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In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, a quiet revolution in end-of-life practices is underway.
At Ramsey Creek Preserve near Westminster, South Carolina, the deceased rest beneath meadows and oaks, their presence woven into the natural world.
The first body Billy Campbell buried on his land was the stillborn child of friends.
Later, a colleague’s sudden death solidified his mission: connecting people to the land.
It’s the essence of what they do.
In 1996, the Campbell couple bought a dilapidated farm and pioneered conservation burials, seeking to heal the land through death.
They transformed it from invasive plants to thriving woodland filled with life.
Ramsey Creek Preserve became the first certified conservation burial ground in the U.S.
They prefer the term 'conservation burials' over 'green' or 'natural,' believing in their true purpose: CPR for the land - Conservation, Preservation, Restoration.
The Campbells have seen the community embrace this sanctuary.
Now, it’s not just about burial; it's for picnics, hikes, and appreciating nature.
A place where diverse beliefs converge.
“Finally, a place where rednecks and hippies can agree,” Billy jokes.
As conservation burial sites multiply, this movement challenges the funeral industry's environmental footprint.
The Campbells' vision? To restore and rewild a million acres through conservation burials - reconnecting us with death, one burial at a time.
