Who we are

Smith Farm at Borderland State Park was built in 1880 by Dr. Asahel Smith, a clairvoyant healer, who began to practice the healing arts in Easton in 1850. The site he chose, nestled in what is now Borderland State Park on the Bay Road side, was selected for its serenity and peacefulness—with the farm serving as a place of respite and tranquility for Dr. Smith and his patients. Given its peaceful location, Smith Farm serves as a restful and meditative place for visitors to Borderland.

About six years ago, Carrie Crisman was walking the Borderland trails when she came upon the vacant old farmhouse. The Department of Conservation and Recreation was offering use of the farmhouse under their curatorship program for historic properties. Envisioning the farm as a space for a variety of health and wellness programs, yet not being aware of its history as such, Carrie was awarded the curatorship of Smith Farm and has been working since to build a strong board and raise community support to achieve the goals of Smith Farm—to preserve the historic farmhouse on the site, and as stated in the Smith Farm mission, to use the facility to “enrich lives through education,arts, culture, spirituality and wellness.”

Achievement of these goals will bring Smith Farm full circle as it was originally built by Dr. Smith on a site specifically chosen for its serenity and peacefulness. The farmhouse, and eventually a newly constructed event barn, will be used to provide wellness programs such as: meditation; alternative healing therapies; community garden space and related nutrition and culinary education programs; arts, theater and music programs; fresh air/recreational programs for children and families; and veteran’s wellness programs. Smith Farm will also provide space for use by wellness practitioners and other nonprofits.

Currently, in the absence of renovated physical space, Smith Farm has partnered with several key organizations in advancing strategic areas of our mission—with a focus, in particular, on veteran’s programming. We are making our outdoor facility available to
local wellness practitioners and nonprofits who work with Veterans, so that these organizations can use Smith Farm as an alternative site for them to enhance their existing programs and can take advantage of the peaceful setting we have to offer.

We currently offer yoga, Thai chi, and other fitness classes on our lawns, and in the past have partnered with the VA Boston Healthcare System’s Brockton campus and a local yoga teacher to make yoga classes and garden space available specifically for the Veterans in our community.

Why Smith Farm? 

It is our mission to enrich lives through education, arts, culture, spirituality, and wellness. We envision a future of community outreach that helps change and prosper the lives of many.

 Who is Smith Farm 

Rich Eastman

Executive Director and Board President

Rich is a retired graphic artist who held a design position at Down East Enterprise and was the designer of Fly Rod and Reel magazine. He has a degree in Graphic Design and brings 20 years of design, marketing and promotions experience to the board. Rich also served in the US Navy for 20 years as a Navy musician. He is the great-great- great grandson of Dr. Asahel Smith, the original owner and builder, and brings a wealth of historical and family information to Smith Farm.

Marie Kelly

Secretary and Vice President

Marie serves as the Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Donor Relations  at Stonehill College in Easton. She graduated from Stonehill College with degrees in Psychology and English and began her career in development at Boston Children’s Hospital Trust where she worked for seven years, assisting the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations with proposal submissions, stewardship reports, and re-solicitations. Marie returned to Stonehill in her current role where she identifies potential corporate and foundation funders to support institutional priorities at Stonehill and stewards the College's benefactors, particularly for scholarship support and for academic and institutional programs and projects that have been informed by Stonehill’s current strategic plan.

Jack Campbell

Treasurer

Jack is a Certified Public Accountant with over nine years of experience advising clients in proper accounting, tax planning/preparation, and initiatives to improve operational performance. Jack earned his MSA (Master’s of Science in Accounting) and his MBA (Master’s of Business Administration) from the D’ Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. Jack is passionate about helping small businesses realize their full potential by ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting which empowers small business owners to make informed capital and labor investments. During the pandemic in 2020, Jack opened his own CPA firm to help small business owners navigate the uncertainties of the changing economic environment. Jack is active in his local community and works as the Treasurer for Smith Farm in South Easton, MA. Jack is a mentor at SCORE, one of the largest network of volunteer and expert business mentors, with the objective of providing guidance and tailored solutions to the challenges faced by small business owners.

Chris Kelly

Construction and Buildings

Chris graduated from Stonehill College in 2000 with degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies and began a career in the biopharmaceutical industry. Chris spent 16 years at Acceleron Pharma where he was responsible for planning and executing biologics drug substance manufacturing campaigns at Acceleron’s clinical manufacturing facility in Cambridge, MA. Currently, Chris is the Director of the Manufacturing,
Science and Technology group at Rentschler BioPharma in Milford, MA where he leads the technology transfer of clients processes into Rentschler's state of the art biopharmaceutical production facility.  Chris resides in Easton with his wife, Marie, and 3 sons, Ian, Jacob, and Benjamin.

Joy Mirrione

Veteran Coordinator

Joy Mirrione grew up in Easton and is a graduate of Oliver Ames High School. After high school she joined the United States Air Force where she was trained as a biomedical equipment technician and was stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska before being honorably discharged. For almost a decade she worked in real estate wearing multiple hats including appraiser, development and real estate sales. She returned to school in 2011, earning her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Bridgewater State University in 2013, and then completing her Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in 2014. Her social work career began at a day treatment program in Brockton where she later became the Lead SOAP Clinician (Structured Outpatient Addiction Program). In 2016 she began working at the Veterans Hospital in Brockton where she served as a social worker in the homeless domiciliary R.E.A.C.H. program and later worked in community engagement as part of the Suicide Prevention Team. Most recently Joy joined forces with some talented clinicians and opened Cedar Hill Behavioral Health, an outpatient group therapy practice in Southborough, MA, where she is Clinical Director.
Joy is passionate about programing for veterans as well as community connection and so it is an honor for her to serve on the board at Smith Farm.

Becky Bast

Board Member

Becky, the "Declutterista," is a professional organizer and media personality dedicated to helping others lighten their physical and mental load. Her journey began when, as an overwhelmed stay-at-home mom, she identified a need for practical, relatable decluttering solutions and founded her business. As a true community connector, Becky shines a spotlight on local businesses and leaders through her podcast and TV show, Lighten Up with the Declutterista.
 
Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, Becky is passionate about community engagement and sustainability. She has reengaged her extensive fundraising experience, honed at prestigious institutions like Children's Hospital Boston and Mass General, by volunteering as the Grants Assistant at Smith Farm. She is also a recent board member of the Sustainable Sharon Coalition and serves as a local recycling resource in her hometown of Sharon.
 
When she's not organizing, producing her show, or volunteering, Becky embraces a vibrant personal life. You can find her on the tennis courts, playing keyboard with her band Devil's Rock, or driving her two middle schoolers, Joe and Maya, to their various activities. She lives happily in Sharon as a proud "townie" with her husband Allen and English golden retriever, Bob.