Green burial in Picton, Ontario.

Driving through the gates of Glenwood Cemetery in Picton Ontario, the words "every life is worth loving and remembering always" are inscribed in stone. Glenwood is home to one of Ontario Canada's very few green burial sites. About a two hour drive from where I live- Peterborough, Ontario. There is a closer green burial site to Peterborough, in Cobourg, just 45 minutes away. There is something special about this cemetery. I knew it before I even reached the gates. An intuitive in his run down shop, just outside of town, told me how special this trip would be before I even got there. (but that's another story for another time.) The whole cemetery is rich in history from the early settlers and their descendants. The incredible beauty of the rolling hills and large majestic, mature forests overwhelmed my senses. Driving through the winding streets, past the bee hives and then the steep and rugged road up the hillside to the scattering ground, I felt an intense emotional connection to this place. I was in absolute awe. When I stepped out of the car onto the damp, snapping sticks and leaves, I felt as though I was stepping into another world. The humbling feeling I got looking up towards the tops of the trees at the top of the hillside. It was a surreal experience. Breath taking. A natural, green or traditional burial is the act of returning a body as naturally as possible to the earth. Buried in a simple biodegradable casket or shroud. No embalming or harsh chemicals are used on the body. Headstones are replaced by native flowers, grasses or trees, creating a vibrant ecosystem that restores and protects nature.

You can find out more about Green Burials here: https://naturalburialassociation.ca/

And Gleenwood Cemetery here:

http://glenwoodcemetery.ca/