Mark Phillips
Farm Manager 2023– current
Mark Phillips is the current Barrington Farm School Farm Manager. His duties at the farm encompass the planning and management of all aspects of crop production, overseeing both the field crops and the farm’s high tunnel. Mark has been the owner/operator of Skydog Farm since 1990, operating three 3900 sq. ft. commercial hydroponic greenhouses and conducting various educational and farm-to-school programs. For five years, Mark was President of the Coastal Growers Farmers Market. He has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from URI.
Janelle Heise
Farmer’s Assistant 2023- current
Janelle Heise is the Barrington Farm School Farmer’s Assistant. Janelle works alongside our Farm Manager, our Community Engagement Coordinator, and assisting all of our volunteers to ensure we have a successful and productive growing season. Before moving to Rhode Island, Janelle volunteered with an environmental nonprofit, working not only in the field monitoring endangered and invasive plant species, but also at their headquarters giving tours, taking care of the native plant gardens, greeting visitors in the front office, and tabling at advocacy events. Her impressive background in gardening, arts, and education creates valuable experiences for our volunteers.
Jessalyn Link
Community Engagement Coordinator 2024-current
Jessalyn started green at BFS in 2022 as the “Lead Grower” to help facilitate and execute the farming needs with other volunteers. In 2023, Jessalyn joined the Board of Directors, and in 2024, she moved into the Community Engagement role so that she could use her degrees in art and marketing in a new way to help promote the farm to the community! This position works hand-in-hand with the Board, BFS staff, and volunteers to communicate the mission to the town and greater community with hopes to get more people involved. Jessalyn is enthusiastic about the farm’s educational mission and about working with volunteers.
Staff 2023
Mark Phillips (see above)
Farm Manager 2023
Casey Merkle
Volunteer Coordinator 2023
Casey Merkle was the Barrington Farm School Volunteer Coordinator through July 2023. Casey came to the farm with experience at the Boston Nature Center, RISD, and the Rhode Island Flood Mitigation Association. She has extensive skills in research and design, writing, and social and digital media. Casey holds a B.A. in Biology from Lawrence University in Wisconsin and an M.A. in Nature, Culture, and Sustainability Studies from RISD. Her duties at the farm included recruiting, training, and overseeing volunteers, and public relations with volunteers and organizational partners.
Staff 2022
Jessalyn Link (see above)
Lead Grower 2022