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Communal in-ground scattering meadow

Cremains

Great River honors diverse end-of-life choices and rituals meaningful for our customers. For those customers who choose cremation, natural organic reduction (composting), or alkaline hydrolysis, we offer both burial and scattering options for the remains. To ensure the natural balance of our ecosystem, we require an amendment to be added to the remains before burial or scattering to mitigate the high pH and sodium levels resulting from these processes.

family releases floating sky lantern at dusk

Natural Burial Options for Cremains

Natural burial of cremains is available in both full-size and quarter-size burial plots. In a full size plot, up to two additional cremains burials (second and third interment right) can take place alongside one whole body burial. If no whole body burial is planned, up to four cremains burials can occur in the same plot.

In each case, the remains, mixed with an amendment, can be placed directly in the soil or within an urn before burial. Urns should have sufficient capacity for both the remains and the amendment, or a ceremonial portion of the cremains and amendment mixture can be placed in the urn, and the remaining mixture placed in the grave.

FULL-SIZE BURIAL PLOT

A full-size burial plot allows for the interment of:

Plus up to two additional burials of cremains ($1,500 each)

OR

Up to four burials of cremains only*

$4,350 plot, includes first cremains burial

Plus up to three additional burials of cremains ($1,500 each)

Rights of Interment are required for each burial. The first Rights of Interment is included in the purchase of the plot. All Rights of Interment for a full-size plot must be purchased prior to the first burial. There is no required order of burial. The location of burials within a plot, whether for a whole body or cremains, will be determined by Great River Natural Burial. This ensures optimal positioning and that each interment remains undisturbed by future burials to facilitate the optimal positioning of interments and ensure each interment is left undisturbed by the additional future interments.

Second or Third Remains Interment Right*

$1,500
This includes:
  • Perpetual second or third interment right for remains in a 10′ X 13′ plot
  • The 15% required contribution to irreducible and irrevocable Endowment Care Fund
  • Opening and closing of the grave
  • Soil amendment to remove toxicity and add microbes and nutrients
  • Sexton coordination of burial and support of graveside service
  • Recording and administrative fees, and mapping of grave GPS coordinates
  • Native plant revegetation
  • Post burial site care

As a courtesy, for the first year following a burial, we also install a temporary natural log bench near the grave and provide a trimmed access path to the gravesite.

*All Rights of Interment need to be purchased prior to the first interment in the 10’ x 13’ plot.

QUARTER-SIZE BURIAL PLOT

A quarter size burial plot allows for one cremains burial.

Traditional Remains Burial in Quarter Size Burial Plot

$2,000
This includes:
  • Perpetual interment right for remains in a 5′ x 6.5′ plot
  • The 15% required contribution to irreducible and irrevocable Endowment Care Fund
  • Opening and closing of the grave
  • Soil amendment to remove toxicity and add microbes and nutrients
  • Sexton coordination of burial and support of graveside service
  • Recording and administrative fees, and mapping of grave GPS coordinates
  • Native plant revegetation
  • Post burial site care

As a courtesy, for the first year following a burial, we also install a temporary natural log bench near the grave and provide a narrow, trimmed footpath to the gravesite.

To simplify cost comparison, our burial prices encompass everything needed for a natural burial that is not optional.

An optional cost includes a memorial head stone, which, while offered at Great River, is not an obligatory item.

If you have questions about natural burial costs, advance planning, flexible payment options, or dividing the package for financial convenience, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Scattering of Remains

Great River offers in-ground scattering in our serene communal scattering meadow. Cremains are buried successively within the meadow, and a permanent cemetery record is kept of their burial. Before placing the cremains in the ground, they are mixed with an amendment to mitigate the high pH and sodium toxicity typically found in cremains.

Our scattering meadow features a gathering area with a stone bench with cenotaph boulders at each end, where you can honor your loved one with an engraving of their name and birth and death years.

In-Ground Scattering of Remains

$1,000
This includes:
  • Successive in-ground placement of remains in our scattering garden
  • Opening and closing of the scattering grave
  • Soil amendment to remove toxicity and add microbes and nutrients
  • Sexton support of scattering and graveside service
  • Recording and administrative fees and mapping at grave GPS coordinates
  • Native plant revegetation
  • Post scattering site care

NOTE: Online payment for this service is only available after cremation and not as a pre-need purchase. Please contact us for pre-need purchases of scattering rights.

Purchase In-Ground Scattering Right(s)

Mount Adams view from cremains scattering meadow

Payment Options

Recognizing the significant role finances can play in end-of-life decisions, we are committed to providing equal access to natural burial options. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to engage in meaningful end-of-life rituals.

In support of our commitment to provide equal access to natural burial, Great River understands that a payment plan may be a more suitable option for many. To this end, we offer flexible financing options, allowing you to choose which plan best fits your financial situation. Our prices are subject to change without prior notice; however, opting for advance payment or a payment plan will secure your burial at the current rates. While our preferred methods of payment are cash or check, we also accommodate credit card payments, which may incur a transaction fee.

Reserving a Space

We will hold your selected space for 30 days, after which we will release the space for purchase if a purchase agreement is not in place.

Refunds

Interment rights, along with products and services that have been delivered, are non-refundable. However, payments made in advance for future products or services, which are held in trust, are fully refundable.