Transcend’s innovative Tree Burial process facilitates the direct transfer of nutrients from body to tree, allowing death to support new life. Before being planted, we ready and adorn the body in 100% organic flax linen that breaks down at the pace of nature. It is then laid to rest between layers of locally-upcycled wood chips that help create the perfect environment for natural decomposition. Transcend’s unique blend of fungi-enriched soil is added to ensure the tree will derive those essential nutrients directly from the body. A tree of your choice is then planted above the body and its roots form a mutually beneficial network with the fungi so that it can thrive and grow for generations to come. In this way, your biology literally becomes a tree.

Yes, Tree Burial is completely safe and legal. However, there are complex regulatory and logistical challenges involved that vary based on location. Our full-service offering solves everything long before you need it—from planning to planting and everything in between.

Yes, everybody is able to be planted as a tree in our forests regardless of age, illness, artificial limbs or implants. Come one, come all.

Every Transcend forest will have 7-10 different native tree species for you to choose from that are all compatible with the biodiversity needs of your specific forest location. Our tree species are selected based on geographic compatibility, longevity, durability, and beauty.

On average it takes between 3-5 years for a body to naturally decompose, depending on geography and soil makeup. The tree will start deriving essential nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from the body within the first few months of planting, and will continue to be nourished by it for years to come.

No, cremated remains can not be planted or scattered in a Transcend forest. Our bodies produce hyper-rich nutrients (even after death) that serve as the engine for the Tree Burial process. Cremation is a highly pollutive process that burns and thus destroys these nutrients, removing them from the natural cycle of life. In addition, cremated remains are highly alkaline which can be detrimental to soil and tree growth.

Due to the toxicity of embalming fluid, Transcend discourages embalming before burial. However, we do recognize that certain regulatory, logistical, and personal circumstances may require a body to be embalmed, in which case we will do our best to accommodate your specific needs.

All bodies will be returned to their most natural form before being adorned in 100% organic, biodegradable flax linen. Anything that gets buried with or on an individual should be fully biodegradable. With that said, Transcend works closely with families to make sure their specific wishes are met on a case-by-case basis.

Transcend has specifically designed the Tree Burial process to ensure bodies are buried below the smell barrier (about 2 feet deep). This prevents wild animals from detecting bodies and odors from escaping.

Yes, Tree Burials take place year-round. If your forest is located in a cold-weather climate, winter burials will still occur, but the tree won’t be planted until Spring. This ensures your tree is given the best opportunity to survive and thrive.

No, traditional cemeteries have strict grave density and mowing requirements that make it impossible for Tree Burials to take place. While private land burials are technically possible, you would have to go through the steps of procuring a family cemetery zoning exemption. And if the land was ever sold at some point in the future, your friends and family would lose visitation rights. This is why Transcend creates our own forests.

Transcend forests are generally located within 2-hours of select metropolitan areas. Our network of forests plan to take root across the entire US, and eventually, the whole world. To help bring a Transcend forest to your neck of the woods sooner than later, join the Future Tree movement now.

Transcend forests are specifically designed and perpetually maintained to be beautiful points of connection between people and nature. All forests are complete with a visitor center, winding paths, and ceremonial spaces—both indoors and out. Each individual Grove is marked, GPS tracked, and easy to find so friends and family of those planted can come by anytime. You can expect to feel a deep reverence for nature and life itself.

Each individual Grove in every Transcend forest is connected to a GPS tracker and marked with a beautiful, customizable plaque. Joining the Future Tree movement now awards you priority preference for Grove location in the forest.

Transcend regularly maintains our forests to ensure all paths and shared spaces are clean and clear. In addition, our expert arborists and groundskeepers routinely care for each individual tree and Grove ecosystem so that they thrive for generations.

Our devoted arborists and groundskeepers are committed to maintaining the optimal health of Transcend forests. The reason we offer Groves instead of simply trees is because each Grove is a living, evolving ecosystem unto itself…whether the tree is standing or not. With a Tree Burial you become more than just one tree, you become the whole forest. Even a felled tree provides sustenance to the ecosystem around it. That said, your personalized Grove marker will be there in perpetuity. And, if anything happens to your tree within the first 5 years of planting it, we will replant a new tree since viable nutrients will still be available to nurture it. Replanting the tree will not affect or disrupt the body in any way, and we will let you know before any replanting takes place.

Natural disasters are just that…natural. We do everything in our power to protect against disease, invasive species, damage from fires, wind, lightning, and other inclement weather conditions. Since all Groves are ecosystems with many underground connections at play, it’s important to remember that the body is always supporting and fueling new life, even if it looks different on the outside than what you expected (a metaphor for life itself!). If a Transcend forest suffers damage, it will be strategically reforested using best available practices.

For now, Transcend forests are only for people. Oddly enough, some states even have strict regulations against pets and humans being buried in the same area. However, we do offer a Tree Burial Kit specifically designed for pets which allows you to plant them as trees close to home. We will open Transcend forests for pets in the future, so join our list to be the first to know.

Transcend forests are all under what’s called a “conservation easement.” This means they are legally protected from ever being developed so that reforestation efforts can’t be reversed. By choosing a Transcend burial, your impact is guaranteed to live on.

While there are some regulatory and logistical challenges involved in turning land into Transcend Tree Burial forests, it’s also a deeply meaningful thing to do with your property, and there are likely compelling tax benefits. Reach out to to explore the possibility.

Transcend understands that you are entrusting us with one of the most profound and intimate choices you will make in your life. Executing your final wishes comes with an immense ethical responsibility, so before any forest opens, we ensure the infrastructure is in place so that it can last well beyond any of us. All Transcend forests are secured in conservation easements and perpetually preserved so that friends and family always have visitation rights and the land can never be developed. Even if Transcend were to close, all of our already performed Tree Burials would be 100% protected.

Cremation is the incineration of a perfectly nutrient-rich body. Not only does it waste valuable nutrients, it also emits massive amounts of pollutive carbon into the atmosphere (600 million pounds per year, to be exact!) along with heavy metals like mercury. To give you a sense, a single cremation has roughly the same domestic energy demands as an individual in the U.S for an entire month. On the other hand, Tree Burial removes 5.8x more carbon from the atmosphere than a cremation emits, literally cleaning the air we breathe.

In this industry, oftentimes there is no clear definition of what “all-inclusive” pricing means. When it comes to cremation, the actual cremation is typically the least expensive part of the greater cost you are likely to incur. Transcend is committed to total pricing transparency, offering one truly all-inclusive fee for the funeral service, planting ceremony, land maintenance, and more.

In the U.S alone, traditional cemeteries have cleared 1 million acres of land to date and each year, an additional 4 million acres of forest are cut down to create caskets. In addition, traditional burial is responsible for hundreds of thousands of pounds of non-biodegradable materials currently just sitting in the ground. In contrast, Tree Burial perpetually preserves thousands of acres of land, leaves behind no waste or toxins, and plants an additional 1,000 trees for every Grove reserved. Overall, Tree Burial is 576% more sustainable than existing default options.

In this industry, oftentimes there is no clear definition of what “all-inclusive” pricing means. Transcend is committed to total pricing transparency, offering one, truly all-inclusive fee for the funeral service, planting ceremony, land maintenance, and more—and it is still half the price of the average traditional burial.

No, Tree Burial does not harm the land in any way. The reason why cemeteries are regulated so heavily is because traditional burials can contaminate the local water supply. This is not because bodies are inherently pollutive themselves, but rather because of the massive amounts of unnecessary materials that go into the ground with the bodies like metals, lacquers, and concrete. Tree Burial doesn’t pose any risk to the water supply because we only use 100% biodegradable and non-toxic materials. In addition, our process is specially designed to utilize biofilters that prevent any leachates from adversely affecting the surrounding soil.

Tree Burial is the most regenerative, sustainable burial option in existence. Services that grant you scattering rights at the base of a tree or that turn ashes into diamonds all require cremation first and thus take a serious toll on the environment. In addition, these services are all aftermarket upsells, which means that they don’t include the costs associated with the actual cremation/burial or funeral service. Transcend’s all-inclusive fee and carbon-negative solution all serve our overarching mission to offer a better end-of-life option than what’s currently out there.

Transcend believes that trees are the answer to the biggest challenges facing society today. Planting trees is one of the most effective ways to absorb harmful carbon from our atmosphere. That’s why, in addition to planting your burial tree later, we plant 1,000 trees now for every Grove reservation made. Together, we can reforest the world through death.

We’ve teamed up with One Tree Planted, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has specialized in planting trees across the globe since 2014. To date, they’ve planted over 40 million trees in more than 43 countries, using best reforestation practices and promoting biodiversity so that their projects have real, lasting influence. For every Grove reserved, Transcend plants an additional 1,000 trees worldwide with One Tree Planted. In this way, your choice as an individual today can have a life-changing impact on the collective for generations to come.

While it is a nuanced conversation, scientists have discovered that planting 1.2 trillion trees is one of the most viable and effective climate solutions that currently exists. Transcend is pioneering the Future Tree movement, and planting 1,000 trees for every Grove reserved. Therefore, if 1 in 7 people choose Tree Burial, we can accomplish the goal of cleaning the air for everything and everybody.

For every Grove reserved, Transcend plants an additional 1,000 trees in reforestation projects across the world. This means that for every person who signs up for a Tree Burial, 1,001 trees get planted. These trees will absorb enough carbon over the course of their lifetime to fully erase your carbon footprint (based on the global average).

Your $100 contribution unlocks many benefits now and in the future, for you and your people. Immediately, we are able to accelerate your impact by planting 100 trees through our non-profit reforestation partner, One Tree Planted. When Grove reservations open in 2024, you will enjoy priority Grove placement and choice of tree species, as well as a guaranteed individual Grove price of $8,500 (regardless of future dynamic pricing). Additionally, you will have exclusive access to 0% APR financing for up to 35 years, with annual payments as low as $250/year.

Transcend passes 100% of your contribution along to our registered 501(c)(3) non-profit reforestation partner, One Tree Planted, so that they can start planting your trees ASAP. Transcend will stay in touch and update you when Grove reservations open. In the meantime, we encourage you to share with friends and family so they can save their spot in the forest with you. You can also join to learn more about what’s happening with our carbon negative, death positive movement.

No, your contribution is non-refundable because all $100 goes straight to our non-profit reforestation partner, One Tree Planted, so that they can immediately start planting your 100 trees. However, you are not entering into a binding contract to follow-through with a Tree Burial later, so you can change your mind at any time.

By contributing $100 today, you are guaranteed an individual Grove for $8,500, regardless of future dynamic pricing. Our one, all-inclusive fee is half the price of the average traditional burial, and can be paid down in small increments over the course of your lifetime.

While many other services claim they offer “all-inclusive” pricing, oftentimes core elements like the funeral service and land maintenance are actually not included. Throughout the process, other hidden fees disguised as "options" may also be revealed. Transcend is committed to pricing transparency with one fee which includes: the death certificate and filing fees, body transportation (within 2 hours driving distance of the forest), funeral service, planting ceremony, land maintenance, burial tree, and 1,000 additional trees planted worldwide at the time of reservation.

Transcend uniquely includes a fully-staffed funeral service and venue, as well as a planting ceremony with your Tree Burial. All Transcend funerals can be livestreamed and take place in our indoor, on-site facilities. You are also welcome to have your funeral service elsewhere, though this would incur the additional external fee of your chosen funeral home.

Transcend planting ceremonies are a time for friends and family to come together and witness you being planted as a tree. Transcend provides a non-denominational facilitator to reverently lead the ceremony as well as groundskeepers to help with the physical planting process.

Yes, Transcend facilitators can incorporate elements of your religion into both your funeral and planting ceremony. Your family will be in contact with our facilitators prior to the service to discuss custom requests. You are also welcome to invite a facilitator or clergy member of your choosing, at your own expense.

Yes, transportation of the body is included in our all-inclusive fee, so long as it’s within 2 hours driving distance of the forest location.

Transcend will help facilitate the logistics involved in longer-distance body transportation to the forest, whether it be by air or by car. If it is beyond 2 hours driving distance, additional fees will be incurred. We will ensure those costs are approved before making any moves.

Reserving your Grove early comes with many benefits for you, your people, and the planet—now and in the future. By reserving a Grove in advance, you accelerate your environmental impact, as Transcend starts planting trees immediately. Additionally, you ensure nobody you love gets stuck with a large unexpected bill later on, and that you are honored in a way that feels like you. Choosing to be a tree later can literally change our world now.

Yes. Transcend's innovative payment plans and financing options are a core element of our model, allowing everyone to accelerate their impact regardless of age. By contributing $100 today, you’ll have exclusive access to 0% APR financing for up to 35 years, with annual payments as low as $250/year. Future APRs have not yet been determined, which is why we encourage you to contribute $100 today to unlock these benefits.

Yes, you can complete your payment plan anytime or pay in-full upfront as soon as we open reservations in 2024.

Yes, your Grove can be located next to anyone you specify. By being planted together, you’ll literally continue to communicate, share resources, and grow together—this time, as life-giving trees. Lock in preferential pricing, location, and benefits for them today, and when reservations open in 2024, you will be able to reserve specific Groves together.

Transcend is building a network of Tree Burial forests across the globe. You can transfer your Grove to any Transcend location within our network at any time.

While we recommend reserving Groves in advance to accelerate environmental impact and receive early-access benefits, at-need Groves for the recently deceased will be available starting in 2024.

Our Tree Burial Kit for Pets comes in two sizes: for pets up to 40 pounds, and for pets up to 90 pounds. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate larger pets at this time. All pets that fit in our burial carrier can be planted. Stay tuned for updates on additional sizes in our future.

Although Tree Burial for Pets is safe and legal, we recommend that you consult with your local municipality and housing association (if applicable) regarding pet burial regulations in private backyards as specific rules may vary.

Transcend’s 100% organic and biodegradable flax linen carrier was specially designed to decompose at the pace of nature. With a young tree planted above it, Transcend’s unique fungi-enriched soil works its magic to ensure a direct connection between your pet’s nutrient-rich body and the tree’s root system.

Yes, you can work with your local nursery to select a tree species that will thrive in the geographical area that your pet will be planted. Ask for a 1-inch caliper tree (typically 3-8 feet tall). Transcend offers a full-service Concierge option for those who would like us to take care of all the details for you (including tree sourcing, digging and planting).

Yes. Transcend offers a Concierge service that takes care of all the details including tree sourcing, digging, and planting.

On average it takes between 3-5 years for a body to naturally decompose, depending on size, geography, and soil makeup. The tree will start deriving essential nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from the body within the first few months of planting, and will continue to be nourished by it for years.

We highly recommend purchasing a kit as your pet ages or upon a terminal diagnosis to reduce stress when the time comes. You can bring the carrier with you to the vet (if needed) for ease of transportation to the burial site of your choosing.

We are actively partnering with veterinarians to ensure more people have access to this meaningful and environmentally-friendly alternative to cremation. Please tell your vet about us by sending them our website!

If you are a vet and are interested in carrying the Transcend Tree Burial Kit for Pets, please contact us.

We understand that there can be an urgent need for our Tree Burial Kit, which is why we offer free express shipping on all orders in the U.S.

We do accept returns of unused kits (the sticker on the soil tube must be unbroken). Shipping is not included. Please email us at with your order # to initiate a return.

Transcend has specifically designed the Tree Burial process to ensure your pet is buried below the smell barrier, which is usually about 2 feet. This is how your pet can stay protected, and ensure no odors escape from the burial site. Every Tree Burial Kit comes with a step-by-step guidebook to help walk you through the process. Transcend also offers a full-service Concierge option for those who would like for us to take care of all the details for you (including tree sourcing, digging, and planting).

Tree Burials can take place year-round. During winter weather, your pet can be buried, but we recommend waiting until Spring to plant the actual tree.

Unless the buyers of your home are excited about frequent backyard visitors… we recommend that you take seeds, fruits, or a leaf graft with you, so you can create more life from your pet’s tree in your new home.