Hope Eternal Gardens
A state licensed natural burial cemetery planting forests and meadows to celebrate loved ones
Press
Impact as of
November 2024
7,550
Native and Florida-friendly Plants Planted
Plants sourced from local native plant nurseries (EarthBalance®, Eco Tech Environmental), or grown at Hope.
2,007
Square Feet of Forest created
Forests created by implementing the Miyawaki forest planting method.
1.5
Acres Seeded with Wildflowers
Seeds (Florida Upland Meadow mix) sourced from Ernst Conservation Seeds, a native seed producer and supplier.
35
Native and Florida-friendly Plant Species
Plants sourced from local native plant nurseries (EarthBalance®, Eco Tech Environmental), or grown at Hope.
46
Pounds of Carbon Sequestered
(or emissions from 2 Gallons of Gas)
Estimated using i-Tree, a non-profit in partnership with the USDA Forestry Service, The Arbor Day Foundation, among others. Emissions estimated using data from US Environmental Protection Agency "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle."
Where loss can create life
We are a state licensed natural burial cemetery that is creating life in three different ways:
Plan Ahead
Those who make pre-arrangements can plant trees using a proven forest creation technique, the Miyawaki method. They will immediately see their impact and get to be an active part of their legacy.
After a Loss
If a loved one has already passed, friends and family can plant a forest in honor of their person. Studies have shown that both gardening and being out in nature can help with anxiety and depression, healing that we've experienced firsthand.
Your Impact
Birds and butterflies will start visiting the new forest. The forest will start sequestering carbon. Visitors will see the plants grow as the years go by. Beautiful memories with loved ones will be created, remembered, and celebrated.
Doing Less
Hope makes a difference by what we minimize or cut out.
We are minimizing the amount of water used for irrigation, minimizing carbon emissions from mowing, and minimizing concrete put in the ground that would otherwise be required in other cemeteries. And, we're cutting out herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.
Wetlands
On top of that, we are preserving 12 acres of wetlands on the site.
Build Community
Hope’s design is meant to build community. The sacred burial areas are separate from gathering or event spaces. The community can feel comfortable doing a nature walk, attending a watercolor class, or listening to a lecture on local history, all while respecting the dignity of those who have passed.
A Loving Legacy
Loved ones can visit and participate in events, knowing that their person was part of creating this park.
Testimonials
I decided to be buried at Hope Eternal Gardens after speaking with the owners who were very helpful. There was no pressure which I really appreciated. I knew nothing about natural burial before speaking to them and now I feel like this is a great choice for me.
I am looking forward to planting some trees with my mom (who will also be buried here) and family member.which I hope will create a memory that can live on after I leave this earth.
Maureen Brady
Beautiful location and "green" in so many ways. The work that's being done to ensure respectful, natural burials, is unlike anything I've witnessed before. Lauren and Chris's expertise and love of the site is clear. We are lucky that such a place exists. Working through grief is a difficult climb, but knowing that your lost loved one will be part of a forest that will grow and flourish over time brings an unexpected comfort.
Eric
The staff at Hope Eternal Gardens have enabled us to design our own resting place in a secret garden in a grove. We are now preparing to plant our forest and will get to grow with it over the years. This has been a rewarding and inspiring experience and it has allowed us to celebrate the rebirth of this piece of land as a self sustaining grove of native plants. It has already brought us joy and sweet memories and will allow us to restore a portion of Southwest Florida’s native environment as our legacy.
Casey Gundlach
This place is amazing. It is an (un)cemetery. It is a place to honor and remember loved ones through nature. It is just so hard to put into words how beautiful it is as an idea and a place.
Mitchell Austin
What a phenomenal project brought to life by a couple of amazing individuals. Lauren and Chris are two people with the perfect amount of empathy, personal experience and professionalism to handle such a sensitive time for our family at Hope Eternal Gardens. The site is not only well architected but also peaceful grounds to reflect and connect. The planting experience was also executed at a level that my family and I could have only dreamed of. Hope Eternal Gardens has been a blessing to us. I have no doubt in my mind other families will feel the same!
Thania Albert
I have been working with Hope Eternal Gardens for five years and firmly believe in the concept of forest restoration combined with burial sites! It is an amazing thing they are doing!
Jim Stump
I decided to be buried at Hope Eternal Gardens after speaking with the owners who were very helpful. There was no pressure which I really appreciated.
I knew nothing about natural burial before speaking to them and now I feel like this is a great choice for me.
I am looking forward to planting some trees with my mom (who will also be buried here) and family member.which I hope will create a memory that can live on after I leave this earth.
Maureen Brady
Beautiful location and "green" in so many ways. The work that's being done to ensure respectful, natural burials, is unlike anything I've witnessed before. Lauren and Chris's expertise and love of the site is clear. We are lucky that such a place exists. Working through grief is a difficult climb, but knowing that your lost loved one will be part of a forest that will grow and flourish over time brings an unexpected comfort.
Eric
The staff at Hope Eternal Gardens have enabled us to design our own resting place in a secret garden in a grove. We are now preparing to plant our forest and will get to grow with it over the years. This has been a rewarding and inspiring experience and it has allowed us to celebrate the rebirth of this piece of land as a self sustaining grove of native plants. It has already brought us joy and sweet memories and will allow us to restore a portion of Southwest Florida’s native environment as our legacy.
Casey Gundlach
I have been working with Hope Eternal Gardens for five years and firmly believe in the concept of forest restoration combined with burial sites! It is an amazing thing they are doing!
Jim Stump
What a phenomenal project brought to life by a couple of amazing individuals. Lauren and Chris are two people with the perfect amount of empathy, personal experience and professionalism to handle such a sensitive time for our family at Hope Eternal Gardens. The site is not only well architected but also peaceful grounds to reflect and connect. The planting experience was also executed at a level that my family and I could have only dreamed of. Hope Eternal Gardens has been a blessing to us. I have no doubt in my mind other families will feel the same!
Thania Albert
This place is amazing. It is an (un)cemetery. It is a place to honor and remember loved ones through nature. It is just so hard to put into words how beautiful it is as an idea and a place.
Mitchell Austin
Opening Fall 2024
Hope Eternal Gardens
Licensed natural burial cemetery planting forests and meadows to celebrate loved ones in a park-like setting
Discover more
Watch a Story of Hope
"Where the Magic Forest Grows"
Words & Illustrations by Hope co-founders, Chris Alonso & Lauren Robie
Inspired by a lifelong love of plants and nature and making memories with our favorite people. A reflection on how these memories stay with us during happy times, difficult times, and every time in between.