Public Health officials are reminding you to ask before taking what's not yours.
Some produce has gone missing from community gardens across Chatham-Kent, and even though it's not a significant amount, each plot is grown and harvested by an individual person or family.
Lyndsay Davidson, a dietitian with the CK Public Health Unit, says it's the same song and dance every summer.
"Throughout the season, we do often have some of our produce go missing. Occasionally it's a zucchini here, some beans there -- little amounts," says Davidson, noting what's been stolen so far this season is on par with years past. "However, we do want to remind people that these are individual plots that belong to the people working them."
A community garden located at the CLAC building on Park Ave. W in Chatham. (Photo by Simon Crouch)
Davidson says it's ultimately an honour system, one they know will sometimes be broken, as the gardens are not fenced in.
"Specifically because it's not our property that we own, [and community gardens] do help to beautify the community," says Davidson. "But they're also a conversation piece. So someone may be interested in learning how to garden, but are not comfortable. If they see the garden there, they may stop to talk to someone. Having that fence up prevents that."
She says they're currently exploring ways to distribute some of the excess produce, to discourage people from stealing.
"Some of our gardens are looking at considering having a spot where there is a sign with a basket of extra produce that people are able to take," Davidson says. "But we continue to ask that people not take from the rest of the garden, because that is the work that someone has put a lot of time and effort into growing."
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