Making end-of-life decisions can be incredibly difficult. One crucial choice is how to handle your funeral and burial. In addition to traditional burial methods, alternatives like cremation are becoming more popular. However, with cremation, you still have the question of what to do with your ashes. One elegant option is to turn your ashes into a tree that lives on in a beautiful garden. This unique memorial practice has numerous benefits to you, your family, and the world at large.
1. You Save Money
Traditional burials in Australia cost around $19,000 on average. That’s a huge expense for you and your family. A more economical option is being buried in a memorial forest. Many memorial forests offer packages that are less than half of the cost of the average burial and include a planting ceremony, your personalised choice of tree, and ongoing tree care. Being buried in a memorial garden can save your family significant financial stress and leave them with a peaceful place to visit after you pass.
2. You Help the Environment
When you think about ashes, you probably think about scattering them in a beautiful area like your favourite park. Did you know, though, that unprocessed human ash can be incredibly harmful to a local ecosystem? While ash may seem harmless, unprocessed ash actually has the same pH as bleach. When you choose to be buried in a memorial forest, your ashes are processed in a special way so they have a safer pH and even helpful micro-nutrients to feed your tree.
In addition to processing ash to make it safer for the environment, planting your tree in a memorial forest offsets the environmental impacts of cremation. It takes just one tree to negate the carbon dioxide produced during the cremation process. Cremation creates four times as much carbon dioxide as a traditional burial. Being buried as a tree allows you to utilise this popular technique without harming the environment.
3. You Choose a Tree To Match Your Personality
You’ve lived your life in a way that’s specific to you. Maybe you’re a loud, extroverted person who can light up any room, or maybe you’re a more quiet, humble individual that others go to for guidance. Just like you have a unique personality, trees have their own personalities, too! You can choose your memorial tree ahead of time to ensure you leave your family with the tree that best represents you.
Some popular options are:
- The contemplative tulip magnolia
- The strong-willed, towering gum tree
- The sturdy English oak
- The graceful cherry
- The upbeat sweet gum
With the wide variety of trees available, you can choose a memorial tree uniquely suited to you. Your family is sure to see a bit of your personality in the rustle of the leaves.
4. You Create a Family Heirloom
While you may have just your ashes added to a tree, that’s not the only option. Couples may add their ashes to the same tree as a loving way to be commemorated together. Your children or other loved ones can have their ashes fed to the tree, too. By choosing to become a tree, you open the door for others to be buried with you and create a literal family tree. Multiple generations can immerse themselves in family history as your tree continues to grow and thrive.
5. You Live On in Nature
Think about the majesty of nature: a warm breeze, the rays of sun warming your skin, or the beauty of autumn leaves. Being buried in a memorial forest is your chance to become a part of a beautiful landscape for others to enjoy. Your family can stroll through the garden, remember the times they had with you, and find peace in nature.
Choosing a burial in a memorial forest has significant benefits: lower cost compared to traditional burials, positive impacts on the environment, and the ability to create a lasting legacy for your family. You can honour your personality by choosing a tree that represents your values. You can take comfort in knowing that your family has a tranquil place to visit when they want to feel close to you. More than that, you bring beauty to the world by feeding an elegant, sturdy, and graceful tree.
