Reading Response 4-Biomimicry for social change

After Jesse brought up this idea of mimicking nature for social change it has stuck with me. Reading Biomimcry I am frustrated at times, inspired by the creative innovation it describes, but worried about the intentions of such innovation. Are these innovations necessary technology? Often they are not. How long will we have the materials to create such technologies? (What is the fate of the science lab?) I find myself scowling quite often, intrigued by the ideas, but unsure about my ethical response to them. Despite all of these frustrations, I am seeking inspiration, a model from nature for the process of social change. For these ‘sustainable’ technologies are not necessitating change, but rather allowing stagnation.

Here’s my idea: Us permaculturalists (and other ecosystem-lovers), sometimes considered ‘hippies,’ are weeds. To many we look like weeds, we obstruct like weeds, we break through concrete like weeds. By weeds I of course mean that we are the pioneers, but I think we must await our history book moment before gaining that title. Finding this land (and society) in disarray, disturbed, unhealthy, out of balance, we are attempting to prepare it for future generations; to rehabilitate it. Like dandelions, we’re reaching deeply into the earth, far out into the community, to bring up helpful nutrients and minerals, to educate and inspire. Just as we reach out to our gardens and pull from them our own nutrition. As we prepare the grounds for social change, we are creating a healthy layer of humus, slowly, but surely, life is accumulating here. Like a network of mycelia we must be concerned with staying connected in a number of ways. Eventually we will have worked the earth enough that it will begin to flourish with life, slowly accumulating diversity, sustenance, and balanced peace.

On this scarred piece of ground that we’re fiercely popping our heads out of and spreading root systems in, is a system that is not working. Our capitalist, consuming society must be ended, it is that simple, that is why we’re here, to shade out that perfectly trimmed sod, which rips nutrients from the ground, consumes and consumes. Perhaps once we’re mowed down we resemble ‘sustainability.’ This plan to sustain the way things are as of now isn’t admitting to the fact that our economic system does not benefit humans and surely not the earth, hence my frustrations with biomimics. To mimic nature, let’s look to the process of healing disturbed land and apply it to healing our species. At some point the ground will be healthy enough to sustain life, our duty will be filled, and we will be shaded out by the overarching belief that nature is a wise system and that we must fulfill our position in this system, not take advantage of it. So as we make room for the seeds dropped by birds and brought in from wildlife, we must strengthen our network, balance the system, and seek new forms of information and companions. Most importantly we must find patience, for all is an ongoing process of change; like nature we must remain resilient, and be prepared to firmly root ourselves lest we be pulled up.