our vision

The vision of Good Ground Great Beyond is to be a volunteer held, community project. Our aim is to help legalize open air cremation and, when it is legal, to build a pyre on our land in Dresden Maine. We wish to make the land available as a contemplative community sanctuary, hermitage and scattering garden. Our mission is to gather minds and hearts together in active support of making open air cremation an option available to the community. 

Our cultural relationship to death and engagement with the reality of death is gradually evolving. With this evolution comes growing awareness of our unique inclinations regarding death ritual and disposition options. Open air cremation is a preferred final rite of many throughout the world and offers very direct and meaningful engagement with the transformations of our deceased loved ones. 

The motivation behind Good Ground Great Beyond is to offer land for us to grow into deeper relationship with death, grief and love. The land, in its current state, is raw and needs our stewardship, intuition, skill and openness. The GGGB website serves as a reference for the evolution of this project as well as a place to connect and offer support. It serves as a resource for further contemplation and education regarding what kinds of disposition options are available and in the works around the country. The ultimate vision of GGGB is to be land for people to connect and reflect, grounded in the simple wish for us human beings to be able to know and manifest our fullness, mystery and humanity in all aspects of living and dying.