A visit to Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery in Fallbrook, California. The only cemetery certified for green burial in San Diego County.
Green burial in San Diego County is available! An online search for local alternatives to “traditional” burial brings several options that are misleading. One group states that they offer human composting. This is a bit misleading as your body has to be transported out of California if you choose composting.
Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery is Non-denominational
The Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery opened in 1921 after local resident Horatio Spelser decided the area needed a peaceful location for a non-denominational cemetery. From an article in villagenews.com in 2022, the cemetery has over 7,000 burials. Many of those are military veterans from the two World Wars, Korea and Vietnam conflicts. The local Masonic Lodge maintains the grounds.
Cemetery, Burial Plots – Fallbrook Cemetery – Temecula, California
Green Burial Council criteria
A section in the Northeast part of the Fallbrook cemetery is “free” of embalmed burials on purpose. In 2021, that “open” section, now called “Rest in Nature” met the criteria of the Green Burial Council as a hybrid cemetery. The GBC is a national information source and certification organization for green burial requirements:
GREEN BURIAL COUNCIL – Welcome
For green burial, a shroud made of organic material like wool can cover the body. Or a casket made from wood, bamboo, wicker, hemp, etc. contains the body. The body or casket cannot be “protected” by a cement or metal vault, which is used to keep the soil above the grave from collapsing onto the grave. Another major difference is the depth of the graves. Only 3.5 feet for natural burials. The headstone, if any, has to be stone, rock or wood.
A different cemetery in North San Diego County states that it has a “green section.” Their version of green is allowing burial of cremains in biodegradable urns, not full-body burials. This, no doubt, has been misleading to many seeking a green burial locally.
The Masonic Cemetery is open to the public all year. It is easy to get to, allowing families and friends to visit as often as they want to.
No other green burial sites in San Diego
As reported by thefuneralsite.com there have been efforts to open a cemetery just for green burials in a different part of San Diego County. Local residents opposed the project. Their opposition prevented the company from obtaining the necessary permits. The only other green burial site in Southern California is Joshua Tree Memorial Park in San Bernardino County. As with Fallbrook Masonic, it is a hybrid cemetery.
About the author – Cultures and Graves