Handcrafted & Sustainable
End-of-life Vessels
Hickory Nut Farmstead is small business based in Southeast Michigan. We offer artisan-crafted natural caskets, burial trays, shrouds, and urns for use in greener funerals. All funerary baskets and shrouds incorporate local plants that have been sustainably harvested in Michigan.
Completed vessels are available for immediate need or can be created on commission and customized. Learn more about the different types of vessels we offer below:
End-of-Life Vessel Offerings
We offer a full range of funerary vessels
Natural Caskets
Our natural caskets are handwoven and come with cozy natural textile liners and pillows that can be botanically dyed.
Burial Trays
Burial trays are designed for use with a burial shroud. These trays can be paired with one of our plant-dyed shrouds or even a simple quilt or blanket from your own home.
Burial Shrouds
Our burial shrouds are individually-crafted from natural textiles and hand-dyed with local plants.
Natural Urns
Our lidded wicker urns are lined with cotton muslin to contain ashes. They are made with completely natural materials, able to be used as a lasting tribute or can biodegrade and return to the elements.
How to Order
For those who have experienced a loss and need an end-of-life vessel right away, we have finished baskets and shrouds available for immediate need. Please feel free to call us anytime at 734-358-1142 or email us at [email protected] to learn more. We will get back to you promptly if we miss you!
For those who are planning ahead (even if only by a few weeks!), you can select form our finished baskets and shrouds or order a custom vessel at no extra cost. We can tailor the design to you wishes or even customize the vessel to include plants or other materials that are meaningful to you. We also welcome the opportunity to weave or dye alongside individuals and their loved ones. We deeply believe that crafting funerary vessels can be a wonderful and healing part of the grieving journey. Please give us a call at 734-358-1142 or email us at [email protected].
It’s true! Natural burial (or green burial) is a way of putting our dead to rest in a way that gently and sustainably returns them to the Earth. Bodies are buried without chemical embalming, without a concrete vault, and within a biodegradable vessel (such as a burial shroud or wicker casket!). Michigan already has over 25 cemeteries that support this practice, and more are in development. You can even be buried on private land in Michigan with a little pre-planning.
Interested in learning more? We’ve partnered with the Michigan Deathcare Collaborative, a 501(c)3 nonprofit to better educate Michigan about little-known end-of-life options better rooted in our environment and community.
Are you interested in learning to weave wicker?
Michael Marie also teaches basic introductory basketweaving workshops from her home studio and at other venues throughout Michigan. Take a look at upcoming classes and community weaving opportunities.