Sumner Cemetery’s Heritage Farm offers unique alternative to traditional burial plots

Farming was a way of life for previous generations in the Puyallup Valley, and the newest addition at the Sumner Cemetery memorializes that.

Heritage Farm opened in April, and centers a 200-by-200-foot formal cremation garden around a Farmall tractor donated by Frank Shigio, a rhubarb farmer in the area.

Heritage Farm offers a cost-effective option for those not wanting a traditional plot or mausoleum for themselves or their loved ones.

“It’s a different concept of cremation,” said Scott DeCarteret, the cemetery’s administrative manager. “It creates a natural setting, and is a quiet place to come pay respects to your loved ones.”

Jolene Fleisch’s husband died last year, and had his ashes spread at their family cabin, but there wasn’t a spot where his loved ones could drop off flowers and pay their respects. When she heard about Heritage Farm, she knew it was meant to be. Heritage Farm is divided into sections like an apple orchard, raspberries, hops, rhubarb and more to signify the different crops in the area.

“It seemed like the perfect spot for him,” Fleisch said. “He was a raspberry farmer, so he will go in the raspberry section.”

Heritage Farm is a different concept of cremation, DeCateret said.

Often when someone’s ashes are scattered, there isn’t a marker to signify the existence of them. At Heritage Farm, names are engraved into stones for loved ones to visit offering a low-cost option.

“Scott did a fantastic job,” Fleisch said. “There’s a lot of different options, where you can choose what you can afford.”

Heritage Farm has options starting at less than $500 for a cremation plot.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Sumner Cemetery’s Heritage Farm offers unique alternative to traditional burial plots."