Green Burial

Joshua Tree Memorial Park leads the way in innovative burial practices in Southern California. We were one of the first cemeteries to become a "Certified Provider" of the Green Burial Council.

We are pleased to offer and promote this environmentally responsible option and make it available with less restriction.

What is Natural Burial?

Natural Burial ensures that you and your loved one are reunited with the earth.

• There is no traditional embalming. The deceased is placed in refrigeration until burial.


• We provide all biodegradable materials which can include unfinished renewable wood, woven willow and wicker, raw cotton, or linen and even paper.


• No burial vaults or outside containers are used.


• All of the graves are 100% hand dug. The use of heavy equipment, causing harm to the environment, is not permitted.

Why Choose Green Burial?

There is no scientific evidence or other evidence that a sealing casket or embalming will preserve human remains. Nature will eventually take its course. Despite this, each year in the United States we bury:

• 827,060 gallons of embalming fluid, which includes formaldehyde


• 180,544,000 pounds of steel, in caskets


• 5,400,000 pounds of copper and bronze in caskets


• 30 million board feet of hardwoods in caskets


• 3,272,000,000 pounds of reinforced concrete vaults and 28,000,000 pounds of steel in vaults (from Mary Woodsen, Cornell University)



Until recently, internment in an environmentally friendly burial ground was not an option. Green burial offers the chance to be reunited with the earth to be recycled into new life.




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For every natural burial that is made at our Memorial Park we will donate $50 to the Mojave Desert Land Trust. Green Burial Brochure.