In 1996, Ramsey Creek Preserve in Westminster, South Carolina became the first natural burial ground in the United States. Billy and Kimberley Campbell brought together the idea for a burial ground that prohibits concrete vaults, toxic embalming chemicals and other non-biodegradable materials, and set the stage for ecosystem conservation to merge with a new burial practice. Since 1996, natural (or "green") burial grounds have been established in most US states, providing an alternative to conventional cemetery burial. Conservation burial grounds are often created in partnership with a local land trust, which establishes an easement on the preserve that affirms its protected status into perpetuity.

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The tradition of natural burial has taken hold in the South in particular and there are beautiful natural burial grounds located in many states adjacent to West Virginia, though at this point there is no public, dedicated natural burial ground within this state. Other green cemeteries in our surrounding area include:

Penn Forest in Pittsburgh, PA; Larkspur Conservation Burial near Nashville, TN; Panorama Natural Burial near Charlottesville, Virginia; and Bluestem Conservation Burial near Durham, North Carolina.

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In the coming years, my dream is to collaborate in creating a natural burial ground in West Virginia that partners with a local land trust to both preserve and conserve land, while also providing an economical burial option for our surrounding communities. If you are interested in learning more about natural burial in West Virginia, please be in touch and join our Facebook community to find out about upcoming events and our progress!