Stories – The Forest Conservation Burial Ground

path through snow at The Forest green burial ground

Spring Greetings from The Forest

Written on April 10, 2023. Posted in Stories.

Yes, this is spring at The Forest this year! We are grateful for the beautiful snow blanket covering the land. The snowy weather and winter road conditions led us to cancel our Spring Equinox Tour and...

Grief and Gratitude

Written on January 26, 2023. Posted in Stories.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr. Lanita Witt on December 15, 2022 with her loving wife, Suzanne, by her side. Lanita often introduced herself as, "the Witt of Willow-Witt ...

Remembering the full life of Dr. Lanita Witt

Written on December 24, 2022. Posted in Media.

Dr. Lanita Witt, co-founder of Willow-Witt Ranch outside Ashland, died Dec. 15 in a hospice bed with Suzanne Willow, her wife of 43 years, lying beside her, holding her hand.

sound bowl with floral arrangement at green burial

Welcoming Fall at The Forest

Written on September 26, 2022. Posted in Stories.

Harvest blessings to you! This excerpt from Parker J. Palmer's The Paradox of Fall captures my feelings around this season.

The Forest Summer Solstice Celebration gathering

Summer Beauty at The Forest

Written on July 21, 2022. Posted in Stories.

Summer is upon us! The ranch is abuzz with activity from weddings and summer camp to a solstice celebration and laying to rest beloveds. The Forests' mission of providing a space to reconnect our experience...

Spring Greetings from The Forest

Written on May 4, 2022. Posted in Stories.

Up here at 5,000', spring blooms come a little later than down in the valley. It's a delight to enjoy two springs! We are grateful for the hope and energy that comes with this season. We honored the...

Cemetery allows people to continue nourishing the Earth after they die

Written on April 4, 2022. Posted in Media.

Forest Conservation Burial Ground offers green and natural burials near Ashland

OSU Extension Service Land Steward Program

Presentation by Suzanne Willow for OSU Land Steward Program Community Education Series

Written on January 21, 2022. Posted in Media.

Suzanne Willow of Willow-Witt Ranch and The Forest Conservation Burial Ground shares about green burial. This is a recorded evening presentation from the OSU Extension Services Land Steward Program...

Winter Greetings from The Forest

Written on January 14, 2022. Posted in Stories.

Reveling in Winter Time We are so delighted that it’s truly winter here at the burial ground. We welcomed the changing seasons with poetry, reflections, and light in...

The Hills We Die On

Written on January 5, 2022. Posted in Media.

On a warm summer day with bright yellow flowers in full bloom, Lydia Shockey and her family gathered at a secluded forest meadow surrounded by mountains to bury her father. After lowering his body...

Subscribe to The Forest Newsletter