So the real problem is, you can't trust grad students to do anything.
Romeo's little druidlings were performing a ritual in the grove to increase the fertility of the land, and some pesky thief came in and stole part of the ritual offering. If they don't finish the rite and summon the spirit of the wind, who's to say if they'll even have a harvest this year.
And there's this pesky side effect of spirits of the forest combing the town seeking out the offering and accidentally killing townsfolk. So if you could just head into town and get the offering back, or alternately, a new one. That would be ideal.