Appalachian Death Care & Grief Tending 

For most of history, hands-on death care and village grief tending were sacred practices that brought meaning, connection, and healing to families and communities. We believe that the outsourcing of end-of-life care, funerals, and grief support has taken something precious from us and we want to reclaim these customs.

The Appalachian Death Care Weekend (February 5-6, 2027) will feature beginner-friendly workshops and demonstrations, offering a glimpse into the world of home funerals, death midwifery, and village death care while highlighting Appalachian traditions and folkways. 

We'll explore ways to tend to the earth as we honor our loved ones, considering the impact our decisions have on the soil, water, plants, and animals. We will also spend time talking about the weeks, months, and years that follow loss and some of the customs that our culture has forgotten in its attempt to “get back to life” as quickly as possible. Grief is part of life, not something separate from it, and finding meaning, comfort, and joy alongside grief is part of the journey.

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If grief tending is something you are curious about, The Art of Grief Tending on Thursday (February 4, 2027) will offer an experiential introduction to this unique way of supporting others.

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Whether you want to play a bigger role in the death care and funerals of those you love or you have experienced loss and are looking for support that is rooted in tradition and community, this weekend is for you.