Better Place Forests - Point Arena Reviews

Seva Jon Cannanda 2025.12.13

     

First of all the drive to the Santa Cruz BPF location is beautiful. My Friend Who joined me there was impressed by the serenity and beauty there. We spent 30 minutes at my Tree and walked around the area taking photos, Martin the Docent and Guide is Angelic as well 🙏✌️💚🕉️A. Jon Martinelli

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Jeff Watson 2025.12.11

     

Absolutely a 5 star review. Jessica is great, helpful and patient. And dealing with me requires alot of patience. Better Place is an incredible concept, much more personal, meaningful and beautiful. Way better than a brick in the lawn laying shoulder to shoulder with a thousand other deceased people for all of eternity.

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Jody Muldoon 2025.12.08

     

It was perfect. Our host, Martin, was so kind, gentle and caring. The ceremony for my husband was perfect, sad, but yet still beautiful. I’m so glad that my husband and I chose this to be our final burial place. I cannot imagine a more perfect place to spend eternity. Thank you Better Place Forest.

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Lacey Banks 2025.12.07

     

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Reply from Better Place Forests - Point Arena 2025.12.11

Thank you Lacey for sharing your beautiful photo of the forest!

Yuliya Vishnevskaya 2025.11.24

     

This is THE BEST PLACE forest. Beautiful and peaceful. Thank you, Jessika, for our first back visit!

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Reply from Better Place Forests - Point Arena 2025.11.24

Yuliya, thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad your return visit felt peaceful. It was a pleasure meeting you!

Jeff K 2025.11.21

     

I worked with Jessica. She walked me through the whole process at a pace i could follow. We found my favorite tree that fit my needs. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a non traditional way to be buried.

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Ben Wu 2025.11.16

     

Our immediate family (a group of 10) recently reunited for my father's memorial service. He would have been pleased with the final resting place chosen for both him and my mom. The setting was perfect, and the weather was ideal. Tyler and Kelly were exceptional hosts, assisting with the ash-spreading process before giving us the privacy we needed. Benches and a UTV were available for those with mobility challenges. Lastly, our dog, who shared a close bond with my father, was also welcomed. Update 11/24: I returned to visit my parent's tree. The experience was priceless! It was mom's birthday and site was unstaffed, but Tyler thoughtfully set up a bench next to our tree. I was alone in the forest, so quiet except for a few chirping birds. This was nothing like my visits to traditional cemetaries with headstones and mowed grass. Amazingly, two redwood seedlings had taken root where my parent's ashes were spread. What are the odds? I'd add an extra star, but google doesn't allow. Update 11/25: We had a family reunion yesterday. Martin and Leah met us on a rainy foggy afternoon. Like our experiences with other staff before, they were kind, respectful, and welcoming. Better Place Forests' transition to a non-profit corporation hasn't changed the high level of attention and care. When we arrived, the rain magically stopped and then started again when we drove away. Can you believe they didn't charge us extra? Kudos!

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Reply from Better Place Forests - Point Arena 2024.05.25

Thank you, Ben! The wildflowers around your tree are looking beautiful!

Janet Rohrer 2025.11.15

     

We visited our tree where Mom, Dad and my brother rest today with family from out-of-town. The forest steward made us feel welcome and helped my disabled aunt access the area with ride to the tree. We had a wonderful time sharing memories of our departed family members with birdsong in the background and the beauty of the forest around us. We’re so happy our family will be reunited here and welcome for future generations.

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Maimon & Marcia Levy 2025.11.13

     

Better Place Forests was a great alternative to burial or ash scattering. Everyone we interacted with were helpful, kind, knowledgeable and respectful. Our needs took us to the Flagstaff Forrest location. I would recommend this to you if your loved one requested cremation but you wanted somewhere to visit them, to memorialize them. We were very satisfied with their services and definitely would consider this process again should cremation be part of a loved ones directive.

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Scott Pierson 2025.11.04

     

This site is amazingly peaceful and beautiful. The staff has always been great. I just visited a few days ago and the person on site (Martin) was super nice and guided me down the trail to our tree. By the time I arrived he had already carved out a place on the slope next to it for a bench, plus he carved out some steps to go around to the back side of the tree!

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Victor Ibabao 2025.11.04

     

We would like to thank Ms. Gillian Nye of Better Place Forests for meeting with us during our recent visit to our legacy Redwood Tree at Better Place Forests in Mendocino California last Saturday July 13, 2024 when we commemorated the day when we laid to rest our dearest sister Maria Gracia Bacud Ibabao under our Redwood Tree. Gillian explained the personal dashboard where we can schedule our visits and write down our final wishes and arrangements for the time when we too will join our dearest sister and be laid to rest with her under our Redwood Tree. The Better Place Forests Personal Dashboard is a great help in scheduling visits and writing down one’s final wishes. Thank you Gillian for making our visits always a learning and growth experience. Most sincerely, Maria Magdalena Bacud Ibabao Victor Bacud Ibabao

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Cory Haibloom 2025.11.02

     

The site was beautiful and the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. We found a unique tree, much like my wife was, and it called out to me.

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Debbie Nute 2025.10.29

     

This was a beautiful day for our friends and family. We laid our brother-in-law to rest at a gorgeous spot. The two people that guided us throughout the process were lovely. It was so peaceful and engaging by the 11 of us who attended. And now we always have a place to visit him. We will remember this always. Thank you.

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Patricia C 2025.10.25

     

I had the pleasure of meeting Ashleigh and Heather, who were amazing. Ashleigh's knowledge, expertise and professionalism shined so brightly when I needed it. Heather was a delight as well, so sweet.

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Alison Wamsley 2025.10.21

     

The staff from Better Place Forests is incredibly helpful. We had a pre-visit meeting over the phone during which we were able to ask questions and the on site visit could not have been more welcoming and productive. During both the informational phone meeting and the on site tree selection tour, staff members were patient with my many questions. As for the forest itself - it's peaceful and beautiful and the services Better Place offers were perfect for what our family wanted. End of life planning isn't anyones idea of a good time - but we feel a sense of relief knowing that we have this planned out so that our loved ones don't have to.

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Janni Klenk 2025.10.19

     

Our family enjoyed a morning visit to our patriarch’s redwood tree, where his ashes nourish the Santa Cruz forest. We found benches in place for the senior members, and shared memories of our loved one’s life. It was a serene hour celebrating together. Thank you, Martin, and Better Burial Forests!

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Bill Kerr 2025.10.15

     

We went for our mixing ceremony and Sarah was fantastic. Very dignified and honoring of my loss and also hopeful about the future and nature. It is difficult to describe, but it was perfect. The forest is lovely and Better Place Forests recently pivoted to being a non-profit, which I think is better.

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A L 2025.10.12

     

The drive up to the forest is great. There is a few road up to the welcome tent that is gravel and unpaved. Recommend a AWD/4WD, but a reg. car might make it. Very tranquil. The guide Martin was very knowlegable and attentive. We learn alot of the area and saved some tree of trees. No pressure to purchase, but it is a great chance to give back to the land and have a living memorial tree to represent a life lived.

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Sonja Bedford 2025.10.10

     

I’m so happy I chose a redwood tree where the ocean meets the forest, two loves of my departed husband. The spreading ceremony was just perfect. I love the quiet beauty of this spot. When you think of the cost, which is less than a traditional funeral, think of the bigger picture. You are contributing to the health of our planet and placing your loved one’s ashes in the circle of life.

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Reply from Better Place Forests - Point Arena 2025.10.13

Thank you for sharing your kind words, Sonja. We’re so glad you were able to visit again and spend time among the redwoods your husband loved. It’s touching to know this special place continues to bring you peace and connection to the circle of life.

Lynn Whitney 2025.10.09

     

We had the ceremony for our mother on October 5, her birthday, a beautiful time in the Berkshires. My sister had found Better Place Forests online and we planned it over a year ahead of time. Ashley was the person that we met with online who gave us information about how we would choose a tree and plan for mom's celebration of life. And she was our guide on the day that we mixed mom's ashes into the earth and leaves at the base of our tree. I would like to thank Ashley, for so graciously taking us through the process and for reading the lovely poems that we had chosen ahead of time. Ashley was so patient and respectful of our choices. She let us have extra time to sit and talk together and even to accommodate two guests who were late. I feel at peace now that I know our mother is there with the forest and the trees that she loved. I look forward to coming back to this beautiful place in the days and years to come.

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Reply from Better Place Forests - Point Arena 2025.11.18

Thank you for such kind words. We agree Ashley is a wonderful guide and support for our families navigating what can be a difficult and stressful time. We are honored you chose Better Place Forests for your loved one. Warmly, Better Place Forests - Berkshires