The Ferguson Farmers’ Market comes indoors at St Stephen’s on the third Saturday in the month and we’re so excited to celebrate with you. It’s an opportunity to visit with us on a Saturday morning and establish a new tradition where we bring you fresh fruits and veggies, picked within 24 hours of our market and brought directly to you by the friendly farmers who grow them. You’ll also find an ever-changing array of gift and specialty vendors, selling everything from cut flowers and bedding plants to hand-painted artwork and small-batch soaps.
You can check out our full list of farmers and vendors HERE.
One of the core tenants of St. Stephen’s is community outreach. The Vine was established as a way for our church to engage the community through events, classes, our food pantry and other activities in parallel with the religious aspects of our faith. For over fifteen years The Vine has given the Ferguson area a place to grow and expand.
The Vine is a collaborative way of being community. It is an extended way of being Church and living out the Good News. The Vine, through conversations, collaborations, partnerships, and community, is simply a neighbor; reaching out, extending a hand, providing space, working side-by-side with others doing the same in an effort to meet the spoken and unspoken needs of others, God’s Children. The Vine’s collaborations and partnerships are diverse and there is always room for one more.
Conversation + Collaboration + Community = The Vine
St. Stephen’s Food Pantry
In the last year our Food Pantry distributed 2004 bags of food. It took a lot of people, coordination and collaboration to accomplish this including volunteers from our parish, North Hills Methodist, several home school families and Girl Scout Troop 2648. Organized food donations come from Zion Lutheran, North Hills Methodist, the Homeschool Cooperative, local school drives and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts with April Showers and Food Drives. April Showers allows us to have personal hygiene items available. Food pantry is open, and we are giving fruit and vegetables and a bag of groceries each Tuesday and Saturday between 10-12 am.
Clay Cafe
Clay Café, as it is now known, has grown from one organization preparing each monthly meal the first year, to a true community collaboration. The meals are now hosted in collaboration with a variety of community entities (individuals, groups, organizations and businesses), including our Vestry and congregation who sign up in advance for specific months to prepare our community meal. Clay Café allows our faith community to extend hospitality and the opportunity to organically connect with 50-70 of our neighbors around food, art, entertainment and community services (i.e., free flu shots) and connection with a variety of community resources. Clay Cafe Dinner is held the 3rd Sunday of the month at 4:30 and Clay Cafe Brunch is on the 3rd Tuesday starting from 10-12, alongside our Food Pantry opening times.
The gentle martial art meets on a Thursday morning from 10-11 am.
NORTH COUNTY HOMESCHOOL CO-OP
The North County Homeschoolers Co-op meets weekly at St. Stephen’s. We have classes for children in Pre-K through high school. Registration for the group typically takes place over the summer with classes running September through May. For more information, please contact Becky at Beckykernryan@gmail.com
FERGUSON ECO TEAM
The Ferguson Eco Team was organized in June of 2012 as a response to the environmental symposium, “Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream” which took place at St. Stephen’s Church. Composed of residents of the Ferguson area, the team is working to create an ecologically sustainable community and to enable the transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy. How to enable an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling human presence on the planet?! The team encourages what is already happening, catalyzes what needs to happen, and raises questions about current practices and future possibilities. Currently, they work in four areas: planning environmental educational events; support, network and resource other like-minded groups; advocate on behalf of environmental sustainability; and do research on the area’s ecological strengths and needs. Contact Carleton Stock carletonstock@aol.com .
FERGUSON WINTER FARMERS MARKET
The 3rd Saturday of every month between November – April join us at St. Stephen’s and the Vine between 9am – 12 pm. Warm up w/ some free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Mingle with your neighbors, visit local vendors, listen to live music, and stock up on local produce. All are welcome! For more info on vendor ops or any other market related questions please email Mary at marebake@sbcglobal.net.
VINE COMMUNITY KITCHEN
In 2016 St. Stephen’s and The Vine completed renovations to the kitchen, turning the space into a commercial grade kitchen. The Vine’s Community Kitchen aims to provide a space for local entrepreneurs in the culinary arts to create and grow their businesses. Free of charge, kitchen use is available. For more info on The Community Kitchen please contact Carol at carol@the-vine.us.