Georgia efforts stymied

I met Jim Wood, the co-founder of Summerland green cemetery at a conference to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Crossings in Maryland.  Jim had dealt with many objections to the natural burial site he planned to open with his business partner.  He felt confident that he would be able to start accepting bodies some time this year.  But Summerland cemetery will not open this year because the locals, in conjunction with local cemeterarians, have created a new ordinance that makes it impossible for Jim and his partner to start their business.   Jim's cause has been taken up by the Funeral Consumers' Alliance, as well as other green burial pioneers.  The ordinance is based on fear and misinformation - and needs to be addressed!

You can read the story as reported by the local Georgia newspaper, by copying and visiting the links below.

http://www.macon.com/149/story/514700.html

http://www.macon.com/198/story/515312.html

http://www.macon.com/203/story/525546.html

Jim could do with whatever support we can offer, at this time.

Meanwhile - we are in the process of planning for the 2009 Green and Home Funeral Conference that will take place in Boulder, Colorado.  Visit the Conference 2009 page at our website - to view the provisional call for proposals.  We are looking for sponsors, participants, to make this an even bigger success than 2008.

There are so many lessons we can learn from experiences like Jim's.  There is so much education we need to do and so much support we need to give each other for our initiatives.