Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve

Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve is a non-profit cemetery located at 293 Irish Hill Road in Newfield, New York. Founded in 2006 as a natural burial cemetery, the preserve covers 130 acres (53 ha) of rolling meadows and is surrounded by 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) of Cornell University's Arnot Forest and Newfield State Forest.

Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve
Entrance sign of Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve
Details
Established2006 (2006)
Location
Newfield, New York
CountryU.S.
Coordinates42.294°N 76.640°W / 42.294; -76.640
TypeNon-profit
Owned byGreensprings Natural Cemetery Association
Size130 acres
Websitewww.naturalburial.org
Find a GraveGreensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve

History
Stone marker dedicated to the founders of Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve

Greensprings is one of the first green burial sites in New York State, and one of only a few 100% natural cemeteries in the United States.[1][2][3][4][5] The Greensprings Natural Cemetery Association was incorporated in 2004 under the leadership of Jennifer Johnson, Susan Thomas, Mary Woodsen, and Carl Leopold.[6][7][8][9] Initially, seven acres of land on Irish Hill in Newfield, New York were purchased from Herb Engman, a Town of Ithaca supervisor and staunch ecologist. Engman subsequently donated a further 93 acres to the preserve, thereby becoming the preserve's main benefactor.[10] The first natural burial at Greensprings occurred in 2006.[11][6] Greensprings has been working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the USDA to make the preserve more inviting to grassland birds, improve pollinator habitat, and remove invasive tree and shrub species.[12]

Facilities
Fall scenery at West Meadow in Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve.

Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve is at the top of Irish Hill in Newfield, New York. The site of a former dairy farm,[13] the preserve comprises 130 acres of meadows and woodland, and is surrounded by an additional 8,000 acres of protected land consisting of Cornell University's Arnot Forest and Newfield State Forest. From the bench at Leopold Lookout, named in honor of founder Carl Leopold, who is buried at Greensprings,[14] it is possible to see all the way to the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania.[2][7]

Burials at Greensprings occur in 15' x 15' (4.6 m x 4.6 m) plots.[1] Bodies are not embalmed and there are no burial vaults.[13] Only biodegradable materials such as natural fiber shrouds, wicker baskets, or plain wooden coffins are allowed.[15] Grave markers lie flat with the earth and consist of uncut, locally sourced stones. Although burying and scattering of ashes is permitted in designated areas at Greensprings, this practice is somewhat discouraged due to the environmental costs of cremation.[1]

A section of the cemetery, consecrated by Rabbi Scott Glass, is designated for Jewish burials.[1][16] The "Remembrance Grove" is intended for people who have suffered miscarriages or the death of a child.[2]

References
  1. Lawrence, Steve (November 27, 2019). "A return to the earth: Newfield's Greensprings Natural Cemetery". Ithaca Times. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  2. Shipos, Cathy (April 7, 2021). "Greensprings Cemetery Celebrates 15 Years". Tompkins Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. Associated Press (January 13, 2015). "'Green,' Biodegradable Burials Growing in Popularity". Fox News. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  4. Dickinson, Rachel (August 20, 2010). "Looking for a greener kind of death". Salon. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  5. White, Nancy J. (January 26, 2007). "The green goodbye". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  6. Banford, Eric (September 12, 2016). "Greensprings celebrating a decade of natural burials". Tompkins Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  7. Chaisson, Bill (May 19, 2010). "Leopold posthumously honored by Town of Ithaca". Ithaca Times. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  8. Matsuda, Akiko (November 6, 2015). "Green-living people seek natural burial options". USA Today. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  9. Uthe, Tori (September 6, 2007). "Environmentally friendly ways to leave this world". The Record Herald. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  10. Jayalalita (May 5, 2013). "Greensprings Completes a Natural Life". Green Leaf, GreenStar Natural Foods Market. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  11. Raygor, Jill (May 3, 2006). "Natural cemetery opens". Ithaca Times. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  12. Leopold, Lynn (November 11, 2017). "Greensprings – Renew, Sustain, Endure". Tompkins Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  13. Reynolds, Nick (September 15, 2016). "Greensprings set to celebrate 10 years". Ithaca Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  14. Staves, Mark (December 6, 2009). "Obituaries - A. Carl Leopold". Lansing Star. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  15. Wickham, Jessica (June 22, 2022). "How natural burials help families, environment". Tompkins Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  16. "Consecration at Greensprings Natural Cemetery". Retrieved October 2, 2022.
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