
Hey there!
I'm Sarah
​Meet Sarah Lasswell, artist, farmer, and the driving force behind Moss and Thistle Farm. Sarah has a passion for green burial and a deep reverence for nature and community. Through her artistic vision and commitment to sustainability, she crafts exquisite willow caskets, burial trays, and shrouds that reflect the beauty of our natural world. With each creation, Sarah invites you on a journey of heartfelt remembrance, celebrating and honoring each other and our time here on Earth.
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Sarah works closely with the willow, tending it as it grows throughout the year and harvesting each rod by hand in winter. As a casket maker she works not only with the vessel being woven, but with those who are choosing it for its sacred task. By bringing people into the process of personalizing a vessel for themselves or their loved one, she creates opportunities for healing and connection. Sarah is deeply committed to the land and the people she serves, and grateful for the community that has formed around this work.

Moss and Thistle Farm
Welcome to Moss and Thistle Farm, a sanctuary and place of healing, where we hold reverence for all stages of life's journey. Located in the southern Appalachian mountains, the farm is home to humans, a menagerie of beloved animals, and several thousand willows.
At Moss and Thistle Farm, we take pride in offering a unique array of burial vessels that embrace the beauty of nature and the artistry of things made by hand. Our signature willow caskets, intricately woven by Sarah, are a testament to the timeless tradition of natural burial, against the backdrop of the modern world. We also offer simple pine caskets and burial trays with shrouds, all carefully crafted to honor the essence of life and the sanctity of nature.
As stewards of the Earth, we are deeply committed to sustainability in every aspect of our work. In addition to the willow lovingly grown here and on other Appalachian family farms, we use unfinished pine, poplar, hemp, jute rope, cotton, linen, and wool. These biodegradable elements ensure that our caskets gently return to the Earth.
At Moss and Thistle Farm, our mission extends beyond crafting exquisite caskets; we advocate for environmentally sound burial practices, collaborate with local conservation cemeteries, work with community groups to establish new green cemeteries, and assist our friends and neighbors with home burials. We believe that burial is not just a ceremony, but a profound act of stewardship, acknowledging our interconnectedness with nature and fostering a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Join us at Moss and Thistle Farm and be part of a movement that celebrates life, love, and the beauty of our natural world. We hope to support you in creating meaningful and sustainable farewells, rooted in nature and the strength of community, and invite you to weave your own unique story into the fabric of this timeless tradition.
The Farm's Story

THE LAND
Coming soon....

THE FLOWER FARM
Moss & Thistle Flower Farm was born in 2018. Annual and perennial flower gardens were planted to supply local communities with sustainably-grown, unique and beautiful flower varieties. Through 2021 we ran a flower CSA and provided blooms to local florists. Though we are now concentrating our farming efforts on establishing our willow crop, we will soon be re-opening flower sales for funeral and memorial arrangements. Until then the perennial flowers are still here to feed our bees and delight our visiting humans.
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THE WILLOW
Our first row of basketry willow was planted on the farm in 2019, as a way to stabilize erosion-prone soil in our bottom field. We have continued to plant rows each winter, and currently tend around a half acre of willow.
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Watch this space for a link to our new willow information page!


Virtual Visit
We love welcoming people to the farm in person, but for now enjoy a few pictures of our favorite things...

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