About Us
The mission of Stein Learning Gardens at St. Sabina is to deliver high quality garden education and community programs that create positive learning experiences, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and increase community members’ access to fresh and affordable healthy produce.
We were founded in 2018 by local philanthropist, Barbara Stein, inspired by the work of activist priest Father Michael Pfleger in Auburn Gresham on the south side of Chicago. Since our inception, children from the community have come to the garden to learn how to grow food and develop a healthy lifestyle. In 2020 we constructed a 6,000 sq. ft. farm and community food hub site and distributed more than 5,800 home garden kits for students on Chicago’s South and West sides collaborating with Chicago Grows Food.
The Faith Community of Saint Sabina is a community of disciples where the DNA of who we are is rooted in the Word. We are committed to praise, worship and to be not only hearers of the Word but live as doers of the Word. We see our worship time as the huddle, where believers gather to get instructions, feed on God’s word, draw closer to God, and grow spiritually so when we leave the church doors we make the Word flesh and evil nervous.
Become a Volunteer
In the Media
When Grocery Stores Close, West & South Side Residents Work to Feed Their Own
Home Run Inn, St. Sabina Team Up For ‘Giving Tuesday’ Pizza Giveaway
A Letter From Our Executive Director, Steve Archer
Good day,
My name is Steve Archer II and I am the incoming Executive Director for The Stein Learning Gardens of St. Sabina Catholic Church located in the Auburn Gresham community. There are many things I want to share with you about my journey and about my vision for The Stein Learning Gardens. I am a father, a farmer, a United States Marine (1999-2004 OIF/OEF) veteran, a beekeeper, and a permaculturalist, but more importantly, I am intensely interested in building community. Each day we have an opportunity to create and build or stagnate and decouple. I would like to invite you to plant a seed with me. Whether that seed is a physical thing to grow a new plant or an idea to create a wealth of connectedness to the world around us or something all together novel. Through community we can create a synergy that cannot be dissipated and shine the light of truth on the lie of scarcity.
Stein Learning Gardens will be partnering with community members to educate about:
- Gardening for food and beauty.
- Urban Farming and the principles of permaculture.
- How “food is medicine” relates to proper nutrition.
- How “Your Lawn is Killing our birds!”
Regardless of origin, the proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together” remains true. Please join me in strengthening The Stein Learning Gardens commitment to education and community.
Our Sponsors
