"There were a few [plants] stolen in the pizza garden and we were very disappointed about that," said Cheyenne Sharp, a student at the school.

They are replanting the garden, which will be used to educate students about the life cycle of plants, thanks to the generosity of local businesses. Noodles & Co. donated the plants, while Lowe's donated a shed to protect supplies in the future.

"These are community vegetable gardens so we will be planting vegetables and eating the vegetables at a time when many of these kids don't get a lot of fresh vegetables," said Tom Boasberg, DPS superintendent.

"Obviously people garden because they need to grow food for their family," said Judy Elliott of Denver Urban Gardens.

She estimates that vandalism and theft accounts for the loss of about 8 to 15 percent of the total harvest at the programs' 100 community gardens.

"For community gardeners who start their own seeds and spend probably, up to 10 hours per week working their soil, the immediate theft of produce that's grown to feed their own family can indeed be very devastating," Elliott said. "If something gets vandalized, the strongest message you can give is one of resilience that you will go ahead and replant again and care for it and nurture it."