The Bowmanville Garden Thefts that stripped vegetables from Liberty Allotment Gardens have prompted a generous response from a Newtonville business, which is donating garlic to replace what was stolen.
Crooked Creek Garden Centre is donating 168 heads of garlic, along with additional garlic that gardeners can use for planting next year, after learning about repeated thefts at the Bowmanville community garden.
The thefts reportedly occurred over several weeks in May and June and included more than 150 heads of garlic and over 100 onions.
Newtonville garden centre steps in
Tom Kieser, who owns Crooked Creek Garden Centre with his wife, Jo, learned about the thefts through social media.
He said seeing how upset local gardeners were made him consider whether his business could help.
The garden centre had already sold its annual garlic harvest at the time, but Kieser realized it could at least provide planting stock so affected gardeners would have garlic available for next year’s growing season.
The situation changed when several customers later backed out of reserved garlic orders.
That left Crooked Creek with enough available stock to replace all 168 heads of garlic that had reportedly been stolen.
Kieser described the donation as an attempt to turn a disappointing situation into something positive for the gardening community.
Theft affects more than one harvest
For allotment gardeners, losing mature produce can create problems extending beyond the immediate loss of food.
Garlic growers often save part of their harvest to use as seed for the following season. When plants are stolen, gardeners can therefore lose both the current crop and their ability to replant from their own stock.
Kieser said that concern influenced the decision to include garlic intended specifically for future planting.
As a gardener himself, he said he understood the time and work involved in growing a crop through an entire season.
Police investigating repeated garden thefts
According to information posted by Liberty Allotment Gardens, a person entered the property on five separate occasions during an approximately eight-week period in May and June.
The garden reported losses of more than 150 heads of garlic and more than 100 onions.
Durham Regional Police are investigating the Bowmanville Garden Thefts and searching for a suspect.
The person sought by police is described as a male approximately five feet eight inches tall, between 40 and 50 years old, with a large build, medium-length dark hair and a dark-coloured beard.
No arrest was reported in the information provided.
Community response follows losses
Kieser said the thefts were upsetting but also encouraged people to consider the wider economic pressures some individuals may be experiencing.
He emphasized that this does not justify stealing, while saying he was disappointed by some hostile comments that appeared online after details of the incidents were shared.
The donation instead focuses on helping gardeners recover from their losses and prepare for another growing season.
Crooked Creek Garden Centre’s contribution will replace the stolen garlic while also giving participants planting material for next year’s crop.
Police seek information
Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact Durham Regional Police at 1-888-579-1520, extension 1605.
Anonymous tips can also be provided to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The Bowmanville Garden Thefts remain under investigation as the community garden receives support from fellow growers in Clarington.
