Family Farm-Field-to-Farm-Table Dining in Maine

Raising your kids on farm-fresh ingredients has been increasingly easier, even while traveling, as farm-to-table dining has been a growing trend in the travel industry. With hotels, resorts and restaurants focusing more on locally grown, sourced and organically-farmed produce, parents have their pick of the litter (for the most part) for farm-to-table dining. Want to get your family even closer to the source? Farm-to-field is as close as it gets.

More than 50 years ago, Helen and Scott Nearing began a farm-field-to-farm-table dining movement from their own property, Harborside Farm. Their pristine farmstead on the coast of Maine offered fresh cuisine in a gorgeous setting — think farm-to-table dining, only the table is on a working farm and seating is limited.

The homegrown, but elevated dining concept swept the state, now boasting several top farm-field dining establishments. Sit family-style with your closest friends and family and enjoy a retreat to simpler times, only in a lush backyard surrounded by rolling green hills and rustic details.

Located at Sebago Lake on some of Saint Joseph’s more than 400-acre green campus, The Stone Barn boasts 18 acres of organic crops and livestock. Available for a limited number of diners, guests enjoy menu items curated directly from the farm’s harvest. Check out the calendar of events to find out when your family can join in the exclusive affair.

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Special guests of Flanagan’s Table enjoy monthly dinners at The Barn at Flanagan Farm, benefiting the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Check out the site’s sign-up options and plan for a special family dinner away.

Head to Graze Dinners at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester for dinner every Wednesday, late June to early October. Reserve your spot early as guest count is limited. Bring the kids and enjoy the freshly homemade everything and get them excited about their fruit and vegetables.

Over on North Haven Island, guests of Nebo Lodge enjoy monthly barn dinners of island-grown produce, fish, meat and poultry. Enjoy an upscale night out with rustic island vibes and incredible views of the coast. Make the meal unforgettable and bring the whole family or check in for a weekend away with your partner. Either way, you’re in for a culinary experience on the rugged coast of Maine.

As the foodie trend continues to grow, Visit Maine has a full lineup of other farms to visit and dining options ready for the picking.