Becoming a Biomimic

A biomimic is a person that applies biomimicry to human design challenges. In order to become a biomimic, you not only need to learn about biomimicry as a sustainable design tool, you also need to discover biological models, strategies and functions. We'll come back to these terms in later weeks, but for now, we want to get started with one of best places to discover biological models by simply getting outside and taking a close gander at the amazing world around you.

Each week we'll hone our observation skills by conducting 20-minute outdoor observations in the same place each week. If possible, you'll want to choose a local place that has native habitat because it will offer the best examples of organisms and systems that have evolved for the local environment. If this isn't possible, no worries, any outdoor place will do -- your backyard, local park, stream, riverbank, trail, etc.

Let's start our journey to learn from nature rather than just about nature - the fundamental key to biomimicry.

Watch this video for tips to hone your nature observation skills that I created for you (~10mins).

Transcript for this video.

School of the Wild

So, as you may already have noticed, nature is EVERYWHERE. Even when it's snowy, even when it's winter, even in a city. Nature is resilient and is observable nearly every place a person takes the time to sense it. To demonstrate my point I made this short video of where I'll be conducting my weekly nature observations right along with you. I am eager to learn what you notice, feel, and smell in your 'place'.

I will conduct my observations in a small native garden located a few blocks from my house in Missoula, Montana. I could have chosen my backyard or a public park or a wilderness area. The place is up to you. Make sure that you select a place you can easily access for the next few weeks.

Watch this short video about 'my place', the 8th Street Pocket Park located in Missoula, Montana. As you can see, any place with natural surroundings will do. (Apologies, the sound quality is poor!) (~4mins)

Transcript for this video.

How to Keep a Nature Journal

Sometimes people wonder, "now that I'm in my place, what do I do?"

Watch this short video about how to keep a nature journal created by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, published in 2009 (~2mins).

Questions to keep in mind when your doing your observations:

What do I notice?
What do I wonder about?

Transcript for this video.