Starting a Green Cemetery

Getting Started

We hear from a lot of green burial enthusiasts eager to make green burial available near them, but they don't know where to begin. It is virtually impossible to create a blueprint that will suit every region, type of cemetery, and budget, but we have done our best to cover some of the basic issues most will encounter on this page. If you're unfamiliar with the differences between hybrid, natural, and conservation cemeteries, we recommend reading What is Green Burial? first.

Green Burial Masterclass: Professional Training for a Sustainable Future

Green Burial Masterclass: Professional Training for a Sustainable Future

Offered by the Green Burial Council and Redesigning the End, the Green Burial Masterclass is the nation’s first in-depth online course focused on green cemetery management.

This 12-part, self-paced program includes 360+ lessons, expert instruction, and access to valuable resources. Upon completion, you’ll earn a Certificate of Proficiency in Green Burial Cemetery Operation—a credential that sets you apart in this growing field.

Your enrollment not only builds your expertise, it also supports future education in green burial for professionals and communities alike.

Partnering with the Green burial Council to inform professionals about environmentally responsible funeral service

The Green Burial Council and Redesigning the End are partnering to provide the Certificate of Proficiency in Green Funeral Services. This 13 module program is designed for practitioners interested in environmentally sustainable funeral services. This two-part program is the first of its kind in the nation and gives students a dynamic foundation for offering green alternatives in their community. Obtaining the Certificate of Proficiency in Green Funeral Service consists of two parts- passing the course Green Funeral Services and passing the GBC’s Proficiency Exam.

This 12-week comprehensive course focuses on the tools, techniques, and technology used in operating a natural cemetery. Students learn about natural cemetery: organization options; property management; grave operations; site design; documentation platforms; records and data management programs; money management, including endowments; marketing; differences between laws, bylaws, regulations, policies; writing guidebooks and guidelines; communication necessities; and sales, products and services. We also explore best practices as informed by science, the conservation community, and cemetery operator experience, plus religious and cultural needs and the ethics of environmental justice within the context of demand for more eco-friendly, affordable, and authentic disposition options

Course Format

Self-directed learning online
Recorded instruction from the first class cohort
More than 360 individual lessons
Guest experts/video presentations
Readings and video assignments
Independent research
Access to broad range of resource lists and links
Inclusion in closed social media course member only group
Access to instructors

The Green Burial Masterclass Companion: The Companion is designed for students of the Green Burial Masterclass at Redesigning the End, a 12-week self-paced, comprehensive online course that focuses on the tools, techniques, and technology used in operating a natural cemetery.

The GBC proficiency exam was created by the course developers and instructors, Holly Blue Hawkins and Lee Webster, and featuring more than 50 top experts in the green burial world sharing their expertise as guest lecturers. Not only will you advance your knowledge in the field, this distinction will allow you to show your community the commitment you make to the earth, even in death.

After passing the Green Burial Masterclass, simply click on Become Certified to get started on the Proficiency Exam. Here are some helpful tips before you do: Guide 2. By submitting the certificate fee ($150) and passing the assessment, you will earn a Certificate of Proficiency in Green Burial Cemetery Operations. Your contribution will be used to create and promote future educational opportunities for professionals and the community. Thank you for your commitment to green burial!

Additional Resources

If you're looking for more free resources, sign up for our Newsletter so you can keep up with our new Webinars, or head over to our Youtube channel to watch past programs. You’ll find provider specific video such as:

How to Start a Conservation Burial Ground

Providing Green Options for Existing Funeral Homes and Cemeteries

Starting a Green Cemetery

Getting Started

Green Burial Masterclass: Professional Training for a Sustainable Future

Additional Resources

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Get Certified