Michael Maltas was born in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in 1950. He studied science at Cape Town University, and then biodynamics at Emerson College in the UK. He moved to the USA and managed a biodynamic dairy farm in Missouri where he set up experiments to measure the effects of biodynamics on fruit trees. He later worked at the Fetzer vineyards in California. He still designs biodynamic gardens, and lives in Ukiah, California.