SharonA --- Way back in this thread (which I've only just picked up on) you said: "Re my own body: If it were possible in this day and age, I would want to be buried without a coffin and to be allowed to decompose and let the nutrients of the body return to the earth. But I don't think that's legal."

Well I don't know about where you are, but here in the U.K. 'green funerals' are becoming quite common. A quick search brought up www.naturaldeath.org.uk (sorry, don't know how to do a blicky) which has details of about 130 woodland burial grounds and the possibility of using cardboard coffins to ensure rapid bio-degradability.The site also had links to the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

BTW, I hope you don't need their services too soon!