Hello Hedge Schoolers,
I speak often of nature as a master teacher. The more time I spend sitting in nature, the greater the depth. Much of that growth comes from a dreaming I enter when I return to the same places. As I court the spaces I hold dear, I am more attuned to the patterns that appear there. I notice with a greater depth, the differences, the growth, the highway of life ebbing and flowing around that particular space.
It truly is an altar for me. A deep spiritual practice.
Biomimicry
This communion has led to a real interest in the application of nature-inspired learning or the field known as biomimicry. Dr. Janine Benyus, the author of Biomimicry and co-founder of the Biomimicry Institute, defines biomimicry as the "conscious emulation of life's genius. Innovation inspired by nature." Nature is a master creator and humans have been mimicking this genius for as long as we have existed. For this week's inquiry, I'd like to delve into the world of biomimicry and share some of the resources and learnings that have blown me away.
A canon of laws, strategies, and principles
In her book Biomimicry, Benyus outlines the following summary of nature's principles for design. These guiding principles can help us be better adapted to the world we live in.
Nature runs on sunlight.
Nature uses only the energy it needs.
Nature fits form to function.
Nature recycles everything.
Nature rewards cooperation.
Nature banks on diversity.
Nature demands local expertise.
Nature curbs excesses from within.
Nature taps the power of limits.
The above principles are unpacked beautifully in this video by the Biomimicry Institute.
Ask Nature
Another amazing resource from the Biomimicry Institute is the Ask Nature repository. Broken up into Collections, Biological Strategies, and Innovations, the Ask Nature library is an ever-expanding curated collection of nature’s wisdom.
Collections - Learn how nature sustains communities, deals with stress, manages water, and much, much more.
Biological strategies - A curated list of 1700 functions developed by living things to apprentice to.
Innovations - See how innovators and entrepreneurs have used the lessons learned from nature to generate new and innovative solutions and products.
The Biomimicry Toolbox
If you are not sure how to apply biomimicry to your life, the Biomimicry toolbox unpacks the concepts and methods of biomimetic design. Explore Earth’s Operating System, learn how to put Nature’s Unifying Patterns into practice or upgrade your design process with the Biomimicry Design Spiral.
The lessons we can learn from nature are endless. Tuning our senses to the world around us can lead to innovative solutions, poetic inspiration, or communion with something bigger. There is much to learn if we choose to open our eyes to the wonders and possibilities.
Be curious.
Walk with childlike wonder
See with open eyes the marvels that are all around you.
Nature is a master teacher.
Till next week,
Steve
Ask Nature: The path of the Biomimic.