EarthRest, a free community-wide event to explore more earth-friendly ways in after-death care choices, was held on Sept 21, 2024, at Island Center Hall. The attendees were educated on both green burial and natural burial, alkaline hydrolysis, and terramation. The event was zero waste and net zero on expenses with the generous contribution of Sustainable Bainbridge and other sponsors.
Over 100 attendees turned out. The event was larger than we could have imagined or anticipated. All the feedback received was entirely positive. The enthusiastic attendees left more empowered with multiple choices for their end-of-life earth-friendly death care plans. Lisa Macchio and Joy Sprague, the organizers, have been asked by the B.I Metro Parks Department to host a similar event for Earth Day on April 22, 2025.
Presenters were…
• Lucinda Herring, Lucinda Herring MSD, Thresholds Consulting and Ministry, Limina LLC, author of Reimagining Death: Stories and Practical Wisdom for Home Funerals and Green Burials
• Beverly Tryk, People’s Memorial Association, https://peoplesmemorial.org/
• Laura Sullivan Cassidy, Recompose, https://recompose.life
• Rachel LeBlanc, The Co-op Funeral Home of People’s Memorial | Seattle, WA (funerals.coop)
• Sarafina Landis, Dying Matters Guild, dyingmattersguild.com – Home
• AJ Hawkins, KALMA, https://www.shopkalma.com/
Attendees were able to view a beautiful willow community soul basket hand woven by Maureen Walrath in a beautiful sacred processional closing.
A Q&A panel took on 15 minutes of inquiries to wrap up the event. People were able to peruse sponsor and informational vendor tables outdoors.
Attendees commented they had no idea there were so many choices they could make for themselves and loved ones. One participant made the comment he had had no concept the information he received would be so valuable.