What on earth is Biomimicry?

"The significant problems we face can never be solved on the same level of consciousness at which they were created. One must learn to see the world anew." --- Albert Einstein.

Biomimicry:

• is the innovative technique of replacing environmentally damaging processes with those that emulate nature's own designs that are benign and/or beneficial to the planet.
• is a multidisciplinary science concerned with the development of sustainable, naturally-inspired practices.
• involves the fields of agriculture, architecture, art, biology, chemistry, design, engineering, finance, housing, industry, down the alphabet to zoology.

I am not a " Designer" ~ At least not in the conventional sense.

I have no formal qualifications. However, I have plenty of experience in design, as does everyone who makes decisions, may it be at home, at work, outdoors or indoors. In every choice we make, we have the opportunity to put biomimicry into action, following the ideal example of Nature, or we could continue plundering, as we have become conditioned to, and simply ignore the earth's cry for help.

Designers, inventors, creators - all need to familiarise themselves with biomimicry - because it is an eternal art form. Biomimicry, in whichever form one chooses to see it - has been and always will always be, the only logical solution to our design dilemma. The human mind is ever-inquisitive, ever-inquiring and always looking for new ways to progress. It is our mindset that needs to change, and we must learn to amalgamate hi-tech with cues from Nature.

Several species of Homo have been inspired and powered by Nature for millions of years. It is only in the last century or so that this harmony has been disrupted for Homo sapiens. Before the industrial revolution, mankind was accustomed to using natural material that were easily accessible and were naturally renewable. The processes used in manufacturing were nontoxic, reliable and safe. Toxic waste was non-existent. Today, our world is so out of balance that it is close to breaking point.

Humans have become parasitic in nature, ectoparasites looking to see what we can get out of our host. We are withdrawing more and more resources from our account at the Natural Bank of The Earth, living on credit that is not there, squandering, and at some point we are going to have to start paying back. We are fast approaching the sub-prime resource crisis. This relationship with Earth is in urgent need of transformation - requiring a metamorphosis to a mutualistic alliance

We need to go back to our roots and learn nature's valuable lessons about sustainable and safe lifestyles. We are the only organism on the planet which has become dependent upon earth's finite resources. We have forgotten how to tap into what is infinite, self-replenishing and utilised by other life forms, thus keeping the equilibrium, for the rest of our planetary days.

Two years ago, my parents bought a farm about 30km from Punta del Este. A year later, I finished school. Wanting a break from the school system, I decided to go farming. I was in for the education of my life. I had just turned 18, and I had no experience in the field whatsoever. All I wanted was to go organic.

This is not easy in a society which has become accustomed to using chemicals to enhance growth and control pests. I spent a few days at an organic farm in Ecuador trying to glean what information I could, but it was all wrong in terms of the environments in which I am working. Equatorial jungle just doesn't compare with coastal Mediterranean.

A family friend visiting from South Africa discovered I am interested in biotecture, and developing sustainable and environmentally friendly farming techniques. He introduced me to permaculture and biomimicry. It was then that I realised that biomimicry is the only way forward. My goal is to incorporate biomimicry with eco-friendly agricultural and architectural practices.

Doing things slowly and taking time to cherish and appreciate them is something we rarely do in this day and age. One of the most important words in environmental design today is "slow". We have reached the pointed where we need to slow down and reconnect with natural life. We want slow, healthily produced food, grass fed animals, organically grown produce. We need to carefully observe biosystems that have been engineered over millions of years, mimic them and apply them to our long term benefit.

As vital as it is to take a step back and reconnect with Mother Nature and her timeless designs, there is also a sense of urgency that cannot be ignored. The place is the planet and the time is now.

-- Image credits due to:

• http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/
• http://ariseministriesinternational.co.nz/arise_ministries_uganda_rwanda.html
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicmeason/3766100323/
• magas.com.br