What will happen when cemeteries fill up?

[Bluesmama]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Even in the hotter states the temperature six feet under is relatively cool.

I wasn't referring to underground burial.

In New Orleans the plots are all above ground. "The ovens" (creepy term, i know) are mostly in rows and have been in use for a v-e-r-y long time.

See link for a photos. And, yes, this practice is still used.

New Orleans, Louisiana

However, they still wouldn't work in anywhere but the southern states.

[Ceece]

There is an old cemetery in my city, long since closed to "new business", but at City Counsel meetings this subject has come up before. There is a need for a new one in the vicinity but so far it's been no go.

I would hate to see the cemetery removed. It's open space after all, adds interest to the community, and a reminder to us all of what awaits.

I'm going to be cremated.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Bluesbabe

I wasn't referring to underground burial.

In New Orleans the plots are all above ground. "The ovens" (creepy term, i know) are mostly in rows and have been in use for a v-e-r-y long time.

See link for a photos. And, yes, this practice is still used.

New Orleans, Louisiana

However, they still wouldn't work in anywhere but the southern states.

I suppose they could function as an "oven", but that's not their purpose. The water table in New Orleans is very high, so often buried caskets would literally pop out of the ground when it rained a lot. The above ground graves were a solution to that problem.

New Orleans cemeteries--"Cities of the Dead"--History of our Above-Ground Tombs

[uggabugga]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Have you ever heard of "dust to dust"? What do you think is down there, beneath those 100-uear old gravestones?

bones, which take far longer than 100 yrs to turn to dust?

just a guess.

[Memphis1979]

I honestly don't see any shortage of land for cemeteries.

I want to be cremated, I see no reason to buy a plot of land for a body that will decomposed long after I'm gone. 200 years from the time I'm dead, I doubt anyone will know who I was, or care about who that headstone represents.

[msgsing]

This has already happend in the small nation state of Singapore. There is currently just one cemetary open and this for families whose religion stipulates burial. Everyone else, the vast majority, are cremated. With the exception of the one cemetary noted, all other cemetaries were dug up, the remains cremated and the land returned to private and commercial use. Cremated remains can be returned to the family or stored in government run ash storage facilities. The one exisiting cemetary leases plots for 15 years. When the lease expires these remains are also creamated.

[MIKEETC]

Burial at sea...

[meson]

Originally Posted by Nyse

I dont know why this popped into my head, but what will happen when there is no more space for bodies? Will cremation become standard? And when do you think it will come to this?

Cremation is the answer, then throw the ashes to the wind to help the wildflowers grow.....full circle!