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Death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennen interviews Mel Bennett, founder of Life Forest in New Hampshire, a nonprofit cemetery and public arboretum where human and pet cremated remains are buried with newly planted trees. After caring for her mother through early-onset frontal lobe dementia, Mel received her mother’s ashes in a plastic bag and box, which pushed her to create a more meaningful, healing legacy. She explains how the land is conserved, how each tree is legally protected as a burial monument, and how families get long-term, deeded access using GPS coordinates and mapping software. Mel shares the science behind their certified wool shrouds that support soil health, plus QR-code memorial markers for equal memorialization. Life Forest prioritizes accessibility, offers free burial for anyone under 20, supports unclaimed deaths, and helps expand similar cemeteries in other states.

00:00 Her Smile in Bloom

00:18 Show and Guest Intro

01:29 Mel’s Roots and Big Question

02:34 Childhood Fear and Mom’s Wisdom

04:40 Dementia Caregiving Journey

07:13 Ashes in a Bag

09:08 From Idea to Life Forest

11:04 Planting the Dogwood

13:09 Building the Arboretum

16:47 Legal Protections for Trees

18:39 Deeded Rights and GPS Mapping

25:15 Wool Shroud Science

28:59 How Families Prepare Remains

31:18 Choosing the Right Tree

32:12 Soil Sun and Pollination

35:03 Public Arboretum Access

36:20 QR Code Memorials

38:57 Pets Fees and Fairness

42:49 Accessibility and Community

43:31 Child Grief Book Project

50:49 Expanding Life Forest Model

54:40 Where to Find Life Forest

55:16 End of Life Planning Call

https://lifeforestcemetery.com/ 

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