A place to dig, learn, and grow

Board of Directors


Peter J. Barrer, President,  Building Committee Chair

Peter is a Professional Engineer; in 1989 he founded Demand Management Institute, Inc. to consult to building owners, architects, and utilities on cost effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The company has become a New England leader in engineering-based energy efficiency analysis and implementation of complex energy efficiency programs. Presently, Peter is a consultant to DMI’s management. In Newton, he is a member of the City’s Design Review Committee, and a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Renewable Resources.

Rick Dinjian, Clerk and Legal Advice

Rick is an attorney who has represented poor and middle class clients both as a public defender in New York City and as a general practice attorney here in Massachusetts. Rick has been a member of the Board since 2008 and primarily advises the Board on legal and contract matters. Rick lives with his wife and two sons in West Newton where he continues his family’s tradition of growing far more tomato plants than he should.

Eugene Finkelstein, Ledgebrook Liaison

Eugene represents Ledgebrook Community where he has been serving on the Board of Trustees. Dr. Finkelstein has over 40 years of business, technical, and academic experience in communications, networking, and computing that combines strong research, development, system engineering, solutions integration, and consulting activities. He is currently a President of e-Technology Consulting, Inc. a firm that he founded in 2002. Previously he worked as a Director of Internet Solutions Architecture and Director of Consulting for Professional Services at Genuity/GTE Internetworking/BBN and Digital. Prior to that, for seven years Dr. Finkelstein had been with AT&T Bell Laboratories after immigrating to US from Russia in 1980. Back in Leningrad, he was a professor at the Electrical Engineering Institute of Communications. Currently Eugene and his wife Arina reside in Newton, Massachusetts.

Eugene wants to see Newton Community Farm continue to prosper. He brings to the benefit of NCF his systemic approach to problem solving, strong communications skills, proven leadership in building and managing cross-functional teams, and substantial contributions to cost/benefit analysis of business solutions.

Sam Fogel, Operations Committee

Sam has been a Newton resident for more than 35 years, and an avid gardener for 40 years. He and wife, Margaret, have a special interest in growing fruit trees and berries with no or very limited use of pesticides. Sam has a PhD in microbiology and is also a soil scientist. He and Margaret operate an environmental microbiology laboratory in Watertown specializing in Bioremediation (the use of bacteria to biodegrade hazardous chemicals). Sam is one of the Farm’s gardening teachers, designing courses and teaching gardening through the Newton Community Education program. He also initiated, organized and installed the demonstration dwarf apple orchard.

Barney Keezell,  Volunteers and Membership

Barney and his family have lived in Newton for more than 20 years.   Barney is retired from a long career as a social worker in the area of child welfare, including many years as a senior manager in state government.   He has bachelors and masters degrees in social work from Boston University.   Barney is an avid organic gardener who is well known in his neighborhood for pumpkins, which grow over his hedge each year. Barney volunteered at the farm last year, working in the field two days a week, and he also informally serves as his neighborhood’s “vegetable garden consultant”. Barney is a graduate of NOFA’S (Northeast Organic Farming Association) five day land care course and he recently worked in the vegetable greenhouse of a well-known retail garden center.  In his role as a NCF Board member, Barney coordinates volunteer participation oversees the Friend of the Farm program. Barney’s other interests include salt water kayak fishing and cooking.

Jon Orren, Education Committee Chairperson

Jon is a teacher at Newton South High School (NSHS) for more than 200 students in culinary arts, nutrition, food science, and special education life skills classes.  He also directs NSHS’s Sustainable Agriculture Program and advises the students who manage the school’s 2,500 square foot organic garden and composting program.  Jon is a certified culinary instructor and food handler with many years of experience as a personal chef, food writer, and cook in numerous Boston and New York City gourmet restaurants.  As part of his culinary adventures, he also launched, owned, and managed a successful specialty pickle business in NYC for many years.  Jon is a graduate of Newton North High School and Columbia University.

Anne Ryder, Treasurer

A practicing CPA, Anne has an extensive background in public accounting. Currently she works locally for a multinational, public company. Anne holds a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University and a master’s degree from Boston College. With all of that number crunching, Anne uses cooking as a creative outlet. Over the years, a passion for cooking spurred an interest in the types food we consume, where and how it originates, and the economics surrounding it. As part of Newton Community Farm, Anne is looking forward to feeding both of her passions, food and accounting, while helping to build a more sustainable community.

Dede Vittori,  Communications

Dede has been a Newton resident for more than 20 years and has been involved in numerous local organizations and city committees. She is interested in vegetable gardening, sustainable agriculture, locally grown foods, and community service. She is excited to work on the farm’s communications program and community events. Dede has a bachelor’s degree in geography and education and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

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