At Paxtang Cemetery’s The Wood’s Edge, honoring a loved one can also mean caring for the environment. The cemetery combines traditional burial practices with environmentally conscious green burial options, creating a space where remembrance, nature and stewardship exist in harmony.

CEO Alesia A. Skinner acquired Paxtang Cemetery in 2006, drawn to a property in need of care and restoration. “When I first saw the cemetery, it was like starting an entirely new business,” she says. “I poured my heart into restoring it to a place I would be proud to be interred myself.” She and a small team revitalized the grounds, repairing roads, landscaping, restoring the mausoleum and office building, and investing in equipment and new burial options. By 2012, Skinner became sole owner, and in 2014 she opened Central Pennsylvania’s first Green Burial Council–certified section, where her mother became the first person buried in The Wood’s Edge.

Green burial emphasizes simplicity, natural materials and minimal environmental impact. At The Wood’s Edge, each green burial contributes to forest restoration, with Pennsylvania-native trees such as oak, American elm, sweet gum, paw paw and hickory planted above gravesites. “Every green burial is a gift to future generations,” Skinner shares. “A single oak can live 200 years, absorb tons of carbon dioxide, and provide habitat and shade.”

Native shrubs and perennials such as nine bark, elderberry, purple coneflower, butterfly weed and catmint are planted on top of green burial graves. “We have also taken the practice of planting perennials such as toad flax between stones in the traditional areas, as well as adding beauty and controlling weeds naturally,” notes Skinner.

The cemetery spans 32 acres, including 12 acres dedicated to green burial, with 1.5 miles of woodland trails and paved roads. Visitors can hike, bike, bird watch or simply enjoy the quiet of the woods. “Our goal is for people to experience the cemetery as a sanctuary,” explains Skinner. “It’s a space for reflection, remembrance and connection to nature.” The green burial section is zoned conservation land and surrounded by protected areas, adding to its ecological and community value.

Paxtang Cemetery offers a variety of burial and memorial options. Traditional in-ground burials, cremation interments, garden and estate lots, columbarium niches and pet burials are all available. Families can select monuments or natural, low-impact markers that honor individuality.

“Our green burials use shrouds, bamboo or wicker caskets and are not typically embalmed,” says Skinner. “Family and friends are invited back on Earth Day to plant native trees, shrubs and ground cover over their loved one’s grave, creating a living memorial that continues to benefit the environment for decades. Families are also encouraged to use butterfly or dove releases instead of balloons.”

A dedicated team of three to five groundskeepers and office staff tends to both the cemetery and the forested land year-round. More than 600 trees and shrubs have been planted as part of ongoing restoration projects in partnership with the International Power and Light and Chesapeake Bay organizations. Staff are continually experimenting with sustainable practices to reduce gas-powered equipment, eliminate pesticides and manage invasive plants—ways to restore native habitats for insects, birds and mammals.

Interest in green burial is growing. In 2025, 40 percent of Paxtang families chose green burial, up from 25 percent in 2024. “Your final arrangements can reflect your values,” notes Skinner. “Choosing green burial is a simple act that leaves a lasting impact for generations to come.” The cemetery also hosts educational programs, tours and community events. On June 5, for World Environment Day, it will offer a program on ending plastic pollution, featuring a guided tour of the green burial grounds.

Through the combination of memorial care, conservation and environmental stewardship, Paxtang Cemetery demonstrates that cemeteries can be both sacred spaces and ecological sanctuaries. “We are creating a legacy where remembrance, nature and stewardship exist in harmony,” Skinner adds, “so families, the community and the land all benefit for generations to come.”