About us
SYMBIOSIS designs is a result of the integration of professionals dedicated to the search of sustainable solutions.
We offer excellent service in the fields of Permaculture, autosuficiency, Organic agriculture and ecology in general.
We have experience since 2001, working in 3 continents and 8 countries establishing integrated productive systems, Permaculture design and application, environmental education, and more..
Who Are We?
Itai Hauben - Permaculture Designer
Was born and raised in Israel, he spent much time hiking and sailing, by 17 he was teaching catamaran sailing on the Mediterranean sea, on 19 he refused the military service and became a climbing and rappelling instructor, and spent quite a lot of time on cliffs and high scrapers.
On the year 2001 he started learning about Permaculture and sustainable living, on 2002 he was certified as a Permaculture designer in Israel in the sustainable living demonstrational farm ADAMAMA where he lived for two years applicating himself to numerous projects in education, construction, energy solutions, agriculture, community and local economy.
Melina Hurtado - Agronomy Engineer
Was born and raised in an integrated farm in Caldas, a rural area outside of Medellin, Colombia.
After high school she went to study in the EARTH University in Costa Rica, where she graduated with honors on the year 2005.
Melina’s focus and main interest through the University was sustainable agriculture and education for sustainability for adults and farmers.
Her practical experience period was done in California studying with John Jeavons the GROW BIOINTENSIVE method from first hand.
Stephen Brooks - Permaculturist, Fruit tree expert
Stephen Brooks is a living encyclopedia of useful plants, especially fruit trees, and a well experienced developer of ecological business and projects,
Stephen is the founder of:
Punta Mona Center for Sustainability and Education.
Stephen’s passion and enthusiasm for plants, humans and ecology makes him a very inspiring person to work with and to learn from, Symbiosis Design involves Stephen in the creation of relevant projects, in teaching courses and consults him on many levels.
Melina expended her studies to Permaculture, Agroecology, Organic Tropical Horticulture, green economy and more.
Melina lived and worked in Centro las Gaviotas, as well as the demonstrative farm `La Cosmopolitana` in the eastern llanos of Colombia.
She took part of the ecological community project `Amandaris` in Santa Elena, Medellin and worked on the design of productive landscape for the project ¨La Aldea¨ in La Estrella, Medellín.
Melina was Consulting in Costa Rica to Kopali Communities for their sustainability program, and is currently working and living on the Pachamama community in Costa Rica.
She is married to Itai Hauben and mother to Nevo, they all live together in Costa Rica. Melina speaks Spanish and English and loves traveling, nature, medicinal plants, yoga and babies.
On 2003 he studied GROW BIOINTENSIVE method with John Jeavons in Willits California and from there he came down through central America with the SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS CARAVAN, a bus running on straight used vegetable oil, giving workshops and presentations in universities, schools and communities all over central America. The caravan ended up in Punta Mona, where Itai have spent two years on and off, between teaching Permaculture, planting trees, doing design projects and building systems in Israel, Colombia, Costa Rica and Europe.
Itai recently worked with Kopali communities on the Machuca ecological condominium project, and currently lives and works in the Pachamama community in Costa Rica.
Itai loves hiking, camping, planting, diving, sailing, doing arts and crafts, and his wife – Melina and his little boy – Nevo
