What is   GREEN BURIAL? 

                                                      Tru-Green Believer ™shroud in grave                                          

A true GREEN BURIAL is the natural process of burying a body in a GREEN BURIAL SHROUD  or other 100% biodegradable container without : any metal , embalming fluid or other toxic chemicals ,in a grave that contains no burial vaults or grave liners .

The body is lowered directly into natural ground( free from pesticides) in a designated "Green Natural  Cemetery" , a conservation burial ground , a designated section of a conventional cemetery set aside as a "Green Burial Section" or on your own family acreage with a permit from the county and with a desinated "family cemetery" area. (Not all cemeteries allow natural "green " burial): 

To find a Green Cemetery click here: Green Cemeteries USA

Natural graves are hand dug whenever possible  and graves are dug no deeper than 48" for maximum decomposition. The dirt is separated into piles of the Earth according to the natural layers and replaced in correct order for microbial breakdown. In this manner, the  body decomposes organically back into the Earth. The bottom of the grave is covered with fragrant leaves or boughs (Bay Laurel, Cedar, Pine,Sage, etc.) or with flowers, wildflowers  & flower  petals (heads of roses, etc,) 

"The body ,like a seed ,entering the womb of Mother Earth- becoming a sprout ,pollenated by the Bee, growing into an Apple tree from beautiful Spring blossoms that grow into delicious Fall apples that ripen, decay and fall back into the ground in Winter , feeding the roots of the tree so that it can once more grow new buds, blossoms and apples the following year .This  is the cycle of the seasons and the cycle of Life.

The Father plants his seed into the Mother's womb which gives the Spirit who enters a body ,which can transform into  a baby, a toddler , a teenager, an adult , an elder...then naturally it transforms again- through sickness, accident, or old age leaving the body  and all that is not flesh passes into the Ether once again ....then....

just  as the precious newborn baby is wrapped lovingly in bunting , this body  after it has finished this Life cycle  is wrapped  once more ,lovingly  into the shroud  and returned back into the Mother Earth continuing the cycle ..... This is the essense of natural  green burial. This is the natural cycle of Life & Death." 

 Esmerelda Kent , Founder

What is a  Shroud ? 

Traditionally a shroud was one long piece of cloth or several pieces of cloth used to wrap the body for burial or cremation. Previously shrouds were only allowed  to be used in US funeral homes and cemeteries  by  religious groups (Jews, Muslims, Hindus ,Bahai, Sikhs) . (See the  HISTORY of SHROUDS  page) 

{NOTE: Before  2004 all shrouds were religious  in nature and secular people could not use  a shroud for environmental purposes in any  cemetery . KINKARACO® founder ,Esmerelda  ,while working in California's first green cemetery FERNWOOD  designed the first constructed shroud  made specifically for all people to be able to use for natural green burial .

KINKARACO ® is the first company to create GREEN BURIAL SHROUDS  for the funeral industry and the public in 2005! (As seen on "SIX FEET UNDER"!)

While appearing  like  a simple wrapped piece of cloth  from the front , these shrouds  are actually a sophisticated single unit that is very strong and easy to use.There are 2 Back styles:

BACK #1  the Endfinity ™ board and straps are sewnj ionside and attached to the shroud  for lowering allowing the choice for  strong familiy members  and friends  to easily lower into the grave themselves BACK #2: (handles only) for lifting into a casket. 

PURELIGHT ™ Shrouds (with Lowering Board  attached) : Click Here

TRU-GREEN BELIEVER™ Shrouds  Click Here

The Kinkaraco® prototype of PURELIGHT ™ shroud used on HBO "SIX FEET UNDER" 2005

"In 2000 i shrouded my Mother in a convalescent hospital after she died in my arms at 86.I had never done this before but i was "guided" to wash her, wrap her in a long piece of silk chiffon , light a candle and incense and prayed with her for 2 hrs. It was an extremely holy experience and i am forever grateful ."

"In 2004 i was "guided" once again after having had the spiritual intention wishing to be of service to other living beings  at end of life. I left show business and  began working at Fernwood Cemetery. There i mentally  "downloaded"  the pattern of this constructed  shroud that would be easy for funeral directors and the public to wrap and top lower . It would 100%American made, 100% biodegradable and more beautiful than anything currently available.This was a result of actually conducting some of the first green burials in CA. in the first 1st green cemetery section at Fernwood Cemetery. "

" In 2005 the HBO production of "SIX FEET UNDER"  bought my prototype shroud  for a green burial episode on the show. After that i created the company KINKARACO® in order to sell shrouds directly to families online. At the time there was nothing else like this .

"We have now been in business 21 years this year. It has taken quite  a long time for the funeral  industry to accept green options and for the public to be educated that  Green Burial is an option for them. I beleived that the  Ancient Shroud in our  modern design is the most Ecological, Economical and Elegant product for green burial . 

"KINKARACO® is  100% supportive of OUTDOOR GROUND GREEN BURIAL. We have seen and heard such extrodinarily amazing  stories from our customers about the psychological healing, of families and the closure experienced by being outside in nature returning the body into Earth together. Srories of  Joy, Beauty and  healing through the tears. You just do not get the same Spiritual and psychological effect  indoors with the body being broken down rapidly ion a metal tank ."

Esmerelda, Founder KINKARACO®

                 Bobcat- Fernwood Cemetery,Mill Valley,CA.

What  is a Green Funeral?

A Green funeral  service  can be  whatever carries out the written or spoken wishes of the decedent to  the friends, family members, partners who can decide if the decedent left no wishes .

( IF YOU WANT A GREEN FUNERAL WRITE IT DOWN AND LET EVERYONE IMPORTANT TO YOU KNOW YOUR EXACT WISHES!)

Often if requested  this includes the preparation of the body  at home by friends , family ,according to the decedents wishes  or instructed  to the funeral  director .

The funeral is often at graveside which includes friends and family  preparing the grave (with flowers, lining the bottom with petals, hay, grass or fragrant leaves) as well as the carrying and lowering of the body by the family, friends and/ or grounds crew ,followed by the covering of the grave  with many shovels (available at most all green cemeteries) in part  or completely by the family and friends. 

The placing of a stone or the planting of a tree as a living "marker" is also common .

After the burial ceremony , a memorial service or wake is often held at  another location after the burial unless there was a home vigil beforehand  that acted as a Memorial service with food, readings, sharing memories , music (and sometimes singing & dancing! ) 

What is a Green Cemetery?

Purissima Cemetery-Half Moon Bay, CA.

In its purest form a land conservation cemetery remains completely natural unforested and endowed into perpetuity in wild land that remains preserved as open space (EXAMPLE: See Memorial Ecosystems for more information) . A Green Cemetery is a designated parcel of land purchased for the sole purpose of providing only natural burial plots  land for the interment of cremains  to the public. No vaults , liners or embalmed bodies allowed. It can also be a section of a conventional existing cemetery in a completely natural area without any landscaping ,use of pesticides and without any vaults or liners. (NOTE: You can only have a natural Green Burial in a cemetery that  does NOT require a vault or a grave liner . )

Find a Green Cemetery near you here: Green Cemeteries - USA

Dispelling funeral industry Myths  & Untruths -

1. The unembalmed human body is no more  toxic after death than it was in the hospital.

2. An unembalmed  body buried directly into the ground without a vault or liner will not pollute water systems - (however  leaking carcenigenic embalming fluid will!)  NOTE: There is not a square inch of the Earth that does not contain countless  bodies of dead insects, birds, animals, etc. 

3. ANIMALS DO NOT DIG UP GRAVES! ( The Mountain lions, cougars, bobcats, dogs, raccoons, possum, foxes, coyotes and other assorted wild animals in our Northern California green cemeteries have never attempted to dig up a grave. ) 

(Only animals such as carrion fowl eat dead animals.)

A PURELIGHT™ shroud at the funeral service.....( the following photos courtesy of Moles Farewell Tributes ) 

Being carried to the grave........................and being lowered into the grave without any kind of vault or liner.

As the PURELIGHT™ shroud appears in the grave .....

AMERICAN GREEN CEMETERIES  (Click here) -           

KINKARACO ™ shrouds were developed by the founder while working at Fernwood - California's first  green cemetery in 2004 .The original KINKARACO ® prototype shroud was first seen on SIX FEET UNDER in 2005.                                                                       

                                     GREEN FUNERAL CEREMONIES -

(Photo: The KINKARACO® prototype shroud was purchased by the production of  SIX FEET UNDER in 2005 for the first ever televised GREEN BURIAL ! ) 

A  GREEN BURIAL takes place shortly after the  death with the body  held in refrigeration or on dry ice at home . Bodies can be washed by family or friends with KINKARACO ® Green Burial Wash ™ and prepared ( see PREPARATION page). Although there is usually no "viewing" in a green burial, that is always an option if the family wishes. The Facecloth of  all our  shrouds maybe  left off the face until burial. The procession, the carrying, the lowering and the covering of the grave are all very meaningful experiences for the friends and family, including the children .{The "pallbearers "should be the strongest members of the family and friends present .They should carry and lower the KINKARACO ® shroud for shroud burial without a casket .}

GREEN GRAVE PREPARATION - Fill the bottom of the grave with natural fragrant grasses, herbs, flowers, hay or anything in season! Flowers, flower  heads and petals, fragrant branches of Pine, Bay Laurel, or long grasses or hay can be used to cover the bottom of the grave before the actual burial .Flowers can outline the grave. Green cemeteries provide many shovels so that all who want to participate , including the children, can help cover the grave .

After the grave is mounded and covered - GRAVE INCENSE sticks can be lit and stuck into the top along with flowers  .A special Natural rock or stone can be used as a headstone where allowed along with seashells, and anything of special meaning to the person. This practice of covering and decorating the grave of a loved one with the family and friends all together is extremely healing and meaningful for everyone involved.

GRAVE DECORATION & HEADSTONE IDEAS -

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