The Bios Urn® can be legally planted on any private property, such as a backyard or garden. If you own a home, or property – planting on it is one of the best places. In another post, we explored different places the Bios Urn® can be planted in the U.S. and in Canada, such as green burial grounds, backyards, unique sites, and public spaces. In this post, we are going to go into more detail on how to plant and use the Bios Urn® in a public space, such as a forest or park.
Most laws state that a person may plant or bury cremated remains in uninhabited public land, or on the private property of a consenting owner – but this may not be the case for all countries so it´s always important to ask. Please be sure to investigate your state or region´s provincial laws in relation to ashes. If you are unsure, just send us a message and we can help you look into it! Be sure to include your location, and the public space you have in mind for planting.
See related: Anne planted her mother´s Bios Urn® in a forest close to her home.
Requirements vary from one park to another but all generally fall under federal regulations. On your favorite park’s website, there might be an application form for a Special Use Permit, or there may be a downloadable permission letter. To obtain permission, mail your request to the office that manages the site. You can find it on the website of the park via www.nps.gov or the BLM’s www.blm.gov. In your letter, you should indicate if you are the legal custodian of the remains, and indicate the specific location where you wish to place the ashes. Following your request, you should receive a permit or letter for your keeping, which you will take when you go to the park or forest.
Aside from the fees for entering the park, there are no additional fees for scattering ashes, unless you have a large gathering and therefore may require a special use permit. In regards to planting in a forest – we were told that if the forest allows ash scattering, they will allow ash burial if the used receptacle is biodegradable and no marker is left. Please be advised that no markers of any kind can be left behind.
See related: Mathieu Planted His Mother’s Bios Urn® in a Forest
Some forests which are local are a good place to plant the Bios Urn®, although it is absolutely necessary to respect the local flora and plant an appropriate tree species which matches the local environment. Some forests and parks (especially national parks) may have differing laws or regulations about planting so it is necessary to inquire with local authorities about permissions. If the urn used is biodegradable, it does not need to be removed from the site. If you intend to plant the Bios Urn® in a national park or forest, less ash must be placed in the urn. Since you are planting in a public space, you cannot bury a pile of ashes, and therefore must use only a small amount in the Bios Urn®. You can opt to scatter some, and plant a smaller portion in the Bios Urn®.
You should always respect the local ecology of the place you intend to plant, and only plant native species. Some Bios Urn® customers have planted their Bios Urns® in their own property, on green burial grounds, in nearby forests, and in national parks. Others have also planted them indoors in a Bios Incube®, or a normal garden planter! You can also choose creative outdoor locations, which hold sentimental meaning. If you choose to plant on public land (aside from a forest or park) please be sure you have approval to do so.
See related: Tomáš Planted His Grandmother’s and Grandfather’s Bios Urn® by a Lake
* Please note that the above generally pertains to the U.S and may not apply to your country, or region. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you are looking for places to plant your biodegradable tree urn in Europe, check out this article!
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Do you know if these laws are applicable in Canada?
Hi Mark! Where in Canada are you located?
. . . Is it legal to bury Bios Urns in Canada?
Hi Peter, yes it is! Where in Canada are you located, or interested in planting?
Are there any current plans to partner with morgues and prisons, claim the unclaimed bodies of deceased homeless and prisoners and, rather than burying them in a pottersfield, plant forests on government-granted land which cannot be deforested because of their status as place of rest?
Hi Rohnan! That’s an interesting idea, but it is not in our plans for the moment. We are however working on other exciting things related to land space 🙂
Is this legal in Horry County SC
Hi Shirley! The Bios Urn can be legally planted on any private property, such as a backyard or garden or privately-own forest. If it is a public place and you would like to find out specifically about where you live, we recommend you check out the website http://www.greenburialcouncil.org if you live in the US. If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch!
Hello
I am interested in your product and offering this idea here in USA as a distributor. I have many questions as I am not in the furneral business and would like to know how I can create a sacred space for these urns to be kept and hance creating a beautiful forest too. This is such a beautiful idea and much better than the traditional cemetaries. I too am interested in using one of your urns when it is my turn to leave this lovely earth!
Let me know how we can communicate more !
Thank you-
Jeanette
Thank you for getting in touch with us Jeanette! We are glad that you like our product philosophy 🙂 If you haven’t done already, you can send an email to [email protected] and they can answer all the questions you have!
Can I purchase a biourn to be used at a much later date?
Yes! The Bios Urn has no expiration date and can thus be saved as long as necessary. We recommend using fresh seeds or a seedling when you intend to plant, to ensure growth. Therefore you should be chose the option “Without seed” if you decide to purchase. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!
Hello I am looking to have a bio tree Urn planted in New York National Forest. Could you tell me where to start. Thank you for your time.
Hi Michele,
Thank you for reaching out and your interest.
In case you hadn´t seen it, we also wrote this article specifically for the US: Planting the Bios Urn® in a Forest or Public Space in the U.S. ( https://urnabios.com/planting-bios-urn-forest-park-public/ ) which should be a good starting point.
Many National Parks allow scattering and by extention the burial of a tree urn which is 100% biodegradable, however, a permit is typically required first. If you plan on scattering at a National Park, a quick call to the park ranger’s office or an internet search can provide you with the necessary permit and regulation information. It would be important to choose a native tree to respect the local environment.
If you would like us to send you green cemeteries in the State of New York as another option, get in touch with us at [email protected]
The best of luck in your search. The State of New York is one of the most advanced places in the world in these matters, we hope that you find a beautiful resting place to grow as a tree. We would love to know how you get on if you find the time.
Thank you and take care
Hi I am looking to have a bio tree Urn planted in Tampa, FL. Could you tell me where to start looking, or is there a green park in the area? I would love additional information regarding planting a tree when is my time to leave this planet. Thank you.
Dear Millie. Thank you so much for reaching out.
Here are various green burial sites:
http://www.greenburialcouncil.org
https://www.nhfuneral.org/green-burial-cemeteries-in-the-us-and-canada.html
Each will be able to confirm if it is possible to plant a Bios Urn as each natural burial ground offers different kinds of services, but they are all pro green burial options.
We unfortunately don´t have one of our own Bios Parks® there yet, hopefully in the future!
Also you could carry out an internet search with keywords such as “woodland burial”, “natural burial grounds”, “memorial gardens” or “green burial grounds” in your state, you should see what is closest to you and they are sure to be able to provide further information also.
If you do find any more places near you, please do let us know! We are always on the lookout for forward-thinking cemeteries and natural burial grounds around the world and to help more people in the future.
In case you hadn´t seen it, we have dedicated another blog post to places where the Bios Urn can be legally planted in the US. You can reference it here: https://urnabios.com/places-to-plant-the-bios-urn-biodegradable-urn/
Just so you know, the Bios Urn® can be legally planted on any private property in most countries, such as a backyard or garden. If you have this option, but are concerned about how long you will be living there, you can bring your Bios Urn® tree with you even if you move. The Bios Urn® can also be planted in a planter or a suitable planting container. You can write to us at [email protected] with any questions on these options.
Thank you and take care
What is the shelf life for a bios urn?
Hi Amber. The Bios Urn® does not have an expiration date. Thanks to the materials used to create it, you can keep the Urn indefinitely. It can be safely stored for years or even decades, even with ashes stored inside.
That is why many people order it for themselves as part of planning their own end-of-life plans.The Urn only begins to break down once it’s planted and exposed to moisture.
To favor its preservation, we recommend storing the Urn in a dry place away from extreme heat or humidity. We would also recommend only getting the seeds or the seedling at the time of planting.
I purchased a bio urn for my father, he passed in Oct 2020 and I still have not found a place to plant his tree. He loved a few nature parks in blue springs mo but they don’t allow them anymore, clay county smithville lake never called me back, unity village I played phone tag with a few times but was never able to get in touch. The list goes on, please help. I would prefer a beautiful park within 2-3 hour drive if possible. Maybe anywhere from Omaha Nebraska to Springfield/lake of ozarks MO? Places in Kansas would be ok too, I just feel so guilty every day that I have not found him a place to rest. Everyday for 2years.
Dearest Abbey
We are so sorry to read that you are struggling to find a park for your father. We have sent you an email with quite a bit of information and various options. If you don´t receive it, please let us know at [email protected]
Take care
Have you identified non-cemetery locations to bury a Bio Urn near the San Francisco Bay Area, ideally forests our county/state parks?
Dear Susan. I am afraid we do not have any we can recommend at this time.
These websites are also useful to reference:
http://www.greenburialcouncil.org (they have a good interactive map to search)
https://www.nhfuneral.org/green-burial-cemeteries-in-the-us-and-canada.html
Our suggestion is to find a place that works for you, and ask. Burying cremated remains in the ground is also referred to as “interment rights”. It is also often considered as the equivalent of “scattering ashes in nature” so you would need to check what final destination is permitted with ashes where you live. Every country and/or city has its own regulations regarding what can and can´t be done with human remains in public places and on private property. Because at Bios we work with so many countries, we are not aware of all of these regulations. In some locations, cremated ashes are not considered human remains, so they can technically be planted wherever a tree can be planted. This is not the case for all cities, states, or countries – so we do advise checking further. Your local city hall can be a good first point of call. It may be a pretty ad hoc request, but the fact that the urn is 100% biodegradable with no harmful elements whatsoever and leaves absolutely no trace, it is not something that would be considered harmful. It is essentially just like planting a tree.
If it can help at all, you can write to us at [email protected] and we can send you an information pack to show the people are you talking to about planting a Bios Urn in a public location.
With warmest regards