Vancouver Cemetery Turns its Grounds into Heritage Gardens
Elena Rahman — May 4, 2021 — Life-Stages
References: heritagegardenscemetery & atlasobscura
Heritage Gardens is a family-owned-and-operated cemetery in Surrey, British Colombia. Since September 2019, the Crean family has turned the grounds into a place that marks growth and that celebrates life, unlike the usual dreary and cold cemetery environments.
Giving people a reason to return to the gardens drove the family to include its own beehives, as well as a lush vegetable garden where resident gardener Stan Turner grows brussels sprouts, corn, and kale, as well as butternut and acorn squash, Stardust runner beans, loads of potatoes, and even broccolini. Visitors can pay respects to loved ones and leave with a bundle of fresh vegetables for free.
Green burial services are offered to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of Heritage Gardens is to create an active cemetery that serves the living as much as it does the deceased.
Image Credit: Atlas Obscura
Giving people a reason to return to the gardens drove the family to include its own beehives, as well as a lush vegetable garden where resident gardener Stan Turner grows brussels sprouts, corn, and kale, as well as butternut and acorn squash, Stardust runner beans, loads of potatoes, and even broccolini. Visitors can pay respects to loved ones and leave with a bundle of fresh vegetables for free.
Green burial services are offered to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of Heritage Gardens is to create an active cemetery that serves the living as much as it does the deceased.
Image Credit: Atlas Obscura
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Garden Cemeteries - The trend of turning traditional cemeteries into sustainable garden spaces promotes environmental awareness and provides an opportunity for green burial services.
2. Heritage Gardens - The use of beehives, vegetable gardens, and free fresh produce at Heritage Gardens cemetery offers a unique and vibrant environment for visitors to enjoy.
3. Active Cemeteries - The shift towards active cemeteries that serve the living as well as the deceased is an innovative approach to end-of-life services that could disrupt the traditional funeral industry.
Industry Implications
1. Funeral Industry - The funeral industry could explore offering green burial and alternative funeral options in response to the trend towards sustainable garden cemeteries.
2. Agriculture Industry - Heritage Gardens' integration of vegetable gardens could inspire the agriculture industry to explore partnerships with cemeteries to create micro-farms and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
3. Tourism Industry - The unique and vibrant environments created by sustainable garden cemeteries could present an opportunity for the tourism industry, such as offering cemetery tours and emphasizing cultural history and heritage aspects.
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