Needham Community Farm Board of Directors
Debbie Schmill, President — Debbie is the founder and current President of the Needham Community Farm. In addition to the farm project, she has spent the past several years encouraging environmental stewardship through her involvement with local community organizations such as the Green Needham Collaborative, the League of Women Voters Climate Action Committee and Green Kids Needham. She has lived in Needham since 2001 with her husband and two daughters.
Ashly Scheufele, Vice President– Ashly became involved with the Farm soon after she moved to Needham in 2009. She currently supports the Farm’s public relations and education committees. Ashly began growing vegetables and visiting local farms while growing up in Plymouth, MA, and she has been an avid gardener ever since. Ashly has degrees from Boston College and is an attorney at Sally & Fitch LLP. She lives and gardens in Needham with her husband and son.
Michael Goulde, Secretary — Michael and his wife Rena have been Needham residents for 25 years and Michael has been growing vegetables for nearly 40 years. His first garden literally abutted the Riverside line tracks in Brookline. His interest in home-grown vegetables pre-dated the local food movement but was motivated by the same factors — freshness, quality, efficiency. He became involved with the Needham Community Farm in 2009 after retiring from a 25-year career as a computer industry market analyst. He has degrees from Penn State, Rutgers, and Northeastern University. His son, Jay Goulde, lives in St. Petersburg, FL. His gorgeous cream-colored Australian Labradoodle, Bernie, is a constant companion.
Lori Hall, Treasurer — Lori has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and holds an MBA from Boston University. Her interests include golf, gastronomy, wood working, jogging, gardening in shade, and weeding. Lori is co-chair of the Caring Committee at Temple Beth Shalom.
Kate Canney — [bio coming soon!]
Guy Coolen — Guy currently owns Coolen’s Aquarium & Pet Supply in Canton, MA and is the former owner of Coolen’s Cove of Needham (1991-2001). Guy is in charge of farm maintenance and provides support to our farmer. He has a background in carpentry and painting and graduated from Boston Trade High School.
Linda Coolen — Linda owns Explorations Family Childcare of Needham. Formerly, she was the Afterschool Program Coordinator at the Mason Rice After School Program in Newton. Linda has a BA in Human Services and Community Planning from the University of Massachusetts and anticipates earning a Masters in Education from Wheelock College in August 2012. Linda works on farm maintenance and education program development for the Farm.
Mark Rielly — Shortly after moving to Needham in 2007, Mark read in the local papers about efforts to create a farm in town with an educational mission. Mark joined the effort and helped organize NCF as a non-profit and has been a member of NCF’s Board since its inception. Mark currently directs NCF’s Legal and Regulatory Compliance Committee. Mark is a husband, father, Holy Cross alumnus and an attorney at National Grid.
Babette Wils — Babette has a longstanding commitment to sustainable living. This includes three green building projects (the last an ongoing conversion of an 1860s home towards zero fossil energy use), a large sort-of permaculture garden, and thinking of new (and some weird) ways to eat local food year round in New England. She earns her keep with policy consultant gigs at UNICEF and the World Bank, and lives with her husband and two teen daughters.
Margaret McConchie – Margaret McConchie is a mom of three who wants her family to eat as much local, organic food as possible– and to know where it comes from. She helps the Farm with grantwriting and community outreach.
Elise Coughlin — [bio coming soon!]
