Embracing Nature: The Essence of Green Burials at Interra

As we all become more aware of how our choices impact the environment, there has been growing interest in green burials. Interra by Mueller Memorial shares in that interest and in February 2023 became the only funeral home in Minnesota to be certified by the national Green Burial Council.

As an alternative to customary or traditional burials, green burial focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of the burial process, simply allowing human remains to return to the Earth naturally. 

On this page we will answer some of the most common questions about green burials and provide you with all the information you need about having a green burial in Minnesota or western Wisconsin.

Green burial is a form of interment that aims to minimize the environmental impact of the burial process. Unlike customary or traditional burials, which involve embalming the body, placing it in a casket, and burying it in a metal or concrete vault, green burials are much more simple. The body is not embalmed, they are dressed in clothing made of natural materials or a shroud, placed in a biodegradable casket or carrier and buried directly in the earth.

Though many funeral homes will say they can’t provide it, the green burial process is actually very simple and straightforward. The first step is contacting Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial so we can begin our service by taking your person into our care. We will set up a time to meet with survivors, usually within a day or two, to gather necessary information and help the family make plans. The body is not embalmed, and instead, it is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud of the family’s choosing. The casket or shroud is made from natural materials, such as linen, wood, seagrass, or willow, which will break down over time. At the chosen time and place, the body is buried directly in the earth, ideally without the use of a concrete or metal vault (depending on the cemetery’s policies).

The Minnesota Department of Health requires an unembalmed body be buried or cremated within 72 hours if thermal preservation (cooling) is not used. Interra by Mueller Memorial is one of the very few funeral homes in the state that has its own cooling unit. With the use of thermal preservation the Health Department then allows Interra up to six days before burial is required if more time needed for the family to make decisions, put plans in place, and allow mourners to travel.

If a death has occurred and you have immediate need, the very first step in the green burial process is to call Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial at 651-774-9797. We have licensed professionals on call 24 hours a day to walk you through exactly what you need to do right now.

How natural a burial can be is generally dependent on the cemetery a family chooses, we call these our Shades of Green; Interra Pure, Interra Natural, and Interra Eco. Depending on where you are, if you search for “green burials near me” you’ll likely come across four different types of cemeteries; conservation cemeteries, natural burial cemeteries, green burial cemeteries, and hybrid cemeteries.

These cemeteries are a type of natural burial ground that is the result of a cemetery organization partnering with a conservation organization. This partnership includes drafting a rigorous conservation management plan which maintains best ecological practices, provides for native plant restoration, and considers natural wildlife habitat. Conservation cemeteries also provide perpetual protection of the land according to a legally binding conservation agreement as well as conforming to Minnesota state burial laws. As yet, there isn’t an established public conservation cemetery in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area.

Natural burial cemeteries or natural burial grounds are similar to conservation burial cemeteries, but are not created or operated in conjunction with a conservation organization. Natural burial cemeteries have specific land areas dedicated to burials which are as natural and environmentally friendly as possible, usually with an eye toward native plant restoration. They likely have restrictions on the use of headstones or other memorials, to ensure that the cemetery remains as rustic as possible, while conforming with all Minnesota state laws for green burial. For a reputable natural burial cemetery in the Twin Cities that is certified by the national Green Burial Council, Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, MN has large designated areas for green burial which are seeded with native grasses and wildflowers.

Green burial cemeteries allow for entirely green burial in a traditional cemetery setting. These cemeteries do not require the use of a vault, outer burial container, or grave liner. Green burial can take place in a designated space or among traditional gravesites. Choosing a green cemetery means the grounds will likely look and be maintained like a traditional cemetery greenspace with trimmed grass and headstones. Two very reputable natural burial cemeteries in this category are Roselawn Cemetery in Roseville, MN and national Green Burial Council certified, Mound Cemetery of Brooklyn Center.

Hybrid Cemeteries are currently the most common type of cemetery in Minnesota for families that choose green burial. Hybrid cemeteries accommodate natural burials in the same areas as conventional burials, and also require a grave liner or outer burial container. Embalming of the body is not required and a biodegradable casket or shroud is used. However, a hybrid cemetery will require a permeable, rigid grave liner, usually made of concrete and open on the bottom, to house the body or green burial casket which preserves the level appearance of the surface ground. Most traditional cemeteries can accommodate this kind of natural burial. If a cemetery plot has already been purchased or if a specific cemetery is being considered, you can reach out to that cemetery and ask what accommodations they can make for a green burial, or you can call Interra and we can certainly inquire on your behalf.

If you are interested in green burial, you may be wondering, where can I find a green cemetery near me? There are a growing number of green burial cemeteries across the country, but there are not yet many cemeteries in Minnesota offering an exclusively natural burial option. Interra’s standard service area is a thirty mile radius from our green burial funeral home meaning we serve from Forest Lake in the north to Rosemount in the south, and past Hudson, WI to the east and Wayzata to the west. No matter where you are in MN or WI we can work with you to find the right services and a natural, green, or hybrid cemetery near you.

Not only is Interra certified by the National Green Burial Council but we have received the National Funeral Directors Association Green Burial Practices Award. The team and leadership at Interra have over a century of combined experience helping families through the worst times in their lives and we are ready to help you find the service that is just right for your family.

There are several advantages to choosing a green burial over a traditional burial. First and foremost, green burials are much more environmentally friendly. They allow human remains a natural return to the Earth, as we have done since the beginning of our existence. Other benefits of green burial include:



• No Embalming - If someone is being buried locally and in a timely manner, embalming is not necessary. Modern embalming only became common at the time of the Civil War. It was used as a means to safely preserve soldiers’ bodies for transportation back home to their families. By avoiding embalming and using biodegradable materials, you can reduce the environmental impact of your burial.
• Reduce Consumption - According to the Green Burial Council and Mary Woodsen of Cornell University, the environmental impact of traditional burial in the United States involves burying:
• 20 million board feet of hardwoods, including rainforest woods
• 1.6 million tons of concrete
• 17,000 tons of copper and bronze
• 64,500 tons of steel
• 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluids, 827,060 gallons of which is benzene, methanol, and formaldehyde
• Cost Savings - Green burials can be more cost effective than traditional burials, as they often do not require spending on embalming, church services, more robust caskets, nor burial vaults.
• Meaning - It is often our experience that the intimacy with nature that comes with green burials offers a more meaningful and personal way to say goodbye to your person. Particularly if the person was deeply committed to conservation and reducing environmental impact.

There are a few disadvantages to choosing a green burial. One of the main disadvantages is that green burials may not be allowed in all cemeteries. If your family already has a burial plot you want to use, you are obligated to follow that cemetery’s rules for burial. It is also possible that a green burial cemetery, which does not require a concrete or metal burial container but has more traditional landscaping, may require an additional ongoing care payment to refurbish collapsed surface landscaping that may happen over time. 

We can help you navigate all the aspects of green burial and help you find a green burial cemetery or natural burial cemetery that is right for you. It is important to work with a funeral provider, like Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial, that is familiar with the practices of natural burial and is certified to provide those services. If you have any questions you can contact Interra at any time to get a green burial plan started.