From toxic chemicals to fossil fuels to trillium: Making green end-of-life decisions

Cemetery or prairie? Are the options exclusive? Find out why or why not at the Grand-Raisin Conservation Community’s discussion on environmentally conscious burials on Oct. 26.

submitted by Sybil Kolon, Grand-Raisin Conservation Community

The Grand-Raisin Conservation Community is hosting a discussion on environmentally conscious burials at 7pm on Oct. 26 at Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton.

This presentation will introduce why a growing number of Americans would prefer final resting places filled with wildflowers instead of concrete, steel, and granite. It will cover the pros and cons of conventional burial and cremation end-of-life options; the definition and types of green cemeteries and how they are certified; location of green-certified cemeteries in Michigan; and examples of conservation cemeteries—“the greenest of the green”—across the country. Finally, the presentation will end by taking a deeper look at two conservation cemeteries: Kokosing and Foxfield, which were founded in Ohio, consistent with Ohio cemetery laws.

If you are concerned about global warming and your personal carbon footprint, or clean air and water, habitat protection, and protecting land from development, then green options should be explored.

The evening will be led by Bill Strohaver, who retired from Jackson Community College after 41 years, where he served as a political science faculty member, dean, and executive vice president. As an administrator, he advanced a number of “green” initiatives, including LEED certification for new building projects. After reading books by Douglas Tallamy, these green interests became central to retired life, especially after moving into a new home on Skiff Lake in Jackson County with 15 acres of land where he could help slow the rate of habitat loss by removing invasive plants and planting natives. Strohaver also serves as a trustee for Legacy Land Conservancy, a local nonprofit land trust that works to protect and preserve land in Jackson, Washtenaw, and Lenawee Counties.

Hidden Lake Gardens will be open at this time for our event only. The entrance fee will be waived and there is no fee for this event. Please register ahead of time at www.stewardshipnetwork.org/communities/GRCC and select “Events,” where you will find a registration link.

The GRCC is the local affiliate of The Stewardship Network, composed of a spectrum of land stewards working in the headwater areas of the Grand and Raisin watersheds in parts of Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, and Washtenaw Counties. Our aim is to empower our neighbors to manage natural lands in ways that complement historic ecosystems. Our strategy is to provide information and opportunities to help everyone understand the value of native habitats and how the GRCC and its partners can help you preserve and protect them in a way that is suited to your interests. As a network, we rely on our relationships with each other to meet changing management challenges throughout our area.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.