Frinklepod Farm, known for its commitment to organic farming and community engagement, is thrilled to be sharing their farm in a new partnership, as of 2024, with Stephanie McDonough, founder and director of Farm to Table Kids camp, expanding their already diverse farm offerings. The collaboration aims to provide children with a hands-on experience in farming, cooking, and connecting with nature.
Farmers Noah Wentworth and Flora Brown purchased their farm in 2011 and have been growing MOFGA-certified organic vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, and herbs ever since. But their connection to MOFGA goes back to the 1970s; Wentworth’s parents helped start MOFGA decades ago, setting the stage for the next generation to get involved in organic farming. In 2024, with a farm crew of eight, Frinklepod Farm’s seasonal farm store sells their own produce, flowers, and popsicles, as well as locally made goods from sauerkraut to sourdough bread to non-dairy cheeses. They also host workshops, pop-up markets, and other on-farm events, including Farm to Table Kids.
“We have run a hodgepodge of activities for kids on the farm since we started 12 years ago, but last year I had the realization that I really missed having my own kids running around the farm on a regular basis,” Brown said (her children are now tween and teen). “There are so many magical corners of the farm and things to delight in and be curious about, this space was just begging for the energy of kids to fill it as often as possible.” And McDonough jumped at the opportunity to bring children’s programming to the farm.
The origin story of Farm to Table Kids is heartfelt, and McDonough found inspiration for her entrepreneurial endeavor in the most difficult of circumstances. “I started Farm to Table Kids in 2017 after my son recovered from stage four cancer,” McDonough said. After spending two years in the hospital with her son and going through a divorce, she “wanted to create something meaningful” where she could have kids by her side. “I was starting over and decided to chase a dream I’ve always had — to farm with kids. Although I was always timid about it, my background as a third-generation farmer gave me the courage to start. Being in the garden lights me up, and I needed that joy after my son’s recovery and my divorce.”
The journey began as a summer camp program in 2017, but the seeds of Farm to Table Kids were planted much earlier. In 2009, McDonough started inviting new moms to her home to garden and make food, and she saw a positive response.
“Seeing 40 cars in the parking lot showed me the real energy and interest in such activities,” she said. Despite the interruption from 2015-2017 due to her son’s treatment in Boston, she restarted the program when he got better in 2017. This year marks the program’s first expansion to two locations, including Frinklepod Farm.
The Farm to Table Kids program is driven by the belief in the profound impact of connecting children with nature through farming. McDonough believes that there is energy behind farm camp for kids and that it’s crucial to show them how to connect with nature. “Kids love harvesting, but the real lesson is all the caretaking that goes into the plant before we harvest,” McDonough said. The kids can see the difference they’re making. McDonough believes that at their core “children have a caretaker mentality.” Providing them guidance through Farm to Table Kids allows her to show them how, and why, to care for the natural world. The educational programming guides them, allowing them to form a deeper connection with nature and helping them to explore the outdoors with an inquisitive mind.
“This collaboration felt like the perfect moment for both of us,” Brown said, adding that McDonough “has been an amazing support person who has helped with everything from marketing to registration to sharing lessons.”
While McDonough doesn’t expect all the children to want to become farmers, she does hope that they leave the summer camp program knowing what they can get out of establishing a relationship with nature. “Whether it’s cooking, farming, or putting flowers together, we nurture their natural curiosity.”
Farm to Table Kids camp runs at Frinklepod Farm from Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with 15-20 kids per week; and in Freeport from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., accommodating 45 kids per week. This expansion signifies a significant step in reaching more children and instilling in them a love for nature and sustainable living through the Farm to Table Kids mission of “helping children find what lights their heart in nature through regenerative farming, farm to table cooking, and nature crafting.”
Learn more about Frinklepod Farm, and search for other organic producers near you, using our MOFGA Certification Services online search tool. For more information about Farm to Table Kids camp, visit farmtotablekids.org.
