A Natural Burial
A few weeks on on from Jim's death, his wife and Commonsense co-founder, Marion, reflects on how she let him go.
We gave Jim a natural burial. I was brought up with the idea of the earth as a cold, dark, silent place and the idea of returning to the earth when we died filled me with fear. But as I have journeyed through life and learned about the soil and spent hours in my garden, overjoyed at the abundance of tomatoes and underwhelmed by the rust on my garlic, my relationship with the earth has changed.
First of all I believe the earth is sacred and our relationship with the earth mirrors our relationship with each other as humans. The more we invest in the earth and in each other, the richer our lives become.
But I am also fascinated by the explosion in soil science in my lifetime. We now know that in just one teaspoon of soil, there can be more microbes than there are people on the planet. And that has entirely changed my concept of the earth as cold and lifeless.
When I was growing up bodies were filled with formaldehyde and coffins were lead lined; both processes presumably designed to preserve the body – for what? To keep the worms at bay?
Jim was not embalmed. We kept his body cold and we had fans to keep the room cool. His coffin is untreated wood with a wool lining.
And I draw real comfort from the idea of the microbe parties that will gradually draw sustenance from his body and his coffin. I hope he provides nutrients for the roots of the tree that we will plant on his grave.
He has gone back into the warm arms of the earth, to be a part of the web of life that will continue through all time.
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Jim was buried at the Natural Burial Cemetery in Mākara (part of the Mākara Cemetary) and everyone is welcome to visit him there. A tree will be planted at his grave in May. Set out below is the poem that was read at Jim's graveside.
Family and friends lay Jim to rest
The family is grateful for the support of Fiona King and Broadbent & May who guided them through the natural burial process.