Reclaim a tradition as nature intended 

Burial Services

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Heritage Acres strives to preserve land near Cincinnati through green burial, such as this wooded field

About Us

Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary is the first and only dedicated natural burial ground in the Cincinnati area. We are here to provide a “green burial” alternative for the Tri-State while offering compassionate care to individuals and families as they grieve and process the transitions of life and death. We also offer educational and recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature.

Our commitment to creating a nature preserve where people may be laid to rest naturally calls us to compassion both for the earth, and for our fellow human beings. By centering environmental stewardship in our end-of-life choices, we can leave a legacy for future generations by protecting land from development, preserving habitats and ecosystems, and allowing our bodies to return naturally to the earth.

We’re in Cincinnati Magazine!

To read more about our beautiful sanctuary, check out this article about Heritage Acres that appeared in the December 2020 issue of Cincinnati Magazine!

What is Natural Burial?

A natural or “green” burial is a legacy we all share, as members of the human family. “Green burial” is a time-honored tradition in many cultures, including our own. Today, green burial is also rooted in the spirit of social and environmental change – and Heritage Acres is committed to being part of that change.

Before there were contemporary conventional cemeteries with graves organized in carefully measured rows and marked by gray cement headstones, there were natural burial grounds and practices that did not include chemical embalming, varnished caskets with velvet lining, or concrete vaults. A natural burial is a return to a tradition that provides a simple, less wasteful, non-toxic means of dedicating one’s physical form back to the earth to rejoin the soil with dignity and minimal environmental impact.

At Heritage Acres, we are dedicated to changing the way we view and think about death. Each of us will die – and we believe death can be an experience that helps to restore our bonds with the earth. When we embrace death in a way that is truly community-based, transformation can occur. Grieving families can experience healing, acceptance and solace. Green burial reminds us that inhabiting a body that is bound for decay is part of who we are as living, breathing, sentient beings.

Finally, green burial is affordable. The cost of a natural burial in a dedicated natural burial sanctuary is dramatically less than the average cost of conventional burial. See our price list here.

The Heritage Acres Promise

  • commitment to serving families and loved ones
  • no embalming
  • no concrete or metal vaults
  • if a shroud or casket is used, it will be biodegradable
  • if a grave marker is used, it will be made of unpolished flat, natural stone or wood
  • no or minimal use of mechanized equipment
  • invitation for families and loved ones to participate in grave opening and/or closing
  • ceremonial practices determined by family members and loved ones

“I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love.” — Walt Whitman

Testimonials

Thank you so much for making the day so memorable. You are providing a beautiful setting for a farewell to those we love!

Jenny T.

Thanks to you and your dedicated team, for all your efforts to make this kind of natural burial possible in our area. I attended [a] burial ceremony today and was able to participate in a heartfelt gathering… to commemorate the passing of a true friend. There was something very comforting in handling the dirt, and helping to put his body to rest in the ground, without and physical or social barriers. It was an honor to be included.

Diane B.

From Our Newsletters

Don’t Wear Black

“Don’t Wear Black” original poetry by Donelle Dreese included in the Fall 2020 Heritage Acres Newsletter sent to newsletter subscribers.

October Burials At Heritage Acres

Looking at a beautifully prepared cremation grave in the woods near the end of our Tree Planting Day on Oct. 17, one of our volunteers exclaimed, “This is real. We are really doing this!”
Indeed – although history may record that Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary opened without fanfare on Earth Day 2020, and that…

Tree Planting Day!

Who doesn’t love trees? From the spacious and majestic to the floral and fragrant to the glossy and deep green, trees inspire us to stop, look up into the sky, and dream. These days, so many of us have our heads down, looking into screens, getting our work done, watching our …

Contact Us

Are you interested in learning more about Heritage Acres? Would you like to get involved? Do you have suggestions or feedback for us? We’d love to hear from you.

Sanctuary Address:

796 Locust Corner Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45245

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 54381
Cincinnati, OH 45255

Phone: (513) 231-6438

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