WELCOME TO
American Willow Caskets
We build environmentally conscious vessels, made of renewable and biodegradable willow, for the physical body to rest in harmony with nature. These caskets are designed for the next transition.
Vision
We started with the idea of providing willow caskets that were made in the USA. Bonnie, our founder and a very experienced willow basketmaker, has always been aware of the nature of the bliss and joy that occurs after the soul has left the body. These caskets are an environmentally sound and harmonious way to return the body to the Earth. These caskets can also be purchased for cremation. In the burgeoning green burial movement and the continuing societal education of the death transition, American Willow Caskets aims to provide a reverent and beautiful casket basket for our loved ones who have made the transition.
Unique offerings of American Willow Caskets include the fact that all the caskets are woven in the United States and that all other materials included in the caskets are locally sourced from renewable and environmentally sound materials. In addition, special custom services are available. The caskets from American Willow Caskets are woven with great love, reverence and soulful spiritual connections.
Please use the “Contact Us” button to request more information, ask a question and to place an order.
Thank you for your interest.
Meet Bonnie Gale, the founder of American Willow Caskets
Bonnie Gale and her team are proud to offer professionally woven willow caskets, available for purchase. These caskets are made locally in central New York state. Bonnie, our founder, has had over 39 years of experience in the willow growing, making and installation business.
“My work is focused on spatial containment and definition.
My medium is willow.
Functionality is the leading principle.
I create beauty."
- Bonnie
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I have been a willow artist for the past 39 years. As a traditional willow basketmaker, I am linked with the folk tradition of the willow basketmaking community in Liverpool, New York, where I research, interpret historical willow baskets and conduct annual basketmaking workshops to the community and public. I am proud to continue this folk tradition. Since 2004, I have also been engaged in designing and building living willow structures. Two years ago, I started the willow casketmaking business.
I am a Kennedy Scholar with degrees from the University of Manchester, SUNY-ESF and MIT. I teach and write extensively and have shown my work widely and received numerous awards. In 1999, I was awarded an Artist's Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts. My large willow baskets were featured in the PBS WGBH Boston television series “Colonial House” in May 2004. In March 2006, my living willow installations were featured in “House and Garden” magazine and my work was also shown in the Fall/Winter 2006 issue of “Vogue Living” magazine. In September 2006, I was commissioned by the Mount Vernon Estate to make a basket to specifically hold Martha Washington’s love letters. In 2009, my work was featured in the PBS "Cultivating Life" series and in April 2010, I appeared on the Martha Stewart Show. In 2012, I was named a NYFA Fellowship Finalist and my work appeared in the January issue of “Vogue” magazine. I appeared on WSKG TV Artist Café series in October 2013. I produced my first book “Living Willow Form” in 2014. In 2018, my work was featured in the “T” magazine of the New York Times. For a full range of Bonnie’s work, please see the following web sites below in ‘Friends of AWC’.
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For a full range of Bonnie’s work, please see the following web sites:
Environmentally Sustainable Caskets
These caskets are made with environmentally renewable and biodegradable willow and satisfy the standards of the green burial movement. The base is solid pine and the casket and lid are lined with unbleached muslin. The handles are made of roped willow and natural rope and wooden toggles complete the closure.
Advantages of buying a casket or other funeral product from American Willow Caskets
✔️ The products are American made.
✔️ Willow is environmentally sustainable and carbon neutral.
✔️ The products are made to the strict certification standards of the Green Burial Council.
✔️ All items are made with deep spiritual reverence and soulful connection.
✔️ Custom features are available, including sizes, weaves, natural colors of willow, participation in weaving and others. Please enquire.
✔️ A personalized holistic service is offered to all customers. Please enquire for details.
Casket Products
American Willow Caskets makes willow caskets for adult burial and cremation, as well as child caskets, urns and pet baskets. Please enquire for sizes and prices on the latter.
Standard Adult 01
78 inches long
24 inches wide at the shoulders
18 inches wide at the feet
16 inches tall to the top of the lid
$2,300
Prices exclude packing, shipping and any custom features.
Standard Adult 02
69 inches long
20 inches wide at the shoulders
18 inches wide at the feet
16 inches tall to the top of the lid
$2,300
Prices exclude packing, shipping and any custom features.
Child Caskets, Urns and Pet Baskets
Sizes vary
$ Enquire
Custom Casket Services
Although American Willow Caskets has caskets in stock similar to those caskets shown in the images below, a very unique part of American Willow Caskets business is to build CUSTOM CASKET SERVICES. These services include:
✔️ Giving customers the choice of naturally different willow colors and weaves;
✔️ For customers who are pre-planning their own funerals, the client/family are welcome to come to the workshop of American Willow Caskets to see the casket being woven and also to participate in the weaving of the casket.
FAQs
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Yes, individuals are welcome to order directly from American Willow Caskets.
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Caskets can be stored where you have space but also can be creatively incorporated in your home, such as using the casket as a coffee table or placing the casket vertically and adding shelves for books or CD's. It is advantageous to pre-plan and purchase now.
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Please fill in the contact form. You will be contacted by Bonnie to discuss your specific needs. A date of completion of the casket will be determined.
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Contact us and we will send you an order form.
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The price of the casket is paid when you place an order. Shipping and packing costs are needed to be paid before the casket is shipped.
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Yes, American Willow Caskets ships to the contiguous 48 states.
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Shipping will depend on the size of the casket purchased, your location relative to the distance from central New York state and the speed with which you need delivery. Please enquire for a quote.
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Absolutely and you can save shipping and packing costs.