Conversations- Breaking the silence
    • Review: 2021 City of Hope, End:0f-Life Symposium December
    • PAST EVENTS 2021 >
      • Presentation Dec. 9th : "There's No Place Like Home." Home funeral Basics
      • Past Event: Nov. 2021- Medical Aid-in-Dying Update
      • Past Event: Natural Organic Reduction - Register
      • Past Events 2021 : June 18 -Field trip to Cherokee Cemetery
    • Newsletters
    • KVMR Podcasts: Featuring End-of-LIfe Doulas
    • PUBLISHED ARTICLES >
      • Article from The Order of the Good Death
      • Article: California's End-of-LIfe Option Act
      • Article Amigo Bob -Natural Organic Reduction Human Composting
      • April 2020 Ventilators in times of COVID-19
      • Union Article Caring Cradle Sept 2019
      • Giving Back After Tragedy, September 2019 The Union
      • Article The Union May 2019 New nonprofit
      • Article The Union August 2019 HBO Documentary
      • Choosing When to Die
      • Home Funeral Visitation
    • PAST EVENTS 2019/20 >
      • Past Event Oct 7 & 8, 2020 Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss
      • Death & Grieving around Corona Virus March 26, 2020
      • Past Event: Jan 26, 2020 Your Life, Your Choice, Your Plan
      • End-of-Life Doula Training with Inspired Endings - Oct 2019
      • June 9, 2019 Short Film & Death Conversation
      • Mar, Apr, May 2019
      • SEPT 2019 EVENT: Advance Directives + Dementia Directive
    • 2018 Past Events >
      • A Matter of Life & Death: Workshop Series Sept. 22, 2018
      • Nandi's Cancer Support Group September-October 2018
      • Past Events: 2018
      • Event May 20, 2018- Creating a Death Care Plan: Exploring Unconventional Options
      • Event: July 22, 2018 Death Cafe
    • 2017 PAST Events: August 27th -Understanding California's End-of-LIfe Option Act >
      • Deathwalker Training with Zenith Virago Sept 2017
      • Past Event: Film screening: Zen & the Art of Dying August 13, 2017
      • PAST Event: Film screening: Zen and the Art of Dying June 11, 2017
      • Past Event: Death Salon, A Gathering of Community to Discuss Death -MAR 26
      • Past Event - Exploring After Death Options: What Happens to our Bodily Remains? Feb 19, 2017 2-4pm
      • Going Out Green: Learn about Eco-friendly Home Funerals and Green Burial Cemetery JAN. 8, 2017
      • International Death Doula Training 2017
    • 2016 Events Planning Your Own Send-off May 1, 2016 >
      • Stephen Jenkinson Comes to NC March 14, 2016
      • Education, Presentations, Death Cafe
      • Event: Sunday Aug 28 2-4pm Home Funerals & Green Burial
    • EARLY YEARS 2013-2015 EVENTS
  • Resources
    • MAiD/California End of Life Option Act + Update SB 380 >
      • Links for California's End-of-Life Option Act
    • Bereavement Support in Nevada County >
      • Bereavement support Hospice of the Foothills, Nevada County
      • Grief Support: Jemma Skye Champeau
    • Advance Directives California + Dementia
    • Hospice of the Foothills, Nevada County
    • Senior Outreach Services, Nevada County
    • One Source Empowering Caregivers
    • Pregnancy and Infant Loss >
      • Cuddle Cot 2021
      • Union Article Caring Cradle 2019
    • Support group: Pregnancy and Infant Loss
    • End-of-Life Plan of Care
    • American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying >
      • ACAMAID: Mixing medications
    • Physicians & Local Pharmacy >
      • Dr. Stephen Banister, Nevada County
    • VSED: Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking >
      • Supporting a Loved One at End of Life
    • Body / Organ Donation
    • Threshold Choir
    • Resources and Links
    • People in the Death Trade & Training
    • Holding Space
  • FAQ
  • Companions for Pregnancy Loss
    • Cuddle Cot 2021
  • Death Related YouTube
  • Beauty of EOL Study
  • JOIN OUR TEAM
  • Bardo, Buddhism and the Art of Dying
  • Accomplishments
  • Remembrance donation
  • Kids Sit Vigil with their Granny
  • Sharon's End-of-life days
  • Nearing Death Awareness
  • After-Death Care of my Mom by Akhiila Murphy
  • Archive Video FCLD Collective
  • A Remembrance Gathering for Mom?
  • Marina Bokelman Legacy
  • Register for Aguamation