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Natural Awakenings Lehigh Valley

Spring Cleaning in Green Meadow

Green Meadow, a natural burial Ground at Fountain Hill Cemetery is seeking volunteers for a spring clean-up event on Saturday, April 11 from 9 a.m. to noon. The first of its’ kind in the Lehigh Valley, Green Meadow’s goal is to create a beautiful and respectful place to allow the body to degrade naturally and rejoin Earth’s elements, perpetuating the natural cycle of life and death. The burial process uses what remains of life to regenerate new life, to return dust to dust. Volunteers can meet the caretakers and staff and experience the site’s philosophy. Unlike traditional cemeteries, Green Meadow prohibits practices that prevent natural reunion with the earth, including burial vaults, metal caskets and chemical embalming. In their place they allow biodegradable caskets and cloth shrouds. Upright headstones are not permitted; however, ground level fieldstone and other natural native rock markers are allowed.

Maintenance of the grounds at Green Meadow also differs from traditional cemeteries. The meadow is planted with native Pennsylvania wildflowers eliminating the need for lawn care and creating a peaceful, contiguous native wildflower landscape.

Fountain Hill Cemetery is non-denominational and non-profit. Located at 1121 Graham Street, Bethlehem. For more information, contact Ed Vogrins at 610-868-4840 . See ad, page 20.