A new year, a new possibility

The changing of a year is a unique time, as we find ourselves looking in two directions. On the one hand, we look back and reflect on a year’s worth of experiences, lessons learned, challenges faced, opportunities taken, opportunities missed, relationships made or broken or mended. At the same time, we also look forward to the new year, expectant of the events already saved on our calendars, anticipating personal changes to which we have committed, and hoping perhaps for some peace or comfort that eluded us in the previous year.

We at Reflection Park are looking back on this past year with gratitude for the many steps we were able to take to get to this point on our journey. We are also looking forward to the new year and the expectation of opening by its end. There are still more steps to get there, but we continue to make progress diligently. We await expectantly the next new year, when we hope to look back at the recent opening of Montgomery County’s first green burial ground, and at the same time, look forward to a future in service of the families who choose to make Reflection Park a home for their loved ones.

PROGRESS UPDATE

We have been working diligently on three fronts: development, operations, and legal.

First, we continue to develop plans for phase 1. The first phase includes the initial burial areas, the front gate, service road, a pavilion, small office building, maintenance shed, and initial hiking trails. Our team of engineers and architects are busily preparing detailed plans and seeking needed permits. At this point, we are aiming to break ground by the summer time.

Second, we are continuing to develop our operational plans and processes. This involves a variety of details, including developing needed materials for cemetery licensure; sourcing of products, services, and equipment needed for burial operations; establishing our operating procedures; and developing outreach materials.

Third, we continue to work with county planning authorities to secure the necessary approvals for development. We recently had a public hearing before the Montgomery County Planning Board, which approved our application for Preliminary Plan. This was a necessary step for establishing Reflection Park in county land records and applying for building permits.

When will Reflection Park start taking reservations?

We frequently hear from individuals who want to get their affairs in order and make reservations for themselves or their family members. As much as we would like to help put our families’ minds at ease with pre-need arrangements now, we must wait until we are actually open. At this point, we expect that will be toward the end of 2023. We intend to keep everyone posted through this newsletter and our website on that timing. Please stay tuned.

Your Questions Answered

With each newsletter, we hope to answer one or more questions about Reflection Park, green burials, or anything else related to natural death care. Our growing FAQs page also has answers to many common questions.

I want a green burial, but I worry that it will need to happen quickly. How long can an unembalmed body be kept before burial?

This is a very common concern. If green burial means no embalming, does this mean that a green burial must happen quickly after death?

The short answer is no. There are a variety of ways in which a body can be maintained in presentable condition for extended periods of time. The simplest way is to keep the body cool. Funeral homes typically have refrigeration units that can maintain unembalmed bodies for several weeks. These specialized units maintain temperature between 36-39 degrees Fahrenheit (2-4 degrees Celsius). As long as the body is kept dry, it can stay for more than a month. Funeral homes typically charge a fee for storage and refrigeration on a per day basis or as a set fee for a certain number of days.

For shorter durations, a body can be kept cool with dry ice or various kinds of freezer gel packs. This method can maintain adequate cooling for at least a few days. This is a particularly attractive option for home funerals, where family members honor their deceased loved one at home without involvement of a funeral director. (There are also blended funerals, a type of home funeral in which a funeral director is involved in some aspects of care, such as filing paperwork or providing transportation.) Dry ice (which should always be handled with care) is typically sold by grocery stores and compressed gas distributors. Reusable gel packs tend to be readily available through neighborhood sites like Craigslist and Freecycle.

Many funeral homes offer “green” embalming fluids, which use formaldehyde-free alternatives that are intended to be more environmentally friendly than traditional embalming ingredients. The actual process of embalming does not differ, and refrigeration is still recommended. Time to burial after this type of embalming is around 3-5 days.

What about laws governing disposition of a body after death? Some states have laws regarding maximum time before burial, conditions requiring embalming, or need for refrigeration. However, in Maryland there are no such laws.

In summary, a green burial does not necessarily mean a quick burial. Several options are readily available to give families the time they need to plan a funeral without feeling rushed, as well as to give family and friends who live outside the area adequate time to travel in.

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