Outside Inside Fund
Where the outside work meets the inner life.
The people who feed Maine, fish Maine, and work its forests carry more than most — and we believe that kind of strength deserves to be sustained from the inside out.
In our tenth season at Tops'l Farm, we made a permanent commitment: a portion of everything we do here — every stay, every product, every dinner at our table — goes directly to mental health support for Maine's heritage industries. This is the Outside/Inside Fund.
Introducing the Outside Inside Fund
Supporting mental health, wellness, and suicide prevention for Maine's heritage industries.
Farming. Fishing. Logging. The work that holds Maine together — and the people who do it quietly, without asking for much.
In our tenth season at Tops'l Farm, we are turning a portion of everything we do into something that gives back to those communities. One percent of every farm stay, every product sale, and every dinner goes directly to the Outside/Inside Fund.
This is not a side project. It is built into how we do business.
The Mission
Why This Matters
The people who grow our food, harvest our timber, and haul our traps are the backbone of this state. They work in conditions that are physically demanding, financially precarious, and deeply isolating — and they come from a culture that rewards toughness and silence.
Maine's heritage industries consistently rank among the highest for suicide rates in the nation. That is not a distant problem. It is happening here, in our communities, among people we know.
The Outside/Inside Fund was established in memory of someone we loved — who worked the land here in Maine, and who we lost in 2024. His life made the need visible. His loss made our purpose here much clearer.
The Outside/Inside Fund works alongside those creating policy and in direct service — our work is focused on awareness, community, and the simple but profound act of gathering people around a table.
How it works
Built Into Every Season
The Outside/Inside Fund is funded permanently through Tops'l Farm's business model. Beginning in our tenth season, 2026:
1% of all Farm Stay revenue
1% of all Summer Kitchen product line sales
All proceeds from the July 2nd and October 24th farm dinners
Community donations year-round
Every time you book a stay, buy a jar of jam, or sit at our table — you are part of this.
The Fundraising Dinners
Twice this year, we will host two farm-to-table dinners to benefit this fund. These evenings bring together farmers, fishermen, makers, and neighbors — the people who do the work and the people who want to support them.
Food is sourced entirely from our network of small Maine farms and folks fishing our waters. The evenings are unhurried, honest, and built around conversation.
Summer Dinner — July 2, 2026
The inaugural Outside/Inside Fund dinner. A multi-course evening in the wildflower field at Tops'l Farm, sourced from our Commonplace Collective farms. Tickets support the fund directly.
Autumn Dinner — October 24, 2026
A harvest dinner to close the season. Same intention. Same table. All proceeds to the fund.
Summer Dinner — July 2, 2026
The inaugural Outside/Inside Fund dinner. A multi-course evening in the wildflower field at Tops'l Farm, sourced from our Commonplace Collective farms. Tickets support the fund directly.
Intentional Structure
Intentional Structure
Collaborative Energy
Collaborative Energy
Expert Facilitation
Expert Facilitation
Autumn Dinner — October 24, 2026
A harvest dinner to close the season. Same intention. Same table. All proceeds to the fund.