Community garden thieves have struck again this time stooping to stealing garlic grown by Grade 1 and 3 students.
The theft of 18 fist-sized plants from Spulukwuks elementary in Terra Nova stunned teacher Brenda Greczmiel, who helped her Grade 1 and 3 split class nurture some of the herbs.
We had the garlic planted last October and we were watching it grow and taking care of it all year. I think we were about three weeks away from it being ready, said Greczmiel, who noticed the theft first thing Monday morning when she put out the watering hose for for the kids, as she does every morning.
There were also crops of beans, carrots, potatoes, beets and other vegetables that were untouched.
Someone came on the weekend, we believe on Sunday night, and pulled all the garlic out and took off.
Greczmiel said almost 300 kids in the school help out with the garden located right on the school grounds as part of their environmental issues studies. When she told her students, she said they were really upset, and one of the students asked whos going to eat all that garlic?
The 6,7 and 8-year-olds came up with creative ways to catch the thief, and one of the suggestions was to write a letter to the thief.
Everyone should know that stealing is very bad! If someone wanted some of our garlic, we could have shared some if they had asked. Wed like to know who stole our garlic and why, it said in one of the paragraphs.
In the three years that Spulukwuks has been growing their own food, normally a few garlic plants which can fetch several dollars per pound at an organic grocer are kept, dried, and replanted for the following years crop.
Im thinking Im not going to grow garlic next year. This is what people want, and they will come back and look for it.
This incident follows a string of recent thefts from community gardens, parks, farms and backyards including Paulik Park in central Richmond, the Sharing Farm at Terra Nova and W&A farms. If you see any suspicious activity in farmers fields, community gardens and parks, call Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212.
