Chris Shanks is a
permaculture specialist who focuses on
whole systems design, ethno-botany, horticulture, mycology, and ecology.
Shanks spends his time on design projects that focus on sustainability
and providing people with better places to live. Shanks is an advocate
for the rights of rural farming communities and works to help these
communities through educating them in ways to improve economic security
and nutritional balance in a sustainable manner. He is involved with
three organizations: Project Bona Fide, Whole Systems Design LLC, and
Living Systems Solutions. Project Bona Fide is a non-profit organization
that focuses on organic agriculture, community outreach, and
reforestation projects in Nicaragua. Shanks leads the on-the-ground team
in Nicaragua for Project Bona Fide. Whole Systems Design LLC is a
company that focuses on developing landscape and infrastructure systems
where Shanks serves as a chief horticulturist and as a project manager.
In addition, Shanks founded Living Systems Solutions, which is based in
Nicaragua.
Sponsored by Cornell University Sustainable Design (CUSD)
CUSD promotes education through action, empowerment, and innovation with
several design-build projects. One of CUSD’s current projects is
Sustainable Neighborhoods Nicaragua (SNN) where Cornell students are
researching and designing a 30-unit neighborhood plan and a sustainable
house design for low-income Nicaraguan families. This is the first of a
series of ecological housing developments for which SNN will serve as a
model. Their vision is to create a community that is resilient enough to
withstand economic and environmental change. They envision a design
process that uses technologies accessible and replicable in a low-income
setting.
