About this course

Life Forest Conservation Cemetery was asked by the New Hampshire Cemetery Association how municipal cemeteries could expand their offerings to meet the growing demand for more eco-friendly burial alternatives. The resulting information created this interesting and engaging course.

As the demand for green burial continues to rise, many established traditional burial cemeteries are looking to expand their offerings to include green burials as well. In this course, we will discuss what a green burial is, what a hybrid cemetery is, and what considerations should be taken when establishing a hybrid cemetery. We will also learn about one city’s experience with adding green burial to their existing traditional burial cemeteries.

 Outline:

  1. Why green burial?
  2. What is a green burial?
  3. What does a funeral director consider when a family asks for a green burial?
  4. What is a hybrid cemetery?
  5. Considerations for establishing a hybrid cemetery
  6. A case study in NH
  7. Misconceptions and common questions
  8. More Information

About the instructor

Green Burial Council & Life Forest Conservation Cemetery

Dr. Caitlyn Hauke

Caitlyn Hauke, PhD is the former President of the Board of Directors of the Green Burial Council International, a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to inspire and advocate for environmentally sustainable, natural death care through education and certification. Caitlyn is also the Director of Strategic Planning and Development at Life Forest, a conservation cemetery in Hillsborough, New Hampshire that offers burial of cremains and composted remains along with the planting of a tree in a forest setting. Caitlyn has an educational background in forensic science, biology, and infectious disease. Her passion for green burial alternatives and compassionate deathcare is fueled by her own life experiences and her desire to educate others on their end-of-life options.