Somebody has harvested the Pearl Street Farmer's bicycle trailer and he'd like it back.

Russ Ohrt, 41, runs a business called Backyard Harvest in which he makes agreements with property owners to allow him to grow produce on their land. His company does the work, and the property owner gets some fresh produce in return.

He sells the produce Saturdays at the Locke Street Farmers' Market as well as through the Mustard Seed co-operative grocery on York Boulevard.

Ohrt has a car to transport his harvest, but he prefers using a bicycle and trailer which he built out of an aluminum ladder, some wheels from a wheelchair and some other parts. It gives more flexibility than using an automobile. And the bicycle is more in keeping with the ecological principles of his business.

But that all changed on May 16.

"We kept the trailer in our backyard. When I looked outside I noticed the gate was open. After I went in the backyard I noticed it was gone."

He told his story on Facebook, with pictures of the trailer, and the posting has been shared nearly 400 times.

He's been told about three sightings so far: one at the Barton Street beer store at Mary Street, another at Ferguson and Jackson, and the third at University Plaza in Dundas. A man appeared to be using the trailer for collecting bottles and cans, Ohrt said.

He says he could build another one out of spare parts, but he doesn't have time during the busy growing season.

He's just hoping he'll get the trailer back.

He says he was angry at first, but now he is more philosophical about the six-year-old trailer, given all the offers of help he has received.

"I feel like the whole thing has been positive. So many more people now know who we are. They see we are using a bike trailer, they might be inspired to build their own from a ladder. I have had five or six people who have offered to donate materials to build a new one."

Anyone with information is asked to email Ohrt at russohrt@yahoo.ca.