Question 1

What are your hours of operation?

Accepted Answer

Our gates are open daily, 9 AM to 7 PM. You're welcome to take a self-guided tour within those hours, or schedule a tour with Stephanie using our booking tool.

Question 2

How do I reserve a space?

Accepted Answer

To reserve a space, you can call Stephanie at (434) 424-1103 and schedule a time to come out and choose a site. Alternatively you can head to the "schedule a visit" tab on our website and select "choosing your plot". You'll meet Stephanie at the burial ground and zero in on the spot that is right for you, then stop by the office to sign a simple one-page contract to complete the process.

Question 3

Do I have to work with a funeral home?

Accepted Answer

No. Virginia allows for families to handle the entire funeral and burial process independently. That said, funeral homes can lend a hand in as much or as little of the process as you'd like and we are happy to work with anyone that you may choose.

The first step is for you to decide what you are comfortable with and go from there. Contact Stephanie and she can walk you through some options/ideas. Additionally, a review of the VirginiaFuneral.org website may help guide your decision-making process.

Question 4

What are your criteria for green burial?

Accepted Answer

No toxic embalming chemicals may be used. Bodies return to the earth in biodegradable boxes, baskets, or burial shrouds. There are no concrete burial vaults or metal caskets permitted. The idea is that we are only introducing materials that nature can use to nurture new life.

Question 5

How big is the cemetery?

Accepted Answer

The cemetery is 20 acres, and we're initially working with just three acres. The cemetery is located on the north side of Panorama Farms' contiguous 800+ acres.

Question 6

How much notice do you need for a burial?

Accepted Answer

We ask for 48 hours notice from notification to time of burial. This allows us time to meet with you if needed, measure the space, and prepare the site.

Please note, this does not mean that the burial must take place within 48 hours, but rather that the soonest it can take place is 48 hours after notification. There is no limit to how long after death a burial can take place, so there will always be plenty of time to get folks in from out of town or hold a vigil, etc.

Question 7

Why are your graves renewable after 75 years?

Accepted Answer

Science tells us that 20 to 30 years after a “natural” burial, bodies return to the soil with nothing remaining - especially in the highly acidic Virginia red clay. In an effort to keep the cemetery from continually expanding outward or becoming "inactive", we are encouraging people to recycle their spaces in 75 years. At that point, consistent with the principles of natural burial, the space will be recycled, thereby allowing for the interment of other individuals. If a memorial stone is present at the time of renewal, it will be placed in a memorial wall at the Cemetery.

Question 8

Can I have a memorial on my grave?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you don’t have to. We allow simple river rocks with name, birth and death years. All stones will have the same font and be set flush to the ground. No upright headstones. We have river rocks for sale and can complete all the work for you, but you are free to work with an outside contractor (although everything is subject to PNB approval).

If you have a memorial and choose to allow for grave reuse, when the time comes, your stone will go into a memorial rock wall on the cemetery property.

Question 9

Can I plant a tree or flowers?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Please visit our "gravesite planting" and "memorial tree donation" sections, under the resources tab for more information.

Question 10

How deep are your graves?

Accepted Answer

3.5 feet. At this depth, the soil is more nutrient rich and organisms are better at doing their jobs.

Question 11

Will animals dig me up?

Accepted Answer

No! The farthest that predatory animals dig down into soil is 12”. Organisms at that level and below actually mask the odor of decomposition, so animals cannot detect it. There has never been a case of a properly conducted green burial resulting in something like this.

Question 12

Is this human composting?

Accepted Answer

No. Human composting is not yet legal in Virginia.

Human composting is the breakdown of a human body for the purpose of reuse by humans. Human composting requires a very carefully controlled environment and the use of several resources to ensure a very specific desired outcome. While we are allowing for the body to be reused by nature, we are not involved in the human composting process.

Question 13

What does "interment fee" mean?

Accepted Answer

This fee helps pay the on-call contracting service that digs for us on short notice. They assist in measuring and staging the gravesite, and also come back to clean up the area after a service.

Question 14

Can you explain the difference in pricing?

Accepted Answer

Our pricing tiers depend on which burial section you choose from. The more expensive areas are due to a more limited amount of space in those sections.

Question 15

Do you accept cremated remains?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cremated remains can be buried in spaces half the size of regular lots, the cost is exactly half for those spaces. As of January 2026, we also have a cremation garden.

Because cremation is a process that changes the composition of bone, cremated remains can be detrimental to the overall soil health - why we do not permit scattering. In an effort to mitigate any negative impact on the environment, we offer two options for families burying cremation remains at no additional expense. These options are Let Your Love Grow, a soil amendment that, when combined with cremated remains, creates a more  supportive and favorable environment and the Life Forest Wool Cremation Burial Shroud, a wool wrap that acts as an urn to create a rich compost as the wool biodegrades over time.

Frequently asked questions