A lifelong student of horticulture, ecological anthropology, and subsistence economics, Maria has worked and studied in gardens, organic farms and sustainability projects around the world. She was born and raised in the Hudson Valley of New York and continues to pursue environmental stewardship as a co-owner of Earth Designs Cooperative, a worker-owned landscaping cooperative based in Rosendale, New York. Maria holds a degree in Anthropology from SUNY New Paltz, is an avid rock climber & sailor, and currently lives in Accord with her partner, two dogs, two cats, and 50,000 honeybees.