Natural Burial Grounds: How to Find One and What to Ask

Our overview, green and natural burial, explains what makes a burial “green.” This guide is the practical next step: how to find a natural burial ground, and what to ask once you do. Green burial is full-body burial in the earth, so it works differently from the newer cremation-like methods; for those, see water cremation and human composting.

What does “natural burial ground” actually mean?

Terms like “green” and “natural” are used loosely. The Green Burial Council (GBC), a nonprofit that certifies burial grounds, funeral homes, and products, defines a burial as the whole body placed in the ground, covered in soil, with no toxic embalming, no vaults, and only biodegradable containers such as caskets and shrouds. The GBC certifies three types of cemetery:

	Hybrid	Natural	Conservation
Where	Within a conventional cemetery	Land designated for natural burial only	On land protected by a conservation easement or land trust
Vaults	None in the green area	None	None
Containers	Biodegradable	Biodegradable	Biodegradable
Other requirements, per the GBC	Prohibits toxic chemicals, non-organic caskets, and non-native markers; must fund long-term maintenance	Adds an ecological impact assessment, restricted access to sensitive areas, limits on markers based on ecological impact	Adds conservation, preservation, and restoration practices; burial fees support land stewardship

The GBC says all certified cemeteries must be transparent with the public, follow state laws, bury without vaults, use only natural and biodegradable products, allow only unembalmed remains or those embalmed with chemicals not considered toxic by its standards, and use sustainable land management that minimizes herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Hybrid cemeteries have the fewest requirements and conservation cemeteries the most. Depending on the site, graves may be marked with GPS units, native stone, or mapping, and natural and conservation grounds may look more like a place to hike than a traditional cemetery.

One limit to remember: the GBC’s standards apply only to full-body burial at a cemetery. It does not set standards for flame cremation, water cremation, or composting.

How do I find one?

1. Use the GBC’s cemetery provider map on its website, which lets you search by location and see each cemetery’s certification type. The GBC also publishes a funeral home provider map; a certified funeral home can help with the arrangements
2. Treat the map as a first shortlist. Confirm the certification type on the cemetery’s own website, since a provider guide recommends double-checking whether it’s hybrid, natural, or conservation before you rely on it
3. Search beyond the certified list. Certification is voluntary, and one directory notes that a listing doesn’t mean a cemetery is GBC certified and that many cemeteries follow green practices without certification. That’s not a red flag in itself, but it means you must ask what they actually do
4. Ask a local funeral home which cemeteries in your area allow unembalmed, vault-free burial, and whether it has experience with it. Some funeral homes will arrange a green burial without being certified
5. Call and visit. Natural grounds can look very different from lawn cemeteries, and a visit helps you decide whether it feels right for your family

We haven’t researched which natural burial grounds exist in Texas or any other particular state. The provider map is the place to start.

What should I ask?

Ask in plain language, and get the answers in writing. Based on the GBC’s requirements and provider guides, useful questions include:

About certification and the land

• Are you certified as hybrid, natural, or conservation, and does the certification cover the whole property or only one section?
• If it’s a conservation ground, is the land protected by a conservation easement, and who holds it?
• Who manages the land long-term, and how is it funded? (The GBC requires hybrid cemeteries to set up a maintenance fund.)
• Are there areas I can or can’t visit, and is the site open to the public?

About the body and the container

• Do you require a vault, liner, or any outer burial container, including partial or inverted ones?
• What do you require if we decline embalming? (Some cemeteries and funeral homes have their own rules; the GBC says embalming is rarely required by law and never legally necessary for viewing, but some funeral homes require it for public visitation.)
• What containers are allowed and prohibited, such as caskets, shrouds, and any rigid support board for lowering?
• Can the family wash, dress, and keep the body cool at home, or must a funeral home be involved? (Home care is something the GBC describes as a dignified option; state rules vary, so ask.)

About markers and memorials

• What kinds of markers are allowed: native stone, GPS coordinates, a planted tree, or none?
• Can we plant or leave flowers or objects?

About cost and paperwork

• What is the full cost: the plot, opening and closing, any fees for the land fund, the marker, and the funeral home’s services?
• Can I buy in advance, and what happens to the plot if my plans change?
• Which of these policies are in writing?

What if there isn’t one near me?

Options include a hybrid section at a conventional cemetery, a nearby cemetery that will waive its vault requirement or allow a shroud, or, if burial in a particular ground matters, arranging transport. Ask early, and see can a body be moved to another state if that’s a possibility. For embalming rules, see embalming: what it is and whether it’s required.

Add this to your Final Day Plan: your preferred type of burial ground, the cemetery or two you’d like to use, whether you want to decline embalming, and the container you’d choose.

This is general information, dated October 7, 2026. Cemetery policies, prices, and state laws vary; confirm with the cemetery, a licensed funeral director, and your state funeral board.