Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve
{{Short description|Cemetery in Tompkins County, New York, US}}
{{Infobox cemetery
|name = Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve
|image = Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve - Entrance Sign.jpg
|imagesize =
|caption = Entrance sign of Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve
|established = {{Start date and age|2006}}
|country = U.S.
|location = Newfield, New York
|coordinates = {{coord|42.294|N|76.640|W|type:landmark||display=inline,title}}
|type = Non-profit
|owner = Greensprings Natural Cemetery Association
|size = 130 acres
|graves =
|findagraveid = 2219066
|website = {{url|www.naturalburial.org}}
}}
Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve is a non-profit cemetery located at 293 Irish Hill Road in Newfield, New York. Founded in 2006 as a natural burial cemetery, the preserve covers {{convert|130|acre}} of rolling meadows and is surrounded by {{cvt|8,000|acre}} of Cornell University's Arnot Forest and Newfield State Forest.
History
File:Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve - Founders Stone.jpg
Greensprings is one of the first green burial sites in New York State, and one of only a few 100% natural cemeteries in the United States.{{Cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Steve |date=November 27, 2019 |title=A return to the earth: Newfield's Greensprings Natural Cemetery |work=Ithaca Times |url=https://www.ithaca.com/news/newfield/a-return-to-the-earth-newfields-greensprings-natural-cemetery/article_a6366ef8-1083-11ea-bc72-632432f4088a.html |access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Shipos |first=Cathy |date=April 7, 2021 |title=Greensprings Cemetery Celebrates 15 Years |work=Tompkins Weekly |url=https://www.tompkinsweekly.com/articles/greensprings-cemetery-celebrates-15-years/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |date=January 13, 2015 |title='Green,' Biodegradable Burials Growing in Popularity |work=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/green-biodegradable-burials-growing-in-popularity |access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Dickinson |first=Rachel |date=August 20, 2010 |title=Looking for a greener kind of death |work=Salon |url=https://www.salon.com/2010/08/20/green_burial/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=White |first=Nancy J. |date=January 26, 2007 |title=The green goodbye |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/2007/01/26/the_green_goodbye.html |access-date=October 2, 2022}} The Greensprings Natural Cemetery Association was incorporated in 2004 under the leadership of Jennifer Johnson, Susan Thomas, Mary Woodsen, and Carl Leopold.{{Cite news |last=Banford |first=Eric |date=September 12, 2016 |title=Greensprings celebrating a decade of natural burials |work=Tompkins Weekly |url=https://www.tompkinsweekly.com/articles/greensprings-celebrating-a-decade-of-natural-burials/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Chaisson |first=Bill |date=May 19, 2010 |title=Leopold posthumously honored by Town of Ithaca |work=Ithaca Times |url=https://www.ithaca.com/news/local_news/leopold-posthumously-honored-by-town-of-ithaca/article_80087031-03eb-5cdd-99fb-97a15ff624b3.html |access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Matsuda |first=Akiko |date=November 6, 2015 |title=Green-living people seek natural burial options |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/11/06/green-living-people-seek-natural-burial-options/75272990/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Uthe |first=Tori |date=September 6, 2007 |title=Environmentally friendly ways to leave this world |work=The Record Herald |url=https://www.therecordherald.com/story/news/2007/09/06/environmentally-friendly-ways-to-leave/45874459007/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}} Initially, seven acres of land on Irish Hill in Newfield, New York were purchased from Herb Engman, a Town of Ithaca supervisor and staunch ecologist. Engman subsequently donated a further 93 acres to the preserve, thereby becoming the preserve's main benefactor.{{Cite news |last=Jayalalita |date=May 5, 2013 |title=Greensprings Completes a Natural Life |work=Green Leaf, GreenStar Natural Foods Market |url=https://www.naturalburial.org/media |access-date=October 2, 2022}} The first natural burial at Greensprings occurred in 2006.{{Cite news |last=Raygor |first=Jill |date=May 3, 2006 |title=Natural cemetery opens |work=Ithaca Times |url=https://www.ithaca.com/news/local_news/natural-cemetery-opens/article_14562431-a760-5e88-a61d-741f2b6a1919.html |access-date=October 2, 2022}} Greensprings has been working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the USDA to make the preserve more inviting to grassland birds, improve pollinator habitat, and remove invasive tree and shrub species.{{Cite news |last=Leopold |first=Lynn |date=November 11, 2017 |title=Greensprings – Renew, Sustain, Endure |work=Tompkins Weekly |url=https://sustainabletompkins.org/signs-of-sustainability/tompkins-weekly-column/greensprings-renew-sustain-endure/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}}
Facilities
File:Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve - West Meadow in the Fall.jpg
Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve is at the top of Irish Hill in Newfield, New York. The site of a former dairy farm,{{Cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Nick |date=September 15, 2016 |title=Greensprings set to celebrate 10 years |work=Ithaca Journal |url=https://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2016/09/15/greensprings-set-celebrate-10-years/90417498/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}} the preserve comprises 130 acres of meadows and woodland, and is surrounded by an additional 8,000 acres of protected land consisting of Cornell University's Arnot Forest and Newfield State Forest. From the bench at Leopold Lookout, named in honor of founder Carl Leopold, who is buried at Greensprings,{{Cite news |last=Staves |first=Mark |date=December 6, 2009 |title=Obituaries - A. Carl Leopold |work=Lansing Star |url=https://www.lansingstar.com/obituaries/5628-a-carl-leopold |access-date=October 2, 2022}} it is possible to see all the way to the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Burials at Greensprings occur in 15' x 15' (4.6 m x 4.6 m) plots. Bodies are not embalmed and there are no burial vaults. Only biodegradable materials such as natural fiber shrouds, wicker baskets, or plain wooden coffins are allowed.{{Cite news |last=Wickham |first=Jessica |date=June 22, 2022 |title=How natural burials help families, environment |work=Tompkins Weekly |url=https://www.tompkinsweekly.com/articles/how-natural-burials-help-families-environment-2/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}} Grave markers lie flat with the earth and consist of uncut, locally sourced stones. Although burying and scattering of ashes is permitted in designated areas at Greensprings, this practice is somewhat discouraged due to the environmental costs of cremation.
A section of the cemetery, consecrated by Rabbi Scott Glass, is designated for Jewish burials.{{Cite web |title=Consecration at Greensprings Natural Cemetery |url=https://tikkunvor.org/urj-events/consecration-at-greensprings-natural-cemetery/ |access-date=October 2, 2022}} The "Remembrance Grove" is intended for people who have suffered miscarriages or the death of a child.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve}}
- [http://www.naturalburial.org/ Greensprings Website]
- [https://www.facebook.com/greenspringsnaturalburial/ Greensprings Facebook Group]