A Prairie Restoration Cemetery

Heart Land Prairie Cemetery is a dedicated natural burial ground in Central Kansas devoted to ecological practices and management. Natural or Green burial is a return to the kind of burial that was common across the country until the beginning of the 20th century. Many native and indigenous people have practiced natural burial for millennia. With an ethos toward protecting the environment through restoration and conservation, the modern green burial movement provides an intentional, ecologically sound return to the earth.

A natural or green burial ground accepts only un-embalmed bodies in biodegradable containers, or wrapped in a shroud, and does not require the use of concrete or steel vaults, a common practice in conventional cemeteries. 

The thing that really sets Heart Land apart from other cemeteries is that we are restoring the burial meadow to natural prairie. Native species have replaced the alfalfa crop that was planted here. The complete process may take a decade or more. Maintenance of the grounds involves periodic mowing and burning.

At HLPC we use small, engraved metal markers that remain flush with the ground, and GPS coordinates to locate burial spaces. There are no above ground stone memorials. 

Heart Land Prairie Cemetery re-imagines the way a cemetery looks and feels. We have created trails and hiking paths throughout the cemetery and invite visitors to walk, sit in contemplation, bird watch, and simply enjoy the beauty of the prairie.

​This beautiful piece of land was donated to HLPC by The Land Institute, an agricultural research organization based in Salina, Kansas.  The Land Institute shares our vision of connecting people and culture by deepening our relationship with the land we live and die on.

HLPC director, Sarah Crews, with grave marker in foreground. photo by Scott Bontz / The Land Report