“That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.” -Aldo Leopold
The Stewardship Committee on a hike with botanist Robert Wesley this summer. We stopped to admire the old oak tree (estimated to be 150 to 200 years old). This tree sits along the 2 mile Perimeter Trail and looks out over the Bluebird Meadow.
Introducing Bluebird and Kestrel Meadows
The view from Kestrel Meadow looking south.
Since early spring we’ve been hard at work to expand the burial meadows at Greensprings. As one of the busiest cemeteries in the area, sites in West Meadow, Bobolink, and even Harrier Meadow, which opened only a few years ago, were quickly being purchased and we were due for an expansion. The beautiful sweep of meadowland along our northern border with the Newfield State Forest was a natural choice for this expansion.
Now that we’ve surveyed, installed markers for each burial block, and established parking, Bluebird and Kestrel Meadows are open! Please reach out if you’d like a tour or come visit on your own anytime from sunup to sundown.
The Habitat Enhancement Zone, where meadow meets forest
Kestrel Meadow looking west
Walking around Greensprings, one sees rolling meadows (that’s us) surrounded by forest (our neighbors). In our first 20 years, stewardship work focused on improving meadowland habitat, including establishing acres of native plants in the Herb Engman Loop and in our Places of Solace, well-timed mowing, and planting on burial mounds.
Now, we turn our attention to the edges — where the forest meets the meadow. Going forward, we will manage our forest edges as Habitat Enhancement Zones — spaces roughly 30 feet wide between the forest and the meadow along the boundary of Greensprings’ burial meadows. We’ll establish a soft, gradual transition zone between meadowland and forest to create a ‘feathered edge,’ or stair-step effect, of grasses, shrubs, and saplings that boosts biodiversity and provides critical wildlife cover.
A gradient between forest and meadow habitats is much more beneficial to wildlife than an abrupt change—these “ecotones” provide critical combinations of food, shelter, and space to support a greater diversity of wildlife and plant species. Maintaining a small ecotone between forested and open habitats is the best approach to supporting healthy spaces for wildlife.
In our two new burial areas, Bluebird and Kestrel Meadows, there will be a 30 foot wide band of burial sites in the Habitat Enhancement Zone. Burials in this area will be planted with grasses, shrubs and trees to support a healthy transition from forest to meadow.
There is also a Habitat Enhancement Zone at the bottom of West Meadow where it meets the Arnot Forest (formerly knows as the Sequential Burial Area). Here, too, we will plant grasses, shrubs and trees to help softly connect the forest with the meadow.
Gratitude for Natural Burial
Offering at a grave.
“I cannot thank you enough for the lovely way you prepared my parents' grave and the graciousness with which you helped us through yesterday's burial. The flowers that you had so beautifully placed there made everything softer, embracing and easier to accept. Thank you so much for helping us lay my parents to rest in the best possible way. I am forever grateful.” -Karen
Burial in the West Meadow
Price Update
Our price for a standard burial site has been $1000 since 2013. We are committed to offering low cost natural burial in a vibrant nature preserve. To do this we employ a staff of eight and work with a team of more than 30 volunteers. We log hundreds of hours on our mowers and backhoes every year and channel income from sales, burials, and donations toward supporting day to day operations and our long term stewardship vision.
While we’ve kept the site price the same since 2013, labor, machine, gasoline, and other costs have increased. We have proudly been a living wage employer since 2018 and the Board of Trustees remains committed to investing in our incredible staff who deliver the mission of Greensprings. For all of these reasons, the board voted in August to raise the cost of standard and cremains burial sites and to establish a price for sites within the Habitat Enhancement Zone. Effective September 1, 2026 our updated prices for standard and cremains sites are:
Standard Site 15’x15’— $1,250
Habitat Enhancement Zone Site 15’x15’ — $1,500
Cremains Site 7.5’x7.5’— $650
Fall Planting Days
Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27 from 10am - 2pm
A plethora of native plants!