Meet Linda Smith – Class of 2020

Linda’s career was spent in education and human services organizations. She managed military family support programs in Hampton Roads, but then managed a worldwide contract with over 600 service providers globally. She had two self-imposed international “sabbaticals,” first living and working with Peace Corps in Morocco and later working in Emergency Preparedness at the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. In both of these developing countries, innovative agriculture and sustainable water use practices were critical and present in everyday life.

Linda has always surrounded herself with houseplants and has been interested in community gardens, but her interest in becoming a Master Gardener was sparked when her father became a Master Gardener in Richmond. 

Having been a part of the Class of 2020 which was greatly affected by COVID-19, she believes that the Training Committee did a brilliant job of adapting and pressing forward in spite of the difficult circumstances. She appreciates that the Training Committee consistently communicated with the students and provided the educational presentations via Zoom to keep the class on point. She feels the major impact was the inability to work on many of the projects due to closing down. She has continued to avail herself of the Zoom opportunities for meetings and continuing education.

Linda worked primarily at the Butterfly House and Potager Garden to attain her fifty hours for Master Gardener status, as well as the two Open Norfolk pop-up booth events last fall. She plans to continue working with the Potager Garden and Urban Agriculture, but will expand to other projects as time allows. 

When Linda isn’t participating in Master Gardener activities, she is busy cycling, gardening, doing yoga, facilitating a book club, finding creative inspiration, community volunteering and traveling to visit family.

Linda’s family consists of her husband and cycling companion, Bob, her daughter, son-in-law and “tremendous” five-year-old granddaughter, who live in Richmond, and her son who lives in Atlanta.

When you see Linda, please give a shout out to her and welcome her to the Norfolk Master Gardener organization.