A table is a table. No matter what description or style you label it. The durability hinges on material choice, finish and quality of construction. If you want any table top to remain pristine either don't use it for a work surface or use an alternate material such as stone or even concrete. But every surface organic or not will need some attention to keep it that way. We are having an island made from salvaged wood. The newly milled surface will be "aged" to give it a time worn look. That what I wanted tho, not artificially perfect.... especially with the farmhouse description tagged on. For a work surface such as yours I would consider using a product such as this tho, but that would be applied if you are having it built for you.

http://www.amazon.com/Behlen-Rockhard-Table-Urethane-Varnish/dp/B008E5FZB2

They took a beating for many years .

I'm reading that food crumbs can fall in between the spacing. Is there way to prevent that?

but patricia, those were real farm tables. from the number of dilemmas i see about the ones from RH, i'd say buyer beware if you want to eat on it. i'd not buy something with a rustic finish (like an outdoor picnic table would be) and expect indoor results from spilled condiments, crumbs, and oil... unless you are going to take it outside and have it rained on.

Consider a harvest table that doesn't have spacing if concerned about crumbs. They can take a beating in only that the wear and tear isn't as noticeable as a more refined wood, but it becomes part of its patina if you will. All woods will dent (less so on harder species of woods), water marks will happen depending on the finish and certainly hot items will leave a mark on any wood. If you are concerned about these things, a padding under a table cloth will limit mishaps, but then you lose the sight of the table.

Farm table refers more to its shape, rather than the type of wood. I'd think of it as I do my butcher block countertop. Take some care with it, use products meant for it.