Kokosing Nature Preserve for Green Burials

The Kokosing Nature Preserve is located in central Knox County at 10620 Quarry Chapel Road, one mile northeast of the Village of Gambier and the campus of Kenyon College. It is a land conservancy around the college with 23 acres set aside for green burials. It is the first conservation burial ground in the nation to be affiliated with a college or university land conservancy.

The Preserve, dedicated as a cemetery in October 2015, is Central Ohio’s first and only conservation burial ground. Amid rolling prairies planted with native wildflowers, remains are interred using biodegradable containers and without the use of harsh chemicals. It is a project of the Philander Chase Conservancy, a land trust dedicated to preserving the rural character of the Kenyon College’s surrounding environs.

Green Burial

Green or natural burial is increasingly popular among people seeking more environmentally conscious end-of-life options. It is a growing trend but hearkens back to a centuries-old tradition.

In a green burial, the deceased are not embalmed, and caskets are not placed inside underground metal or concrete vaults. Rather, the deceased are placed in shrouds or biodegradable caskets, typically made of wood or other natural materials.

Green burial is the way most people were buried throughout the ages. The use of concrete vaults and embalming are relatively new concepts, which became popular during the Civil War. Natural burial is a re-emerging movement nationally and worldwide.

The nation’s first conservation burial ground opened in 1998. Since then, 38 cemeteries across the country have been approved by the Green Burial Council, an independent, nonprofit organization that has established eco-certification standards for natural burial grounds. The natural burial movement does not oppose interment of any kind but offers a traditional, environmentally sound alternative for those who are interested.

Green Burial Coordinator

Samantha Bartram is the green burial coordinator at the Kokosing Nature Preserve and is responsible for all aspects of the operation & maintenance of the Preserve, including client relations, interment services, land stewardship, volunteer management, and community education & outreach.

Is Green Burial Legal?

Yes. Although vaults are not required by law, most cemeteries require them for ease of maintenance and closer spacing of graves. Embalming is only required under rare circumstances, with a few states requiring it if a body is transported by common carrier or if a body will not be buried within a certain amount of time.

Kokosing Nature Preserve is registered with the State of Ohio, fulfilling all requirements for the establishment of a perpetual care trust fund. The preserve has also sought the highest level of certification from the Green Burial Council.

Funeral Services

Most people choose to work with a funeral home to plan for viewings and services as well as transportation. Discussions with a funeral director about green burial is important. Funeral homes set their own policies for viewing unembalmed bodies. Refrigeration for temporary preservation is generally employed. Look for a funeral home that has been approved by the Green Burial Council. With prior planning, it is also possible for family or loved ones to handle burial preparation at home.

The staff at Kokosing Nature Preserve will help plan a graveside service, which may be held at the time of interment. Families & friends may participate in the services as arranged by the family, including lowering the casket and closing the grave. Lawn space can be rented at the preserve for services & gatherings. A newly renovated reception center at the Preserve is also available to rent.

Grave Markers

A natural, engraved stone may be placed flat at the gravesite, but this is not required. Families may wish to plant wildflowers from an approved list of native species, and approved native species of trees may also be planted at some burial plots.

Scattering Cremated Remains

Kokosing Nature Preserve accepts cremated remains for either burial or scattering. Interment rights can be purchased for the purpose of burying or scattering cremated remains within a specific plot, and there are also designated areas for scattering throughout the property. A permanent record of the scattering location is maintained.

Cemetery Maintenance

A permanent endowment fund provides for future care & maintenance of the property. Most of the property is planted with native prairie grasses & wildflowers and is not mowed in the same manner as a conventional cemetery. Mowed paths provide access to all areas of the nature preserve. If needed for a burial, a temporary path will be mowed to provide direct access to the burial plot. Designated areas are maintained as mowed lawn space. Restoration techniques to improve the health of the prairie include periodic prairie burns.

Access to the Kokosing Nature Preserve

The Kokosing Nature Preserve offers a park-like setting for all members of the local community to enjoy. Anyone who is interested in being interred at the Preserve will be able to purchase a plot.

For more information about the Kokosing Nature Preserve and green burial, visit the Preserve’s website or contact Samantha Bartram at info@kokosingnaturepreserve.org or by phone at 740-427-5040.

Philander Chase Conservancy at Kenyon College

The Kenyon College experience is inextricably linked to the beauty of its location. The sense of well-being that pervades the community comes not only from the loveliness of the campus but also from the surrounding hills, farmland, and forest. Landscape and river offer views that please the eye and nourish the spirit.

But growth and development are changing the landscape of the entire Mount Vernon area. The College has acted to preserve the surroundings it cherishes, adding to its contiguous land holdings as opportunities arose and funds became available. In 2025, Philander Chase Conservancy is celebrating 25 years and over 6,000 acres of conservation efforts!