What is Natural Burial?

Natural Burial or green burial takes place without the use of formaldehyde-based embalming, metal caskets, and concrete burial vaults.

The Only Approved Northeast Ohio Provider

Foxfield Preserve is a nature preserve cemetery operated by The Wilderness Center. It is the first “green cemetery” operated by a non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. and the first of its kind in Ohio.

Foxfield Preserve requires a “green” or “natural burial.”• biodegradable container• no embalming • no vault

A nature preserve cemetery is a place where nature dominates. Instead of a lawn, the land is maintained as forest and prairie. Trails provide access to the site, but nature dominates that landscape.

Foxfield Preserve and Busch Funeral and Crematory Services meet the highest standards for conservation burial as set forth by the Green Burial Council.

At Foxfield Preserve, naturalists are restoring the land to a more natural condition by planting native prairie meadows and reforesting hillsides. Burials are in keeping with nature and its cycles.

Foxfield Preserve’s burials go far beyond a simple, natural burial.  Here, burial is also a conservation tool used to restore and protect natural areas.

Caskets, coffins or alternative containers used to enclose and transport the dead are made of bio-degradable materials and are available in a range of prices.

Home wakes, public visitations, church funerals and graveside services are options that may be arranged within the limited time frame natural burial allows.

Green cemetery options allow families to select a natural burial or a green cremation.

Many families will have a gathering that allows a time of remembrance for family and friends to come together prior to the green committal.

Green Earth Burial Service Charges and Caskets range from $2,124 to $7,451

Green Cremation Earth Burial Service Charges range from $2,480 to $10,169

Green Cemetery Fees: From $3,200 and up, (Foxfield Preserve, Wilmot, Ohio)

Green Urn Options: $130-$229 Choice of 4

Green Casket Options: $110-$2,580 Choice of 7

Busch Funeral and Crematory Services dedicated professionals provide families with a greater level of care, comfort and accountability. Our trained staff provides 24/7 care assuring you that your loved one never leaves our care.

We will obtain the necessary signatures for the death certificate; file with the County, obtain the certified copies of the death certificate and obtain the burial or cremation permit required by the State of Ohio and the green cemetery.

For burial families we have on-site refrigeration, due to weather conditions delaying burial. We have the area’s only on-site crematory for families to witness the cremation process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of burials will be permitted at Foxfield Preserve?

We will have only natural burials (also referred to as "green burial"). In a natural burial, a person is laid to rest in a biodegradable container.  They are not embalmed and no vaults are used.  It is the true "dust to dust" form of burial.  We suggest dressing the body in natural fibers such as cotton or wool.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you require biodegradable materials, what about medical prosthesis?

This is not an ecological concern. Such devices are carefully designed to be biologically inert to prevent the immune system from attacking them. It is neither practical nor environmentally necessary to remove them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the cemetery be maintained?

Remember, it is a nature preserve so there will be very little maintenance compared to a typical lawn-type cemetery.  The trails will be maintained to provide access to the site and hazardous trees will be removed.  If the site looks like a conventional cemetery, we have failed.  It should look like forest and prairie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we bury or scatter cremated remains?

Yes. Foxfield Preserve will accept cremation remains. Some parts of the preserve will be limited to interment of cremation remains.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of grave marker will be permitted?

Grave markers are permitted, but optional. Markers must be a native glacial erratic, such as granite, and cannot be machined or polished.  They may be engraved.  The stone must lay flat on the ground, cannot extend more than 3 inches above the ground, and should not exceed 216 sq inch (12" x 18") of surface area. It is intended that markers will also serve an ecological function.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will families locate gravesites?

Foxfield Preserve is required to keep careful records of precise burial locations. These records will be kept on paper and electronically. We will also use GPS technology to locate gravesites. Even if someone chooses to not have a memorial stone, the gravesite can be located.

Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome your interest and we are available for questions at (216) 741-7700 or caring@buschfuneral.com