In recent years, more people have been looking into eco-friendly ways to be remembered after they’re gone. A common question that pops up is, “Can I be buried under a tree?” The short answer is yes, thanks to Mornington Green Legacy Gardens and Living Legacy Forests. However there are legal restraints, environmental factors, and different methods to consider. Traditional burial pods that turn into trees aren’t widely available yet, also they have drawbacks such as harming the environment due to their materials and the effect of untreated ashes. But there are other options like treated ash burials, natural burial grounds, and memorial tree plantings. Let’s dig into the details of how you can make your final resting place a living, growing memorial.
The Concept of Tree Burials
Tree burials that don’t harm the environment uses ash treatment such as the treatments from Mornington Green Legacy Gardens MelbourneThe idea of becoming part of a tree after death resonates to many people who want to give back to nature. While those trending burial pods you might have seen online actually harm the environment, there are other ways to achieve a similar goal.The challenge with natural burial is two fold. First the decomposition of a human body typically creates around 7,000 liters of methane gas which has the impact of burning tree roots. Then there is the infectious disease and legislation problem, where a lot of Australian legislation for cemeteries was created so bodies that died of infectious disease didn’t reintroduce disease through the water table via burial.
Cremation Ashes and Trees: A Growing Trend
One popular option is using cremated remains to nourish a tree. Mornington Green Legacy Gardens offer this service. But here’s a warning – regular cremation ashes can actually harm plants and soil. How? Read here for more!
Key Insight: Untreated cremation ashes have a pH level of 12 out of 14, which is the same pH as bleach and oven cleaner – it can kill plant seedlings and turn healthy soil to unhealthy soil.
The patented ash treatment from Mornington Green and Living Legacy turns harmful human ashes into energy molecules like potassium and nitrogenDr. Mary Cole, scientist from Living Legacy Forest, said:“Human ash is very alkaline. You can’t just put it in the ground and expect a tree to grow.”To fix this problem, Mornington Green uses a special treatment process. It:
Makes the ashes less alkaline
Decrease the salt content
Turns the ashes into plant nutrients and food
Helps create healthy soil
Warren Roberts, founder of The Living Legacy Forest, puts it this way:“Our treatment turns the ashes into energy molecules like nitrogen and potassium that trees love. It’s creating the circle of life.”
Forests like The Wellington Dam Legacy Forests offer natural burials in AustraliaIf you’re not keen on cremation, there are still ways to sleep peacefully under a tree. Natural or green burial grounds let you:
Be buried without embalming
Use a biodegradable coffin or just a shroud
Rest in wooded areas where trees can grow
Some places take it a step further with conservation burial grounds. These protected areas use burials to help preserve nature – this really helps you create a positive mark on the world.
Key Insight: Conservation burial grounds combine burial with environmental preservation efforts, creating a lasting positive impact.
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Laws about burials are different depending on where you live. Some places might let you be buried on your own land with a tree planted over you, but that’s not common. Also the average house ownership of Australians are 40 years, think about what happens when your family moves?If a direct tree burial isn’t possible, don’t worry. There are still ways to incorporate trees into your end of life resting place:
Memorial trees: Mornington Green lets you plant a tree using treated ashes of you or your loved ones.
Cemetery trees: Some regular cemeteries let families plant trees near graves.
We treat your ashes and use them to plant the tree
Your family can add more ashes (even pet ashes) to the same tree later on.
This way, you’re not just creating a memorial – you’re helping grow a forest and giving your family a beautiful place to visit.
Key Insight: Mornington Green’s approach allows for the creation of family legacies, where multiple family members (and even pets) can be memorialized in a single tree over time.
There are plenty of ways to make trees part of your lasting legacy. Whether it’s through treated ashes, natural burials, or planting memorial trees, you can ensure your and your families final resting place is one that helps the nature of Australia thrive.As Warren Roberts says, “Becoming a tree when you die lets you create a legacy that lives on.” By choosing one of these green options, you’re nurturing the earth and giving your loved ones a living memorial to visit.Just remember to check out the rules in your area and think about what feels right for you and your family. With some planning, you can create a meaningful, eco-friendly memorial that truly brings the circle of life full circle.
Remember, planning ahead can significantly reduce stress and financial burden on your family. Consider discussing your preferences with loved ones and you can explore pre-planning options with us here!
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Laws about burials are different depending on where you live. Some places might let you be buried on your own land with a tree planted over you, but that’s not common. Also the average house ownership of Australians are 40 years, think about what happens when your family moves?
If a direct tree burial isn’t possible, don’t worry. There are still ways to incorporate trees into your end of life resting place:
Mornington Green Legacy Gardens offers a unique process on tree burials. Here’s what we do:
