(Wyandotte, MI)--The green movement seems to appear everywhere these days, both here on earth. and the afterlife. In fact there's now a designated "green" cemetery in a town just south of Detroit.

Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Wyandotte, Michigan, just received a special nod of sorts from the non-profit group Green Burial Council. It's the first Catholic cemetery in the nation to be certified as green.

Jeanne Ingram of St. Clair Shores just lost her 85-year old mother a few weeks ago. It was her mom's wish to be buried the "natural" way in a shroud, just like Jesus, and put into the earth. She wasn't embalmed. This type of burial is the first of its kind here.

Pastor of St. Elizabeth parish, Reverend Charles Morris, helped the Ingram family with the funeral plans. He's also administrator of the Mt. Carmel Cemetery where the mom is buried. He says he was more than happy to oblige because this type of burial was common and widely accepted for centuries, even in biblical times.

This "Civil War era" cemetery,some fifteen minutes south of Detroit, is using about half an acre to offer burials without embalming fluids and concrete burial vaults or metal caskets. Instead the bodies will be placed in shrouds or biodegradable encasements made from materials like pine or bamboo. Expect to see mainly flat grave stones as well.

Morris says the landscaping of the green area will be lush with plants, trees, grass, and wildflowers. It'll give the appearance of a backyard garden. A peaceful place for respect and remembrance.

Keep in mind there are state laws dictating how a body, not embalmed, should be transported and then buried. It's usually within 48 hours. Obviously a green type of funeral could end up costing you much less. In some cases half.

Make sure to watch my Green Report next week when I further explore different ways to be buried the eco-friendly way.