Natural & Green Burial Options in Southern California
At most points in history, most burial grounds would technically have been considered natural burial grounds by today's standards. Modern natural burial generally means forgoing a burial vault, choosing a biodegradable burial container, such as an untreated casket or shroud, and avoiding embalming chemicals.
Burial vaults began appearing in the 1700s, but these early versions were often made of wood and would naturally break down over time. By the 1800s, burial vaults were made of brick, and today, burial vaults are typically made of concrete, high-strength plastics, or metal, making them incompatible with natural burial practices.
As interest in more environmentally conscious end-of-life options grows, natural burial grounds are once again offering families a simpler way to return to the earth. In Southern California, several cemeteries and burial grounds now offer natural burial options, though their practices, settings, and requirements vary.
There are varying degrees to which cemeteries incorporate natural burial practices.
Conservation Cemeteries
Natural burial grounds that also permanently protect and restore the land for conservation. Learn more on the Conservation Burial Alliance website.
Certified Natural Burial Grounds
Cemeteries that meet established natural burial standards, such as those certified by the Green Burial Council.
Uncertified Natural Burial Grounds
Cemeteries that offer natural burial practices but have not pursued third-party certification.
Hybrid Cemeteries
Conventional cemeteries that offer natural burial within a dedicated section or designated burial spaces.
Joshua Tree Memorial Park
Location: 60121 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Certification Status: Not currently listed as certified*
Cemetery Type: Natural Burial
Unique offerings: The graves are dug by hand, and this process takes 7 to 10 hours depending on the hardness of the ground. Plants at the gravesite are removed before digging and then returned to the site after burial.
Guidance in plantings: Families may plant a naturally occurring plant (native to the Joshua Tree area) on the site as a marking.
Costs: Find the pricing information here.
Markers: Granite or bronze grave markers and headstones are not allowed in the natural burial sections. Families may plant a naturally occurring plant (native to the Joshua Tree area) on the site as a marking or utilize a large rock. Rocks may have minimal decoration, but are subject to review.
Website: joshuatreememorialpark.com
Phone: 760-366-9210
Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery
Location: 1177 Santa Margarita Dr, Fallbrook, CA 92028
Certification Status: Green Burial Council Certified
Cemetery Type: Hybrid Burial Ground
Unique offerings: This cemetery is an established historic cemetery, founded in 1917, that has incorporated green burial.
Guidance in plantings: Drought tolerant plants may be planted but will not be watered by the grounds crew. You can read the full flower policy here.
Costs: Contact for costs
Markers: Headstones are 9"x18"x3" and made out of stone, rock or wood.
Website: fallbrookcemetery.com
Phone: 760-980-0013
Creston Cemetery
Location: 5762 Little Farm Rd, Creston, CA 93446
Certification Status: Green Burial Council Certified
Cemetery Type: Natural burial ground / historic cemetery
Unique offerings: Creston Cemetery is a small historic cemetery surrounded by Central California's rolling hills, ranchlands, vineyards, oak trees, and native vegetation. Natural burials take place in a meadow of wild grasses and seasonal wildflowers, and graves are hand-dug. The cemetery intentionally minimizes grounds maintenance, allowing grasses and flowers to grow over graves and helping preserve habitat for native plants and wildlife.
Guidance in plantings: Non-native memorial trees and shrubs are prohibited.
Costs: A single 5' x 10' natural burial plot is $3,500, plus a 15% preservation and maintenance fee. Grave opening and closing is $1,650, bringing the cemetery's base cost to approximately $5,675 before funeral-home and other services. Cremated-remains burial is $1,000, Tree of Life cremated-remains burial is $2,000, and scattering is $750.
Markers: Each natural burial includes a natural fieldstone, which may be engraved or painted.
Phone: 609-628-2297
Gan Eden at Hillside Memorial Park
Location: 6001 W Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Certification Status: Green Burial Council certified
Cemetery Type: Hybrid cemetery
Unique offerings: The green burial section incorporates native, drought-tolerant landscaping. While this is a Jewish cemetery, Hillside can accommodate interfaith families in certain circumstances.
Guidance in plantings: Potted plants are not permitted on ground burial spaces. Fresh flowers are allowed, which are routinely removed when wilted.
Costs: Contact cemetery for current pricing.
Markers: Permanent memorial markers permitted; granite appears to be a standard ground-burial option. Contact Hillside for Gan Eden-specific marker requirements.
Website: hillsidememorial.org
Phone: 310-641-0707
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Location: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Certification Status: Green Burial Council certified
Cemetery Type: Hybrid Cemetery
Unique offerings: This is a historic, urban cemetery offering natural burial. The cemetery offers memorial trees through their Ancestral Forest Project.
Guidance in plantings: Succulent plantings and newly planted trees are available as options.
Costs: Contact cemetery for current natural burial pricing; conventional lawn spaces start at $27,500. Tree burial of cremated remains starts at $10,665.
Markers: Inscribed natural boulders are available as memorial markers.
Website: hollywoodforever.com
Phone: 323-772-5346
Mount Sinai Memorial Parks: Teva
Location: 6150 Mount Sinai Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93063. The natural burial area, Teva, is located within Mount Sinai Simi Valley.
Certification Status: Green Burial Council certified
Cemetery Type: Hybrid Cemetery
Unique offerings: Teva overlooks a protected nature reserve and incorporates olive and pine trees, stone walls and wooden benches.
Guidance in plantings: The cemetery, rather than individual families, manages plantings. Teva is landscaped with drought-tolerant native California plants, drought-tolerant grass and decomposed granite designed to complement the surrounding hillsides. Mount Sinai's cemetery-wide rules prohibit families from planting plants or flowers themselves, including potted plants; fresh-cut flowers are permitted.
Costs: Contact Mount Sinai for current Teva burial-space pricing.
Markers: Natural engraved stone markers are used in the Teva natural burial area and are included with the purchase of each space.
Phone: 323-469-6000
Eternal Meadow at Santa Monica Greenwood Cemetery
Location: 1847 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Certification Status: Green Burial Council certified
Cemetery Type: Hybrid
Unique offerings: Grave sites are prepared in sequence to protect native plants and vegetation and to prevent equipment from driving over previous graves. Because burial vaults are not used, this approach also helps prevent further settling or disturbance of existing graves.
Guidance in plantings: Not permitted
Markers: Regionally sourced boulders, full size, 20" x 20" x 12" maximum, with whatever engraving fits on the stone.
Website: santamonica.gov/green-burial
How to Work with LifeSource for a Natural Burial
LifeSource helps families navigate the natural burial process from start to finish, including selecting and coordinating with a cemetery, caring for your loved one, and providing transportation. Families purchase the burial space and cemetery services, such as grave opening and closing, directly from the cemetery.
Choose a natural burial cemetery
You can come to LifeSource with a cemetery already in mind, or we can help you find a location that offers natural burial and fits your needs.
LifeSource takes your loved one into care
LifeSource handles pickup and transportation to our care center. The natural burial service starts at $2,750 and includes pickup within 25 miles.
LifeSource handles paperwork and coordination
We prepare the death certificate and necessary permits and coordinate with the medical examiner or coroner when required.
Your loved one is cared for without embalming
We bathe, prepare, dress, and refrigerate your loved one, rather than using conventional embalming. You then select a biodegradable casket made from materials like bamboo, willow, or rattan, and untreated wood, or natural fiber shrouds made from cotton, bamboo fibers, muslin, silk, or wool.
LifeSource transports your loved one to the cemetery
Our natural burial package includes the first 25 miles of transportation to the chosen cemetery.
Personalizing a goodbye
We can also help arrange a viewing, funeral, graveside gathering, or more personalized memorial.
* A cemetery can follow natural burial practices without being formally certified by the Green Burial Council.
