How to make compost

Nature to solve human problems?!

Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a relatively new science that studies nature, its models, systems, processes and elements and then imitates or takes creative inspiration from them to solve human problems sustainably.

Science writer and lecturer Janine Benyus was the one to define this approach. She believes that being inspired by nature when designing processes & systems can help us overcome challenges we are facing - in her book “Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature” she gives interesting examples that show how studying the achievements of nature can help us solve us problems we face in many different disciplines.

Watch her speech at the TED conference in 2005 and you´ll discover this is an interesting way of looking at ´natural resources´:

For more information visit Biomimicryinstitute.org especially the case studies are worth a read.

EfficienCity

Greenpeace UK just released an interesting animation called EfficienCity. It is shown how renewable energy can be used in a city efficiently. A very clear, solution oriented & somehow human approach. Well done GP UK!

Get a box! - Organic veggies in LA

Video: Treehugger

Escanda - vibrant community in Asturias, Spain

Project Status: Intermediate - active for five years

Number of Members: approx. 15 full time members, many frequent visitors and international volunteers

Current activities:
*Maintenance of organic, permaculture garden
*Development of wind and solar energy, and conversion of diesel cars to run on vegetable oil.
*Renovation of nearby houses using sustainable building practices
*Education, courses and workshops: permaculture, herbal medicine, renewable technology, anarchism, sustainable construction, etc.

Website: http://www.escanda.org/
Email: escanda-info@gmx.net
Telephone: (+34) 985493696

Escanda stands for Espacio Socaial Colectivo para la Autogestión, la Diversidad y la Autonomía. This is a collective consisting of approximately fifteen permanent members, who live together in a large house in the mountains near Pola de Lena in Asturias, North Spain. They have developed the project over the last five years. The residents come from many countries, as well as Spain, and have a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. They unite for some common goals, which are primarily political, environmental and social. They aim to develop and revitalize the countryside in Asturias, which is suffering neglect from decades of emigration and heavy industry, while reducing dependency on capitalist services and the government. In addition they seek to implement ecological, sustainable technologies and practices, such as renewable wind power and cars that run on used vegetable oil from local restaurants. They wish to achieve these goals through the principles of anarchism, harmonious team-work and non-hierarchical decision-making.

The atmosphere at the collective is always vibrant, friendly and positive, while meal-times are particularly lively. The large number of visitors (up to 300 per year) each guarantee this. They come to partake in events, courses, workshops and actions organised by the “Escandeleros” (the permanent members), or as WWOOF volunteers. Most activities centre around the large casa, while on-going projects involve renovating two smaller houses and tending the large organic garden and apple orchard. Daily tasks are performed on a rota basis, each member and visitor volunteering for cooking, cleaning, recycling etc. whenever they can. Education is a fundamental goal of Escanda, not just for the members and volunteers, but also of the local community and especially for children, who deserve the kind of future the project envisions.

Video on Escanda (in Spanish): http://piratasgz.blip.tv/file/386303/

 

Fotos: www.escanda.org

Truely inspiring. Thanks to Brendan & Kim for your input!