“Tops’l really is an expression of mine, and I am learning how to share my love of making charcuterie and bringing this property to life while being really honest and transparent that it’s a lot.”
We’re in good company with Sarah Pike, owner of Tops’l Farm nestled on 83 acres in Midcoast Maine, where she, along with her crew, provides seasonal food and lodging experiences in a way that allows folks a deeper connection to themselves, their loved ones and nature.
Having grown up on a farmstead in Maine, it took Sarah many years to return home and find what would become Tops’l Farm, which today hosts a sprawling campground of chic cabins and stocked camp store, a quintessential cottage and renovated farmhouse, an intimate event barn and riverside yurt for entertaining, and a variety of gardens and furry farm friends around every corner.
In this episode, Sarah shares with us what “Main Life Simplified” means to her and how she hopes guests will follow their curiosity in reconnecting to nature one starry night, one blueberry at a time.
Top Takeaways
[1:22] From the time her parents “ruined her life” by moving to Maine to build a family homestead, Sarah quickly learned what life looked like building towards a dream.
[8:05] How a weekend back at home picking apples with her family gave Sarah a desire to create that experience more often.
[10:45] What about Tops’l Farm’s piece of land “where farm, field and forest converge,” showcases the best of Maine.
[12:40] As working parents with no prior experience, Sarah and her husband went for it and learned a lot along the way.
[16:22] How Tops’l Farm was created to share the ease of spending time in nature, allowing guests to arrive as they are.
[18:33] The sailing heritage behind the name Tops’l Farm, and no, it is not short for “top soil.”
[23:45] From sitting around a fire, to taking a nap in a hammock, to reading a book next to the sheep, what guests can expect to experience amongst 83 acres of activities.
[27:10] Exploring Midcoast Maine from its white sandy beaches and oyster farms to its inland hiking trails and vineyards.
[33:30] It’s those little moments in between that allow for a magical connection to this place and these people.
[37:25] Expect “joyful event planning” whether for weddings, family reunions or retreats at Tops’l Farm.
[39:00] What an intentional pause means for Sarah in her own life, and how she creates a space for other women to experience that as well each season.
[43:40] How an entire life spent gathering people around the table led to seasonal culinary experiences pairing the best of Maine’s cuisine.
[54:30] Sarah and her husband are ready to get their hands dirty in the garden and their apple orchards, bringing cider into their ecosystem.
Notable Mentions
- Pemaquid Beach Park, New Harbor, ME
- Do Pause | You are not a To Do list. by Robert Poynton
- Forest Hut, Wengen Switzerland
- Morse’s Sauerkraut, Waldoboro, ME
- How to Live a Good Life by Jonathan Fields
