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Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Benyus, J. 1997.
Harper Collins. pp. 308. (Book)
This is an innovation: a book that writes about contemporary,
manmade processes and products that are engineered to mimic the natural world.
Different aspects of energy such as food, materials, medicine, and technology,
in everyday lives, structure the chapters but scientists who have research in
these areas give their explorations in contemporary products that resulted from
study of natural processes. For example, one researcher explores a stronger
material through study and mimicking the structural properties of spider silk.
Another researcher is growing more productive crops through the study and
mimicry of meadowland biome processes. This is an engaging book.
The sage advice of this fellow-concerned citizen is that there
is something that each of us can do to perpetuate simple but necessary cycles in
nature. Straight-from-the-hip tips on eating locally, networking with people,
educating yourself and others, traveling alone, and for eliminating consumption
habits (Stay out of Wal-Mart, he says) make this a good how-to article for
living healthy while living sustainably. You can even find out how much
toothpaste experts suggest is enough for your toothbrush.
To Free Urban Forests From Invaders, Some Weigh Ban on
Noxious Plants. Stiffler, L. November 30, 2005. Washington Post.
(Newspaper article)
Have invasive plants in your landscape? Do you have management
issues with your ivy? Invasive plants are considered to be noxious for their
overbearing properties and destruction of natural biodiversity, and for robbing
a landscape site of its naturally reoccurring cycles. Removing invasive species
frees up some nutrients and provides for a more diverse ecosystem and healthier
habitat for many types of species. Seattle is discussing a ban on one invasive
species of ivy, but is finding it hard to actually pin down the culprit species
because of the varying genetic strands. Invasive ivy is constantly adapting to
avoid destruction and in the process, showing its strength as a survivor
species. Stiffler questions if outright banning and policy-making are
appropriate measures for control of invasive species, or if educating the public
on healthy biodiversity and plant management are the better solutions.
Other invasive plants and management issues surrounding them
are mentioned as well as why specialized predators are considered the checks and
balances of nature. Without checks and balances, Stiffler says, species can take
over and insect damages can be devastating. This is an informative read.
In Love With Fall: 30 Minutes a Day to a Great Fall Garden.
Pokorny, K. September 18, 2005. The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon).
(Newspaper article)
Daunted by all those overwhelming tasks in the garden that
keep it looking nice? Daunted by what it means to preserve processes in a
natural system? Pokorny says that if the fallen leaves have completely buried
your shade-loving perennials she has organized a how-to plan for overcoming
common obstacles in getting fall yard work out of the way in very little time.
Kym Pokorny’s thirty-minute, Monday-through-Sunday schedule is a good way to
give yourself a great fall garden at a more relaxed pace while maintaining some
of those natural processes. Specific chores range from clipping dead flowers in
the garden on Monday (leaving them to compost onsite) to pruning one shrub on
Tuesday. The overall goals in the garden are supposed to be therapeutic
enjoyment, connection, and relaxation, so there’s no hurry just methodical
pacing. Pokorny emphasizes taking time and using tools that make the job more
comfortable and convenient, like using kneepads. And then there is Pokorny’s
spicy wit… with humor and enthusiasm she helps you actually make the leap from
the living room TV and out the back door. In our opinion, she is the Closet
Organizer of gardening tasks.
Rebuilding a River’s Spongy Edge. Jewett, J. March 11, 1996.
The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). (Newspaper article)
Jewett provides a compelling argument for homeowners to create
buffer zones in the form of a wetland on their properties. Like many other
Pacific Northwest residents, Portlanders in the Willamette Valley are living in
a large floodplain. In this environment, preparedness is important.
Understanding that an important consequence of global warming is the increasing
number of intense rainfall events, it is important to know that major floods can
occur more often than every 100 years as we have seen in the past. It has been
shown that restoring 50,000 acres of wetland along the river’s edge could reduce
a flood’s flow by as much as 18%. Think of wetlands as sponges, which allow a
river to spread out during a storm. Plants, trees, grasses and other rough
vegetation — key elements in buffer zones—ensure the ground acts like a sponge
to filter out unnatural compounds. Humans integrating with the ecosystem in this
example means living in a natural wetland system while preserving the natural
processes of a wetland.
Nature’s Services. Daily, G. (ed.). 1997. Island Press.
Washington, District of Columbia. pp. 392. (Book)
For most of us it has been years since our last environmental
science class. Science constantly reveals new truths, such that the stuff we
learned in class years ago is most likely history by now, and not very relevant
history at that. We believe the responsible thing to do as good citizens is to
stay updated on the latest topics and political issues regarding the
environment. We say this for a number of reasons, some of which are economics,
human health, the environment, and social concerns. Nature’s Services is a
personalized account of many authors’ experiences with natural cycles —
important for considering big-picture problems in the sustainable landscape. For
example, two chapters document the importance of services provided by insect
pollinators, and how they are linked to global food productivity and stability.
While we feel that this book might be a little over the top in terms of
scientific explanations, you may be intrigued by its discussion of intricate,
natural processes and the science behind the sustainable scene.
Flower’s Power to Reproduce Relies on Bugs. Proctor, R. May
20, 2005. Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado). (Newspaper article)
Rocky Mountain News’ reporter, Rob Proctor writes a nice story
heralding pollinators, their trials and tribulations throughout history, and why
we should have only the highest respect for them. Differences between flowers
and flower types are explained as are nature’s alternatives to pollen.
Ultimately Proctor leads us to the importance of attracting pollinators, like
bees, to our gardens. He weaves a rich story, but it may be difficult to access
as the Rocky Mountain News archive access was down the last we checked.
A Plea for Nature’s Pollinators: Garden’s Exhibits Highlight Need to Protect
Crucial Creatures. Becker, A. August 29, 2004. Washington Post (Washington, DC).
(Newspaper article)
In this article from the Washington Post, we learn that 80% of the world’s food
plant species depend on pollination. Besides bees, there are lots of other
pollinators such as bats, butterflies, moths, lemurs, wind, and the most
prolific pollinators of them all—beetles. Preserving these sometimes annoying
creatures is vitally essential for sustainable growth and development.
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