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John Christian Phifer is the Executive Director and creative force behind Larkspur Conservation, where he led the creation of Tennessee’s first conservation burial ground. A licensed funeral director, embalmer, end-of-life doula, and celebrant, he brings more than 26 years of experience to reimagining how we care for the dead, the grieving, and the earth that holds us all. His nationwide conversations about death—captured in the PBS documentary Bury Me at Taylor Hollow—shape his commitment to mindful, inclusive, and environmentally responsible practices. Today, he continues to bridge ecological stewardship and end-of-life care, helping people reconnect with the natural world through the rituals of burial.
In what ways does nature inspire or inform your work?
Nature is my teacher, my collaborator, and often my compass. Every burial at Larkspur is shaped by the land itself—its rhythms, its seasons, its quiet instructions about how to care for people with humility and restraint. The forest, soil, and returning wildflowers remind me daily that death is not an ending but a transformation, and that our work is ultimately about restoring relationship: to the earth, to one another, and to the wider community of life
What does it mean to you to be part of a thriving ecosystem?
Being part of a thriving ecosystem means operating with the awareness that everything I do has an impact—positive or negative—on the land I steward and the people I serve. It’s a responsibility to act with restraint, humility, and reciprocity. When the ecosystem thrives, so do the communities connected to it.
