Mode of Program Participation
Community Organizing and Educational Programming
Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Green Burial in Appalachia
Session Abstract or Summary
Over the last fifteen years, “green burial” has garnered support from growing numbers of ecologically conscious funeral consumers in the United States. Advocates of green burial eschew the use of toxic embalming fluid, mass produced hardwood and metal caskets, and manicured cemetery grounds. Instead, they promote the use of biodegradable burial materials and the natural decomposition of dead human bodies. While modern green burials in many ways resemble pre-industrial, pre-professional funeral practices, the modern movement reflects decidedly contemporary interests and values. In addition to screening the short (30 minute), award winning documentary film, Dying Green, this Community Organizing and Educational Programming session brings together the voices of Appalachian green burial practitioners, a local green cemetery operator, and a local death care scholar who is also a certified home funeral guide. The aim of this session is to inform conference attendees about local perspectives on green burial, and to provide practical information about green funeral practices, as well as local green cemetery providers.
Presentation #1 Title
Green Burial
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Over the last fifteen years, “green burial” has garnered support from growing numbers of ecologically conscious funeral consumers in the United States. Advocates of green burial eschew the use of toxic embalming fluid, mass produced hardwood and metal caskets, and manicured cemetery grounds. Instead, they promote the use of biodegradable burial materials and the natural decomposition of dead human bodies. While modern green burials in many ways resemble pre-industrial, pre-professional funeral practices, the modern movement reflects decidedly contemporary interests and values. In addition to screening the short (30 minute), award winning documentary film, Dying Green, this Community Organizing and Educational Programming session brings together the voices of Appalachian green burial practitioners, a local green cemetery operator, and a local death care scholar who is also a certified home funeral guide. The aim of this session is to inform conference attendees about local perspectives on green burial, and to provide practical information about green funeral practices, as well as local green cemetery providers.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Holding a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Phil Olson now work in the Department of Science & Technology in Society at Virginia Tech. His research takes place at the intersections of technology studies, applied ethics, critical medical humanities, women’s and gender studies, and social epistemology. Being the son, grandson, and great-grandson of morticians, it is fitting that his research has turned toward funeral technologies, and toward relationships between the medicalized body and the funeralized corpse. I look to the dead human body and funeral technologies as research sites for studying technology ethics, the roles of technology in the formation of expertise and authority over the human body, and the ways in which knowledge and value shape one another through the development and use of technological systems.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Ben Coleman is a resident of Big Island, VA, and a proponent of green burial and home funeral and burial practices who has shared the story of his experiences with home funerals and green burials as a community advocate and activist for home funerals and green burials in Virginia.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Donald E. Wilson is President of Evergreen Memorial Trust. He is a seasoned veteran in cemetery management, with more than thirty years service at Evergreen Burial Park. Born and raised in Mason City, Iowa, Don is a 1980 business graduate of the University of Iowa where he was a four-year letterman on the varsity swimming team. He is married to the former Lisa Ver Wey of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They are the parents of Benjamin, Jessica, and James. Don is active in a number of community service organizations, serving a term as President of the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke, and continues to be a volunteer with Meals on Wheels.
Green Burial
Over the last fifteen years, “green burial” has garnered support from growing numbers of ecologically conscious funeral consumers in the United States. Advocates of green burial eschew the use of toxic embalming fluid, mass produced hardwood and metal caskets, and manicured cemetery grounds. Instead, they promote the use of biodegradable burial materials and the natural decomposition of dead human bodies. While modern green burials in many ways resemble pre-industrial, pre-professional funeral practices, the modern movement reflects decidedly contemporary interests and values. In addition to screening the short (30 minute), award winning documentary film, Dying Green, this Community Organizing and Educational Programming session brings together the voices of Appalachian green burial practitioners, a local green cemetery operator, and a local death care scholar who is also a certified home funeral guide. The aim of this session is to inform conference attendees about local perspectives on green burial, and to provide practical information about green funeral practices, as well as local green cemetery providers.
