Langley Fine Gardens closes farm stand after $1,000 in plant starts are stolen
By LESLIE BROWN
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Editor
April 24, 2012 · 2:27 PM
Langley Fine Gardens in Dockton experienced a spate of burglaries earlier this month, prompting the owners of the small, family-owned business to shutter their popular, street-side farm stand.
Leda Langley, who owns the business with her husband Matt, said someone took several flats of flower and vegetable starts over the course of three weeks, with each of the burglaries occurring during the day, while the Langleys worked not far — but out of sight — from the stand.
“They were very savvy. They went through and picked out choice stuff,” Langley said, adding that heirloom flowers, native columbine and fragrant sweet peas were among the items stolen.
The crime spree began with $150 in starts missing in early April, and Langley thought someone had simply forgotten to pay. The following week, $350 in starts were stolen. When they lost $650 in starts last week, the couple decided to shut down their farm stand.
Langley’s troubled by the incidents but added, “We’re not freaking out. And we don’t want others to freak out. We’re OK.”
Contact Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Editor Leslie Brown at editor@vashonbeachcomber.com or 1-206-463-9195.
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