Feb 1, 2009 12:00 PM

, By Michael Gilfix & Carolyn A. Chandler

By Michael Gilfix & Carolyn A. Chandler

Perhaps the first time most people would've heard of a “green burial” was in the last episode, aired during summer 2005, of the blockbuster HBO series, Six Feet Under. The featured family ran a conventional funeral business and, at the end of five seasons, one of two middle-aged brothers in charge of the funeral home, Nate Fisher, died. At Nate's request, his burial was green.

“Green burial” means, generally, that embalming fluids are banned and the body is put into the ground with biodegradable materials only (fabric burial shrouds or simple, biodegradable coffins of renewable wood or cardboard). Oh yes, there's also no use of cement vaults. Traditional Jews and Muslims have always had green burials, without calling them by that name. But increasingly, the idea is catching on with others, for environmental and financial reasons.