WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL GREEN BURIAL ALLIANCE
BRINGING ECO-FRIENDLY DEATHCARE TO THE WORLD AS A COMMUNITY
WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL GREEN BURIAL ALLIANCE
BRINGING ECO-FRIENDLY DEATHCARE TO THE WORLD AS A COMMUNITY
BRINGING ECO-FRIENDLY DEATHCARE TO THE WORLD AS A COMMUNITY
BRINGING ECO-FRIENDLY DEATHCARE TO THE WORLD AS A COMMUNITY
The Global Green Burial Alliance is a network of eco-friendly funeral professionals. The GGBA is a free membership pledge organization. The GGBA’s mission is to promote and provide critical information and education concerning any and all eco-friendly funeral options globally.
Embracing knowledge equals change. A global conversation is needed so ideas and customs can be shared. These ideas, cultural rites, and practices allow for critical growth. By joining, you can help bring better deathcare to the world as a community.
Members can enjoy networking and social media platforms to engage in free discussions between consumers, communities, and funeral professionals. The truth of processes and products, transparency, and respectful engagement and communication are key to enacting positive changes.
The GGBA is building a network of experiences and education free to all who challenge themselves to be a part of this change.
We are excited to invite you to our FREE Forum with Special Guests Emily Schwindler, Lauren Richwine, Carrie Chastain, Suzi Petrey, and David Sanders!
The second edition of our state-by-state forum series is here! Join us in a discussion about the green burial scene in Indiana with hybrid cemeteries, eco-friendly funeral homes, and an end-of-life doula from the state. Tune in to hear about our guests' experiences with providing green burial services in Indiana, from personal triumphs and obstacles to what they think the future of green burial will look like in Indiana.
About Our Guests:
Emily Schwindler - Aaron-Ruben-Nelson-Mortuary:
Working in deathcare since 2007, Emily Schwindler is the Director of Operations and Engagement at Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary, Indiana's first Green Burial Council approved funeral home. Aaraon-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary is a family-owned funeral home located in Zionsville, Indiana that has been performing green burial since 1935. Emily has a master's certificate from Hood College in Thanatology and earned the designation of CT (Certified Thanatologist) from the Association for Death Education and Counseling.
Learn More Here:
Lauren Richwine - Death Done Differently:
Lauren Richwine is an end-of-life doula, facilitator, and advocate located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lauren is the creator of Death Done Differently, an educational consulting organization that provides home funeral/eco-friendly funeral planning, consulting, and education services. Lauren received her training with the Earth Traditions Program and previously volunteered with Heartland Hospice. She is a trained facilitator through the “Respecting Choices Advance Care Planning” Program with Parkview and is currently a member of the National Association of Certified Death Midwives (NACDM), the National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA), the National Home Funeral Alliance (NHFA), and The Order of the Good Death.
In 2019 Lauren was selected to be a recipient of the Fort Wayne SOUP micro-grant for her presentation on the unique challenges faced by people wanting to exercise their rights around end-of-life choices.
Whether she assists with completing advance directives, provides support for an animal companion’s death at home, or educates about after-death options, Lauren brings her whole heart to the moment. She has served the Northeast Indiana region for five years.
Learn More Here:
Carrie Chastain - Weathers Funeral Home:
Carrie Chastain is the owner and operator of Weathers Funeral Home in Salem, Indiana. Weathers Funeral Home offers an array of personalized funeral services and is the only green burial service provider in the city.
Learn More Here:
Suzi Petrey - Oak Hill Cemetery:
Suzi Petrey is the office manager of Oak Hill Cemetery, a historic burial ground in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Oak Hill Cemetery is the only Green Burial Council certified cemetery in the state of Indiana, featuring a designated natural burial space.
Learn More Here:
David Sanders - Sanders Funeral Care:
David Sanders is the owner of Sanders Funeral Care, a funeral provider with locations in Crawfordsville, Waynetown, and Kingman, Indiana. Sanders Funeral Care offers green burial products and services, as well as traditional funeral and cremation services.
Learn More Here:
Ben Upton - Flanner Buchanan/Washington North Park Cemetery:
Ben is an honorably discharged Marine Corps Veteran, Life Member of the VFW, Life Member of the
American Legion, and honorary life member of the Vietnam Veterans of American. His passion for
serving extends beyond his military history. He currently serves as the Vice President of Sales for the
Buchanan Group managing 14 cemeteries and 15 Funeral Centers. He began his career 25 years ago as a door-to-door Community Service Counselor writing over 1 million in sales his first year. As a Sales
Leader, he focused on building leaders and developing systems that could be replicated from beginners
to seasoned professionals. Before speaking to any group, he is reminded of his wife Elizabeth’s advice,
“don’t try to be funny, smart, or charming…just be yourself.” He has spoken on multiple occasions at
the ICCFA Dead Talks, Wide World of Sales, SCCFA, CAT, and trained thousands of salespeople to
success. Ben believes in a practical approach that enables replication. He is an avid golfer, MMA
enthusiast, and loves to spend time with his wife Elizabeth, daughter Isabella, and all his family.
Learn More Here:
Don't miss out! Join us on September 24th! Email globalgreenburialalliance@gmail.com to RSVP!
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday September 24th, 2024
Time: 4PM PDT, 5PM MDT, 6PM CDT, & 7PM EDT
Location: Zoom
Date: Tuesday September 24th, 2024
Time: 4pm PDT, 5pm MDT, 6pm CDT, 7pm EDT
Duration: +/- 1 hour and 15 minutes
RSVP: Email globalgreenburialalliance@gmail.com to receive the zoom link.
Nearly two years ago, Peter and Annica Quakenbush bought 20 acres of land in Brooks Township, Michigan, with the goal of opening a conservation burial cemetery. While working with the township to get a special land use permit, Brooks Township issued an ordinance banning the creation of new cemeteries, blocking the opening of West Michigan Burial Forest. After over a year of fighting for their rights, the Quakenbushes prevailed, with Newaygo County Circuit Court Judge David Glancy ruling the ban ‘unconstitutional.’ Tune in on September 12th via YouTube and Facebook Live to hear firsthand what happened and what the future of West Michigan Forest looks like. See the event details below to join.
Event Details:
Date: September 12th, 2024
Time: 3 PM PDT, 4 PM MDT, 5 PM CDT, & 6 PM EDT
Location: YouTube and Facebook Live
SCHEDULE:
3:30 PM - 6:00 PM - Scavenger Hunt and Activities!
Enjoy a self-led scavenger hunt that can earn you raffle tickets and other goodies! Complete it on your own or with family and friends and get to learn more about the cemetery. Please come any time after 3:30 PM to complete it so you can enter in the raffle drawing before 6 PM!
4:30 PM - Tour of Creston Cemetery:
Owners and representatives of the cemetery will guide visitors around the cemetery. There will be some history on those buried in the cemetery, and what makes natural burial different than conventional burial. Come see the projects we've been working on!
6:00 PM - Raffle!
After participants have submitted their finished scavenger hunt and entered into the raffle drawings, we will draw winners and give out prizes!
Come for the tour, the scavenger hunt and more! Guests are welcome to explore the space during the event and enjoy the changing colors of the evening sky.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Sunday October 27th, 2024
Time: 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Address: 5762 Little Farm Road, Creston, CA 93446
Admission: FREE
ABOUT THE LOCATION:
**Creston Cemetery is a historic, natural burial ground. Please be respectful to the existing grave markers and environment. This space is to be enjoyed by both the living and the dead.
**No smoking is allowed on the cemetery property.
**Please park in front of the cemetery, there is ample space on the dirt in front of the cemetery, across from the cemetery and off to the side of surrounding areas. We do recommend carpooling or using a rideshare if you've been enjoying the wineries.
**The event takes place in a natural burial space and there are no paved roads and the ground can be uneven. The groundskeepers will do their best to fill squirrel holes, but we encourage treading carefully throughout the cemetery. There is an incline to the event space.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
**Please bring layers for the swiftly cooling temperature, and a chair and/or blanket if you'd like to hang out in cemetery grounds. We welcome you to bring any kind of beverage and food, and please pack it out with you.
The Global Green Burial Alliance would like to introduce you to Emma, a graduate student at Bangor University conducting important research on the different motivations behind choosing green end-of-life options in the United States. Please see her message below and consider taking her short survey to support the movement and to further green burial research.
•••
Hello everyone!
My name is Emma, I am a graduate student at Bangor University. I am conducting research on motivations behind choosing green end-of-life options, such as natural burials, versus conventional options such as cremations and traditional burials.
If you have opted for a green end-of-life option for yourself or a loved one, I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to fill out my survey: https://qualtricsxm3zx5bkb29.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eD8socTNz0ydDAq
The survey is brief, taking only 5-7 minutes, and it is completely confidential. No personal data (i.e., name, email, IP address) is collected.
Please only take the survey if you are 18 or over, based in the United States, and have chosen a green end-of-life option for yourself or a loved one. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at mms23thv@bangor.ac.uk.
Thank you for your time and support!
Spotlight Now is a place for funeral professionals to share their experiences with eco-friendly funerals. The purpose of the platform is to educate and advocate; each week covers a different topic, featuring special guests from around the world. In this week's episode, special guest Andrew Ousley talks about Death of Classical, his concert series that presents classical music and opera concerts in catacombs, crypts, and cemeteries in New York City.
Each month, the Global Green Burial Alliance hosts a free forum with a special panel of eco-friendly funeral experts. Subjects range from funeral practices around the world to the latest eco-friendly funeral technologies. The purpose of this space is to create open conversations between providers and consumers. Everyone is welcome and invited; forums occur second or third Thursday of each month.
Each month, the Global Green Burial Alliance hosts a monthly livestream with a special guest from the eco-friendly funeral movement as part of its "Ask an Expert" interview series. Hosted by founder Ed Bixby, these 30-minute information sessions allow viewers to receive live answers to any and all questions that they may have about eco-friendly funeral services, options, products, and more.
If you have any technical or logistical questions concerning cemetery operations, funeral homes, and eco-friendly funeral products please contact us to arrange a free consultation with a green burial expert from our advisory committee. Fill out the contact form to the left to arrange a phone call.
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