Why does a SLUG queen want to bury you in a cardboard box? Cynthia Beal, freshly returned from doing research on natural burial in the United Kingdom, will share her findings. Fifteen years ago, the United Kingdom had no natural burial grounds. Today, it has more than 250, at least half of which are owned by cities and managed for the public good and use. The U.K. movement has been driven by fiscal advantages, not just environmentalism, because natural burials are cheaper, maintenance is easier, greenspace is held in the public trust, brownfields can be reclaimed, soil is banked and carbon emissions are postponed. U.K. funeral directors do not have to be licensed, but there have been no significant safety issues arising from natural burials or unembalmed bodies.

Many Eugenians appear interested in this idea. Cynthia suggests that investing in a natural public burial ground may make sense for our community. Come and explore whether natural burial is an option whose time has almost (but not quite!) come for this city.

Cynthia Beal, aka SLUG Queen Radia of the Radiant Radical Edge in 2002, operated the Red Barn Natural Grocery in Eugene from 1989 to 2003. She now lives in Portland, and will launch the Natural Burial Company this fall, with the help of U.K. biodegradable casket manufacturers and Gaiam Real Goods Trading Company.

This program was coordinated by Linda Sage.

Our first question will be asked by Mark Musgrove, co-owner of Musgrove Family Mortuaries and Cemeteries.