Pihatöillä

Pihatöillä is a Finnish community service organization that focuses on providing yard and garden maintenance services to individuals who may be unable to perform these tasks themselves. Founded in 2005 in the Helsinki metropolitan area, the group was established by a group of volunteer gardeners and social workers with the aim of improving the quality of life for the elderly, people with disabilities, and low‑income families. The name, which translates roughly as “in the yard work,” reflects the organization’s practical mission of contributing to everyday domestic environments.

The organization operates through a network of volunteer teams that are coordinated by a central staff office in Helsinki. Licensed volunteers are matched with clients based on geographic proximity and specific needs, ensuring that clients receive timely and tailored support. In addition to routine yard mowing, pruning, and hedge trimming, Pihatöillä also offers assistance with seasonal tasks such as winter lawn care and summer landscaping projects. Volunteer training and safety protocols are overseen by the provincial municipality and are required before individuals join the workforce.

Over its history, Pihatöillä has expanded to cover 12 districts within the Greater Helsinki region, serving more than 8,000 households and logging over 35,000 volunteer hours per year. Funding comes primarily from municipal allocations, private sponsorships, and limited fees charged for large or specialized projects. The organization is governed by a board of directors elected from within the volunteer base, and its mission statement emphasizes community solidarity, environmental stewardship, and the dignity of care.