Biomimicry

Biomimicry:
In nature, the vast majority of systems, relationships and circulating chemicals have existed together for hundreds, even hundreds of thousands of years, with no sign of imbalance.
Before the industrial age, human beings were directly reliant upon their local environment for sustenance. They grew their own seasonal vegetables, fruits, meats, and were much more aware of the wild varieties of plant and animal that could supplement their diet, when available.
Many of the things we use everyday are reminiscent of some natural precursor. The most common spatula can be compared to the fin which is used to handle fish on a salt-water seal. Propellers for sea ships are shaped so as to cut through the water with the greatest ease, but also displace water in such a manner as to enable the mechanism to propel itself forward.
The natural world is a fundamentally harsh environment. Survival is the reward for passing through a selection process which effectively sets a minimum, though exacting, standard, for any organism seeking to establish itself and proliferate. For the latter to be possible, the organism must seek to integrate itself into the chain of relationships which connect all other living things in the chosen environment. There seems to be some collective consciousness which guides organisms to evolve in a certain, favorable, direction rather than another, less so. This balance of conditions allows an eco-system to sustain itself, as organisms unable to contribute to the balance end up starving or being consumed. We human beings have changed a great deal since the days before electricity. Our cultural and material modernization has drawn us away from contact with the natural world, and with that, our ability to think holistically has been greatly reduced.
The concept of community has changed so much in the past 100 years, since the introduction of the radio, television and the internet. Previously, households, neighbors and friends had much closer bonds, as there was little in the way of distraction, and diversions were much more physical and shared, such as the playing of ‘live’ music, storytelling, reading to each other, playing chess, board games, gossip, etc…
Radio, then Television, then the PC gradually isolated families in their individual households, step by step. The knit of community became less tight, and the need for individuality much greater, this pursuit sanctioned in the name of self-fulfillment.
While we have gotten to know ourselves better and doubtless improved our individual lots, our relationship with “the bigger picture” has deteriorated, to the point where very few people can actually say with certainty what the weather will be today by looking out the window, instead choosing to rely (albeit mistrustfully) on the media-provided weather reports.
Our ancestors knew that most of the solutions to their problems could be resolved by looking around them and learning from their surroundings.
To quote R. Buckminster Fuller:
“I don’t imitate nature. I try and understand her operating principles.”
Here are some examples of successful holistic projects which feature Biomimicry.

Los Gaviotas
http://www.friendsofgaviotas.org/
http://www.dharma-haven.org/five-havens/gaviotas.htm
http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/05/reforestation_l.html

Buckminster Fuller Institute- John Todd’s Appalachian Regeneration Presentation
http://metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=3452