This is Outside In, a show about the natural world and how we use it. I'm Sam Evans Brown.

So a couple of weeks ago, producer Taylor Quimby brought us an episode about death,

specifically about this movement called Green or Natural Burial. This is a follow-up

episode, so if you haven't heard the original story yet, I suggest you go back and

listen. But just in case you refuse to go back and listen here's a 30 second version.

Previously on Outside In.

I'm not obsessed with death.

This is Ryan Lissard. When he dies, he wants to become a tree.

You know, it's kind of greedy to keep my body in a box.

It's part of a thing called green burial, a movement that rejects big heavy caskets and

formaldehyde-based embalming in favor of a simpler,

less resource-heavy burial.

It shouldn't cost thousands of dollars to die.

But having a green burial can be complicated because the laws around death and funerals are confusing.

Most people don't know that green burial is available.

And even though Ryan wants to do green burial, it turns out he hasn't really planned things out yet.

We're both pretty young and healthy.

Everybody plans to die.

Don't jinx it.

The end, cue the credits.

So, the person who brought us the Green Burial Story in the first place is a woman named Kelsey Ericsson.

I feel like in my own head I sound like Fran Dresher.

...