Personalised and global
We are a small group of family focused dedicated professionals led by Christopher Shanks, renowned plant explorer, agro-forester, educator, Permaculture designer and site-developer with 20 years of experience consulting on and developing sites from Central America to North America, the Caribbean, SE Asia and Europe.
20 years of Permaculture Design Expertise
Having developed numerous small holdings and homesteads as well as consulted on many more we provide sage advice about “how to get started,” to developing with clients multi year development plans; from food systems and water/power to all aspects of infrastructure. We have either done it a number of times or we have a trusted associate who has. We “know a guy (or gal).”
We also have a 15 year track record of consulting on boutique hotel development projects acting as consultants for themes like: development feasibility, land purchase/suitability, country SWOT, as well as assessing environmental and community sensitivities and how to go about building bonds with both.
Christopher Shanks relevant CV
Chris has had a lifelong passion for the natural world and her patterns. During his time at university he was introduced to many ideas and concepts found throughout different fields of ecological design and natural sciences. In 1999 he was introduced to Permaculture Design at the Univeristy of Vermont. Since that fateful time Chris has passionately pursued a life of work, design, self-study and right livelihood by teaching, practicing and creating businesses that espouse the principles and ethics of Permaculture Design.
Chris has practiced Permaculture Design year after year faithfully on his home site, Project Bona Fide and Selvista Guesthouses since late 2002. He was a young junior teacher and part of Bona Fide’s first PDC in 2003, an apprentice teaching with Douglas Bullock, trained by Bill Mollisson himself.
Chris has taught over 30 full Permaculture Design courses, founding PDC programs at Project Bona Fide, Nicaragua, The Island School, the Bahamas and Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica. Chris has been fortunate to lead/guest teach at sites in Thailand, Hawaii and at the Green School/Kul-Kul farm in Bali, Indonesia. He has designed and executed landscaping projects all over Nicaragua, including a whole island: El Espino, Granada.
Chris’ primary expertise lies in the tropics and encompasses all manners of site design from homestead to institutional scale. Chris has built and advised in the design and build of many farms, eco-boutique hotels, BnBs and educational institutions all over the tropical belt of the world. He is now building in northern Europe.
Chris in addition has extensive ethno-botanical plant knowledge, Permaculture Business Development skills as well as water systems and self reliance skill sets.
He loves dogs, all types of berries and is an aspiring pirate/sailor.
From land acquisition to business branding,
we’ve got your back.
Our Project Manager: Nemer
Nemer works in project management for building, maintenance landscaping and restauration and reforestation. He has extensive knowledge of the tourism and customer service industry in Nicaragua.
He is a great team motivator and has an eye for quality. He manages two thriving nurseries between the Pacific coast & Ometepe. He specialises in edible and regenerative plants, matching those which work together best, seeking always the most efficient systems & least waste.
Nemer has great connections around Nicaragua and can get the job done. His teams work as one to complete projects in a timely and efficient manner.
He has run successful tourism businesses, restaurants and design and reforestation projects.
Nemer Rocha : relevant CV
Nemer has always loved helping things grow: from plants to teams to farms and whole businesses. He’s the logistics guy.
Nemer has practiced Permaculture Design at Selvista Guesthouses since 2017. He became certified in Permaculture in 2020 and has been managing landscaping, design and maintenance projects for the last 4 years. He has overseen construction projects for new businesses in Nicaragua, such as La Bambouseraie, Ometepe.
Nemer’s main focus is on edible landscaping and reforestation in private properties and for tourism business sites and farms. Nemer has worked all over southern Nicaragua: at Tree Casa in San Juan del Sur, Rancho Santana and Hacienda Iguana as well as Malibu Popoyo and Hotel Brio in Gigante.
Nemer also has extensive knowledge of watering systems and carpentry needs and knows the Nicaraguan tourism industry from all angles.
He loves metal music, fish soup and learning how to create with bamboo.
Our Farm and Digital Manager: Megan
Megan has worked in the sustainable tourism and education sectors for over 10 years.
Megan has a passion for order and efficiency. She is a great learner and has an eye for detail. She manages the organizational side of things. She specialises in eco-tourism and has a passion for education, finding the most efficient systems in making a business sustainable, visible and profitable.
Megan has been studying under Christopher for 5 years and completed her PDC in 2019 and has been gaining experience in permaculture teaching ever since. She runs the online side-of-things and makes sure we catch the right people’s eye. You’re here aren’t you?
She has seen hopitality from all angles so knows all the shortcuts. She can assist in management organization systems, marketing & communication.
Megan Walters : relevant CV
Megan has been focused on permaculture and sustainable living for the last decade.
Megan’s main focus is currently on branding and marketing for tourism business sites, education projects and farms. Megan has built several websites and successful brands including the Selvista experience, La Bambouseraie, The Learning Tree Ometepe and Ometepe Ink.
She also manages a plant nursery, a 2 acre farm and a bi-lingual youth education project.
She loves green surroundings, great design and learning new skills while passing on the ones already mastered.
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