science
Minnesota Township Faces Lawsuit Over Proposed Green Cemetery
A landowner in Blackhoof Township, Minnesota, proposed a green cemetery on 20 acres of rural land. County officials imposed a one-year ban on new natural burial sites after the state moratorium expired, leading to a federal lawsuit that a judge later dismissed.
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A 20-acre hayfield in Blackhoof Township, Minnesota, was purchased in 2022 by Matt Connell and Ed Bixby to create a green cemetery called Loving Earth Memorial Gardens. The site would use biodegradable materials and native plants instead of chemical embalming and metal caskets.
Connell notified the Carlton County Recorder’s Office of the plans that year and said he received no official resistance at the time.
Residents raised concerns about groundwater contamination, wildlife disturbance, and changes to the quiet rural setting. Connell stated that neighbors launched an intimidation campaign that included drone surveillance and nearby gunfire. Barbara Nichols, a Blackhoof resident, attended township meetings on Connell’s behalf and read statements addressing the concerns.
She reported that attendees reacted with anger to the presentation.
In 2023, Minnesota lawmakers enacted a two-year moratorium on new green cemeteries and commissioned an environmental study. 5 to 4 feet deep. After the state moratorium expired in July 2025, Carlton County imposed its own one-year ban on new natural burial sites.
Connell and Bixby filed a federal lawsuit alleging the county unlawfully blocked the project and infringed on First Amendment and religious rights. In March, a judge dismissed the lawsuit. Connell said he and Bixby plan to appeal the decision.
