Maia BallisMaia Ballis has a passion for the environment that aligned with that of her husband, George Ballis, a renowned documentary photographer and filmmaker celebrated for his compelling farm labor imagery. In 1974 they co-created a small organic co-op farmin Fresno before moving to the Sierra foothills in 1983 where they designed and built the first solar electric building in Fresno and demonstrated energy conservation equipment at SunMt Environmental Research Center.There they researched low-water use plants, continued to grow and market sustainable crops organically. Maia is a fine artist, photographer and graphic designer with a background in interior design. She has cultivated her knowledge of herbology, exploring innovative ways to incorporate their seasonal herbs, edible flowers and native plants into products for market. She shared health conscious culinary creations with visitors in monthly food exploring meals, and taught classes in making her natural, non-toxic body care products. For over five decades, she has written numerous articles to increase public awareness about the food system, herbology and holistic health, alternative energy, and energy conservation. Read More Read Less