Weids Question

[Kathleen in WI]

This is gonna sound weird but I hope someone knows what I'm talking about. I remember an article in Countryside (I think) a while back about make "green" caskets for "green" burials.

My husband is thinking this might be a nice little side business after we move since he'll finally have a shop. I wanted to look up the article for him to read, but I can't remember where it was. Does anyone here remember the article? Can you tell me where to find it?

Thanks!

lol That's supposed to say WEIRD question, not weids.

[The Paw]

Tell him to check out;

http://www.naturalburialcompany.com/

for ideas.

[Kathleen in WI]

Very interesting, thank you. They have some interesting things on that site that I never would have thought of in a million years.

It seems like the article talked about what's involved in starting up a business building natural wood coffins. It may have discussed things like start up costs but I don't remember.

I think it would be helpful for him as he researches the possibilities so I really wanted him to read it. But with all the packing and extra work this month, I don't have time to flip through years and years of Countryside to find the article. That's why I was hoping someone might remember which one it was in.

[paul]

Mother Earth News did an article on home-made caskets that incuded plans. All of their old stuff is on their web site and a search should turn it up without too much fuss.

Making caskets is one of the ideas I'd like to look into if I ever get a shop.

homesteadpaul

[Kathleen in WI]

That's it! I could have sworn it was a Countryside.

Thanks

["simon says"]

nice'
what could be more green than a nice blanket or sheet'
though i loved the basket casket....

[Kathleen in WI]

That was kinda cool wasn't it?

From what I've read, this green funeral stuff is getting very popular. If he can set up a little side business building pine boxes, he might do quite well. Then we'd both be able to work from home.

He's been wanting to get woodworking supplies for years but we've never had a place for him to do that kind of stuff. Where we live now, if you keep the tools in the store room it all turns to rust. Nothing lasts. So he'll have to get new tools but at least now he'll have a nice little shop building.

I hope he's able to do it. It would be nice for him to work from home and not be gone all the time. He's worked so hard over the years, it would be nice for him to relax a bit and do something he can enjoy. He wants to branch out and make other things too (not just caskets) but he thinks this will be a great start.

I found the articles I needed and gave him the links. I know I have the magazine too but it's packed. I'll have to dig it out after the move so he can refer to it again if needed. Guess I'm old fashioned. I like to have actual print publications. Even though my job is to write for the Internet, I still prefer to hold a book or magazine in my hands.

[Big Dave]

Looked into it and found this out: The funeral home will not let you use your own unit(coffin). They will sell you theirs and only the ones they are told to sell by the area association they belong to. If you so desire they charge you extra. I would like my remains in an oak box. Do not know if it will happen cause I will not be here.

[The Paw]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Looked into it and found this out: The funeral home will not let you use your own unit(coffin). They will sell you theirs and only the ones they are told to sell by the area association they belong to. If you so desire they charge you extra. I would like my remains in an oak box. Do not know if it will happen cause I will not be here.

This very much depends on where you are and how competitive the industry is in your area. I know that the funeral homes around here are very flexible about allowing families to provide their own cremation urns.

I think they are a little more picky about traditional caskets because (a) they want to know that it is structurally sound, and that ol' Dad won't drop out the bottom on the way to interment, and (b) different homes price different ways. Some are low on the undertaker fees and make it up on the coffin, some provide an "all-in" price, and others charge a lower mark-up on the casket and have a higher undertaker fee.

From what I have seen though, selling caskets direct to the public is not a good strategy because of the reluctance of funeral homes to deal with them. If I was setting up in this business, I would be looking to enlist the funeral homes as distributors/retailers to handle the units.