Green Burial Options in Vermont (2026): Natural Burial Grounds, Hybrid Cemeteries & Prices

When Vermont families start looking into green burial Vermont options, they’re rarely doing it because they want one more complicated decision. Most are trying to align end-of-life choices with a life that valued simplicity, land stewardship, and practicality. Sometimes the search begins after a death, when the timeline is tight. Other times it begins years in advance as a quiet form of funeral planning, so loved ones are not left guessing.

It also helps to name what’s shifting in the background. In the U.S., cremation is now the majority choice, and the numbers keep trending upward. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected at 63.4% in 2025. And the Cremation Association of North America reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024, with continued growth projected. For many families, that broader trend opens the door to a more personal question: if we want a lower-impact choice, do we want a form of cremation, or do we want a burial that returns the body to the earth more directly?

This guide focuses on Vermont-specific green burial options Vermont families can realistically pursue in 2026, with special attention to natural burial Vermont choices and hybrid cemeteries that offer a natural section. Along the way, we’ll clarify what “green” typically means in Vermont, how to vet a cemetery or funeral home, what costs usually include, and which alternatives (like alkaline hydrolysis Vermont and natural organic reduction Vermont) are legal to consider—along with how to confirm what’s actually available.

The cemetery types Vermont families will encounter

In everyday conversation, “green burial” can mean anything from “no embalming” to “a forest cemetery with wildflowers.” In practice, it helps to separate cemetery types, because the rules and the experience can be very different from one place to another.

Natural burial grounds

A natural burial ground Vermont is a cemetery dedicated to ecological practices and designed for burial without vaults. Vermont law defines a “natural burial ground” as a cemetery maintained using ecological land management practices and “without the use of vaults,” allowing unembalmed remains (or remains embalmed only with nontoxic fluids) placed in no container or in a plant-derived burial container or shroud. See Vermont’s statutory definitions at 18 V.S.A. § 5302.

As a practical Vermont example, Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury describes itself as the state’s first cemetery devoted entirely to natural burial, with rewilding as a core part of the landscape and memorial approach.

Conservation burial grounds

Conservation burial Vermont usually means natural burial on land protected for conservation in a way that is meant to endure. The Green Burial Council describes a conservation burial ground as a type of natural cemetery established in partnership with a conservation organization and protected by a conservation easement or deed restriction. Conservation burial grounds typically treat the land itself as part of the legacy, with management plans intended to preserve habitat and biodiversity.

In southern Vermont, Higher Ground Conservation Burial presents a conservation-oriented model, describing woodland burial tied to long-term land protection and a conservation management plan.

Hybrid cemeteries with a natural section

A hybrid cemetery Vermont option is usually a conventional cemetery that offers a designated section (or a cemetery-wide policy) that allows the essentials of natural burial—especially burial without a vault and with biodegradable containers. The Green Burial Council describes hybrid cemeteries as conventional cemeteries that offer the essential aspects of natural burial, including allowing eco-friendly biodegradable containers such as shrouds and soft wood caskets, without requiring vaults.

Vermont has multiple cemetery and town-level offerings that function like hybrids. A helpful starting point for families is the Vermont-based directory at Vermont Funeral Resources & Education, which lists Vermont cemeteries offering green or natural options and notes whether they function as natural burial grounds, conservation burial grounds, or hybrid/municipal cemeteries.

Conventional cemeteries that allow “greener practices”

Some families don’t have a true natural or hybrid cemetery close enough, or they need a cemetery where multiple relatives are already buried. In that case, a conventional cemetery may still allow meaningful “greener” steps—such as declining embalming, choosing a simpler container, or avoiding a large upright monument—even if the cemetery still requires an outer burial container for maintenance and groundskeeping. This is often where careful questions matter most, because the cemetery’s rules may be the difference between “mostly green” and “not green in the ways you assumed.”

What makes a burial “green” in Vermont

Families often ask for a simple checklist: do we need embalming, do we need a vault, can we use a shroud, and what paperwork is involved? Vermont’s legal framework and on-the-ground cemetery policies make those questions especially important.

Embalming expectations

In Vermont, embalming is not required by law in ordinary circumstances. The Vermont Department of Health explains that Vermont law allows families to care for their own dead and that embalming is not required by law, while encouraging timely planning based on weather and practical care needs. Vermont-based guidance from Vermont Funeral Resources & Education also states plainly that embalming is not required in Vermont.

In a genuinely green cemetery or green section, embalming is typically discouraged or prohibited unless nontoxic alternatives are used. The Green Burial Council describes green burial as generally foregoing toxic embalming and emphasizes cooling and other respectful body care methods as common alternatives.

Vaults and grave liners

This is one of the most common Vermont stumbling blocks. Vermont guidance notes that vault requirement green burial Vermont is not a statewide legal requirement: burial vaults and caskets are not required by law, but individual cemeteries may set their own rules and may require an outer burial container and a casket as a matter of policy. See Vermont Funeral Resources & Education.

That’s why the cemetery category matters. Vermont’s statutory definition of a natural burial ground specifically includes burial “without the use of vaults.” See 18 V.S.A. § 5302. If a cemetery requires a vault for every burial, it may still allow some greener practices, but it is not meeting the core “no vault” expectation most families have when they search eco friendly burial Vermont.

Biodegradable caskets vs. shrouds

Many families are relieved to learn that the “container” question is broader than a traditional casket. Vermont’s definition of a natural burial ground allows burial with no container or with a plant-derived burial container or shroud. See 18 V.S.A. § 5302. In other words, shroud burial Vermont is a real, recognized option in the natural burial context—when the cemetery’s rules support it.

Individual cemeteries often get more specific. For example, Higher Ground’s cemetery rules prohibit embalming with toxic products and require that materials used in burial containers, shrouds, clothing, and related items be biodegradable and non-toxic, with additional handling requirements for stability during burial.

Grave depth and markers

When families picture burial, they often assume a deep grave and a large headstone. Green burial can look very different. Some Vermont green sections use shallower graves as part of the ecological approach. For a concrete example, Meeting House Hill Cemetery’s Natural Space states that burials are 3.5 to 4 feet deep and allows permanent memorialization in the form of natural rocks with size limits.

Vermont law also supports the reality that natural burial grounds may mark and manage land differently. Under 18 V.S.A. § 5323, a natural burial ground is exempt from certain requirements and may use nonstandard methods of locating remains in land records (including mapping, surveying, or GPS). The statute also allows less obtrusive perimeter marking (such as survey markers) and ties any required grave markers to the specific regulations of that natural burial ground.

At a broader level, the Green Burial Council notes that green cemeteries may use GPS or native stone markers and often focus on habitat restoration and sustainable management rather than manicured lawns.

Paperwork and permits in Vermont

Even the greenest burial still has administrative steps. Vermont is relatively supportive of families who want to handle care themselves. The Vermont Department of Health explains the paper process for families not using a funeral director, including use of a Preliminary Report of Death and the need to submit information to Vital Records within required timelines. It also explains that if you plan to transport the deceased yourself, you must file a burial transit permit with the town clerk where the body is to be buried or cremated, and you should have the completed paperwork before moving the body.

If you are planning a home burial, the same Health Department guidance notes that towns may have local ordinances, and families should consult zoning authorities and local officials as needed.

How to find and vet natural burial grounds and green sections serving Vermont

If you are searching “green burial near me Vermont,” it can be tempting to stop at the first cemetery that uses the word “green.” In practice, a better approach is to use a directory to find candidates and then vet the details that actually drive your experience and costs.

For recognized standards and national context, the Green Burial Council explains the differences between hybrid, natural, and conservation burial grounds and maintains provider resources for families seeking cemeteries aligned with those standards.

For Vermont-specific starting points, Vermont Funeral Resources & Education provides a state-focused list of cemeteries offering green options, including listings for Vermont Forest Cemetery (natural burial) and Higher Ground (conservation burial), as well as multiple hybrid and municipal cemeteries.

Once you have a shortlist, the goal is to confirm the practical rules in writing. Here are the questions that most often prevent unpleasant surprises later:

• Vault/liner policy: Is a vault required, optional, or prohibited? If optional, is the natural section truly “no vault”?
• Container rules: Are biodegradable casket Vermont choices required? Are shrouds allowed, and what support board or handling rules apply?
• Embalming rules: Is embalming prohibited, allowed only with nontoxic products, or allowed without restriction?
• Grave depth and grave location records: What depth is typical, and how are graves documented (survey, mapping, GPS)? Vermont law explicitly contemplates GPS/mapping approaches for natural burial grounds.
• Markers and memorialization: Are flat markers permitted, are natural stones allowed, or is the cemetery intentionally marker-free?
• Land management: How is the landscape maintained—native plantings, reduced mowing, avoidance of herbicides/pesticides—and what does the cemetery expect the ground to look like season to season?
• Accessibility and logistics: Can elderly relatives reach the gravesite? Is parking available? Are there winter burial procedures?
• Pricing transparency: Can you get an itemized fee list (plot/rights, opening/closing, weekend or winter surcharges, recording fees, staff assistance)?

When a cemetery can answer those questions clearly, you usually feel it. And when it can’t—or when answers shift depending on who you ask—that’s a sign to slow down and keep looking.

Green burial costs in Vermont: what families typically pay for

Families searching green burial cost Vermont or natural burial cost Vermont are often hoping for a simple number. In reality, totals depend on two things: the cemetery’s fee structure and how many services you want professionals to handle versus family and community members.

At Vermont Forest Cemetery, for example, the cemetery publishes concrete starting numbers. Its FAQ states burial rights are $1,000 per lot and burial service charges start at $1,700, for a total of $2,720 including a deed recording cost, with higher totals depending on attended services and additional charges such as winter or weekend burial. See Vermont Forest Cemetery’s FAQ and its posted fee structure on VFC policies.

Higher Ground describes a different model tied to conservation cemetery development. Its FAQ lists a “founding member fee” of $2,000 and notes deposits and community-supported affordability approaches. See Higher Ground’s FAQ.

Those examples are not statewide averages, but they are useful because they show what “transparent pricing” looks like—something the Green Burial Council highlights as a key requirement for certified green cemeteries.

In Vermont, typical cost components include:

• Burial rights or plot/space: sometimes sold as a specific plot, sometimes as rights within a natural area.
• Opening/closing: grave excavation and closure; may vary by season and soil conditions.
• Container or shroud: a biodegradable casket, a simple shroud system, or no container (depending on cemetery rules).
• Marker/memorial: optional in some green cemeteries, limited to natural materials in others.
• Cemetery administrative fees: deed recording, maintenance funds, or conservation stewardship funds.
• Funeral home coordination (optional): transportation, refrigeration/cooling, paperwork support, and ceremony planning if you want professional help.

What raises totals in Vermont tends to be very practical: winter burials, weekend timing, longer transport distances, and choosing more professional labor (for example, staff carrying and lowering the body, or full funeral home coordination). What lowers totals is often the opposite: choosing a cemetery that does not require a vault, simplifying merchandise, and leaning on community participation where appropriate.

It is also worth naming a Vermont-specific reality: families are not required to hire a funeral director for every step. The Vermont Department of Health explains that families may care for their own dead, transport the deceased, and carry out funerals and burials on private property without being required to involve a licensed funeral director. Even when you do choose a cemetery burial (rather than a home burial), that “family-directed” mindset often shows up in how Vermont families approach green burial planning.

Eco-minded alternatives Vermont families consider

Not every family ends up choosing full-body green burial, even when it is the first preference. Availability, distance, weather, family needs, and cultural or religious traditions can all shape what is realistic. The good news is that Vermont families still have meaningful options that can align with a lower-impact approach.

Green sections within conventional cemeteries

If you need a familiar cemetery close to home, ask whether it has a natural section or will make written exceptions to vault requirements. Even when a cemetery won’t go fully “no vault,” you may still be able to decline embalming and choose a simpler biodegradable container. This is often the most accessible path for families who want “greener than conventional” without traveling across the state.

Cremation with biodegradable urns, scattering, or water burial

Some families decide that cremation is the simplest logistics choice, then focus their energy on the memorial decisions that come after: what to do with ashes, whether keeping ashes at home feels comforting, or whether scattering (on land or water) fits the person’s life.

If you’re walking that road, Funeral.com’s practical resources can help you make the details easier: start with How Much Does Cremation Cost?, then explore Keeping Ashes at Home and Water Burial and Burial at Sea. For families who want a physical memorial at home, the right container matters: Funeral.com’s cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, and keepsake urns collections are designed for the most common family needs—home memorials, sharing plans, and later scattering.

If a pet is part of your story, families often look for parallel ways to remember them. Funeral.com’s pet urns for ashes and pet figurine cremation urns, along with pet keepsake cremation urns, support both “one memorial place” and “share the ashes” preferences.

Alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation) and natural organic reduction

Families searching aquamation Vermont or human composting Vermont are often looking for something that feels more aligned with nature than conventional choices. Vermont law explicitly includes both alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction in the definition of a “disposition facility,” alongside cremation. See 18 V.S.A. § 5302. Vermont’s Legislature also tracks the authorization of natural organic reduction through the enacted bill history for H.244 (Act 169).

The most important practical point is availability. “Legal” does not always mean “offered nearby.” If you are considering alkaline hydrolysis or natural organic reduction, confirm provider availability directly with Vermont-licensed operators and ask how remains are returned, what timeline is typical, what permits are required, and whether transport out of state is part of their model.

Provider checklist for Vermont families

When you’re making these choices under pressure, a checklist is not cold or impersonal—it’s protection against misunderstandings. Use this to compare providers and document answers for your family.

Cemetery checklist

• Confirm whether the cemetery is a natural burial ground, conservation burial ground, hybrid cemetery, or conventional cemetery with greener allowances.
• Get the vault/liner policy in writing, including whether vaults are prohibited, optional, or required.
• Confirm container rules (shroud allowed or not, biodegradable materials required, any backer board or handling requirements).
• Ask how grave locations are documented (mapping/survey/GPS) and whether the cemetery follows Vermont’s natural burial ground exemptions for nonstandard locating methods.
• Clarify grave depth expectations and seasonal constraints, including winter burial procedures and any surcharges.
• Clarify memorialization: markers allowed or discouraged, acceptable materials, and whether natural stones or flat markers are permitted.
• Request a complete, itemized price list (rights/plot, opening/closing, recording fees, maintenance or stewardship funds, weekend/winter fees).
• Ask about accessibility: parking, walking distance, terrain, and whether accommodations exist for elders or mobility limitations.

Funeral home checklist

• Ask what body care is required for the timeline (cooling/refrigeration options, washing and dressing, transportation logistics) and confirm embalming is not required for your plan.
• Confirm the paperwork flow: who files what, and how you obtain and file permits (especially if family members are transporting).
• Request a written, itemized price quote, separated into funeral home charges and third-party charges.
• Ask whether the funeral home has experience coordinating with natural or hybrid cemeteries and whether they will follow cemetery container rules.
• If you want a home vigil or family-directed care, confirm what support the funeral home can provide without taking over the process.

FAQs about green burial in Vermont