Linda (Gibbs) Mealing lived in Willow Run Village (now Ypsi Township) until the age of 7. Her family moved to the city of Ypsilanti and she graduated from Ypsi High School. She began gardening at the age of 7, and has devoted many years of working in her home community. Linda has served a leading position at the West Willow Community Garden since its establishment in 2009, and has been a part of New West Willow Neighborhood Association (NWWNA) for almost 3 decades. Understating the importance of sharing food, Linda also does Meals on Wheels as well as Meals at Hope Clinic, with First Baptist Church of Ypsilanti. Linda’s community work goes beyond West Willow, she has also traveled to Haiti and Puerto Rico to provide disaster aid. Currently Linda works with Generations Together West Willow, that connects elders with youth by building relationships through garden work and much more. In her spare time Linda enjoys family time, church and being with her support group, composed of women from West Willow. Linda gives all praise and glory to her Lord and Savior who fills her life with purpose as she shares HIS LOVE by loving one another.
Ypsi Farmers & Gardeners Oral History Project
Linda Mealing
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Listen to the oral histories of local Ypsi farmers and gardeners who share stories about how they got started growing food, what the impact of growing food has been for their families and communities, and what lessons they want others to learn from their experiences.