How We Got Started
Field trip to Ramsey Creek during the first CBA retreat. (l-r) Jeff Masten, Laura Starkey, Cassie Barrett, Caroline Yongue, David Ponoroff, Billy Campbell, Heidi Hannapel. Photo by Lee Webster
After six years into the operation of Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery (PCCC), Executive Director and one of PCCC’s founders, Freddie Johnson, came to the realization that there was a potential mutual benefit awaiting the established conservation burial grounds across the US.
He knew from his experience in the development of PCCC that when he had the opportunity to share experiences and questions with other conservation burial grounds, both parties seem to benefit, and both were inspired to continue communicating with each other.
The reality was that these amazing folks administering conservation burial grounds across the country were so passionate, dedicated, and busy fulfilling their vision that they had little time to spend on much of anything else. Nevertheless, the benefits of forming a collaborative group of conservation burial movement advocates and cemetery operators was obvious.
In late 2016, Freddie shared with David Ponoroff, then Assistant Director at PCCC, the idea of inviting as many conservation burial grounds across the nation as were interested in participating to collaborate and share information. They invited another PCCC staff member and several dedicated PCCC volunteers to join in a series of planning meetings to widen their perspectives on the project.
Over a period of a few weeks, the group came up with an action plan that included a description of the vision and a timeline for communicating to all of the US conservation burial grounds. Freddie made contact with each of the facilities and found the interest to be very strong and supportive. Everyone was enthusiastic about the prospects of the proposed collaborative group.
The first meeting occurred via teleconference on 12/10/2017. The conservation burial grounds that were initial members of the group were:
In that same general time frame, all members eagerly agreed that having Heidi Hannapel and Jeff Masten of Landmatters included in our group would be of great benefit for our collaborative. Jeff and Heidi had visited most, if not all, of the nation’s conservation burial grounds in their intense research about the movement.
Additionally, Lee Webster, whom we all knew through her extensive contributions in not only the green burial movement but also the entire end-of-life paradigm shifts presently occurring (home funerals, death doulas, funeral resources), was invited to join the group.
The Conservation Burial Alliance group quickly proved beneficial and rewarding for all involved. The group had consistent monthly teleconferences which provided the opportunity to collaborate, create shared resources, identify primary objectives and experience the joy of working together in our mutual passion for conservation burial.
Our first face-to-face retreat together was held September 5-7, 2018, first visiting Carolina Memorial Sanctuary in Asheville, NC, and then Ramsey Creek Preserve in Westminster, SC. When not touring conservation grounds, the members took up organizing the formation of the group, envisioning future goals, and sharing their stories.
In 2020, we incorporated as a 501c3 educational, membership nonprofit to further our work in lifting up conservation burial and providing resources for operators and the public alike through written materials and online programs.
He knew from his experience in the development of PCCC that when he had the opportunity to share experiences and questions with other conservation burial grounds, both parties seem to benefit, and both were inspired to continue communicating with each other.
The reality was that these amazing folks administering conservation burial grounds across the country were so passionate, dedicated, and busy fulfilling their vision that they had little time to spend on much of anything else. Nevertheless, the benefits of forming a collaborative group of conservation burial movement advocates and cemetery operators was obvious.
In late 2016, Freddie shared with David Ponoroff, then Assistant Director at PCCC, the idea of inviting as many conservation burial grounds across the nation as were interested in participating to collaborate and share information. They invited another PCCC staff member and several dedicated PCCC volunteers to join in a series of planning meetings to widen their perspectives on the project.
Over a period of a few weeks, the group came up with an action plan that included a description of the vision and a timeline for communicating to all of the US conservation burial grounds. Freddie made contact with each of the facilities and found the interest to be very strong and supportive. Everyone was enthusiastic about the prospects of the proposed collaborative group.
The first meeting occurred via teleconference on 12/10/2017. The conservation burial grounds that were initial members of the group were:
- Carolina Memorial Sanctuary – NC
- Foxfield Preserve – OH
- Heartwood Preserve – FL
- Kokosing Nature Preserve – OH
- Larkspur Conservation – TN
- Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery – FL
- Ramsey Creek Preserve (1st conservation burial ground in the world) – SC
- White Eagle Memorial Preserve – WA
In that same general time frame, all members eagerly agreed that having Heidi Hannapel and Jeff Masten of Landmatters included in our group would be of great benefit for our collaborative. Jeff and Heidi had visited most, if not all, of the nation’s conservation burial grounds in their intense research about the movement.
Additionally, Lee Webster, whom we all knew through her extensive contributions in not only the green burial movement but also the entire end-of-life paradigm shifts presently occurring (home funerals, death doulas, funeral resources), was invited to join the group.
The Conservation Burial Alliance group quickly proved beneficial and rewarding for all involved. The group had consistent monthly teleconferences which provided the opportunity to collaborate, create shared resources, identify primary objectives and experience the joy of working together in our mutual passion for conservation burial.
Our first face-to-face retreat together was held September 5-7, 2018, first visiting Carolina Memorial Sanctuary in Asheville, NC, and then Ramsey Creek Preserve in Westminster, SC. When not touring conservation grounds, the members took up organizing the formation of the group, envisioning future goals, and sharing their stories.
In 2020, we incorporated as a 501c3 educational, membership nonprofit to further our work in lifting up conservation burial and providing resources for operators and the public alike through written materials and online programs.
(Standing l-r) Jeff Masten, David Ponoroff, Jodie Buller, Freddie Johnson, Caroline Yongue, Cassie Barrett, Heidi Hannapel, Laura Starkey, John Christian Phifer. (Seated) Kimberley Campbell and Billy Campbell. Photo by Lee Webster
Conservation will ultimately boil down to rewarding the private landowner
who conserves the public interest.
– Aldo Leopold
