Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's local county affiliate, Keep York Beautiful, recently hosted 15 volunteers from the Giant Company who helped prepare Cottage Hill Garden for winter.

Volunteers dug out and removed old compost and decaying mulch and brought in new straw bales in preparation for planting. In the spring, easily accessible straw bale gardens will be planted with organic produce and flowers and maintained by community volunteers. Much of what is grown is donated to food banks and neighborhood groups.

Cottage Hill Garden and other community gardens are located at former trash-filled vacant lots throughout York city that are owned by the city of York and managed by the Redevelopment Authority of York. The gardens also serve as outdoor classrooms and provide a place for friends, neighbors and families to gather.

Multiple urban gardens, including Cottage Hill Garden, are a part of York Fresh Food Farms, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate community health through access, affordability and agriculture. The organization serves to increase access to safe, healthy food choices and build a healthier community through the operation of sustainable, organic, community-based gardens and a demonstration farm.

The Cottage Hill Garden project is a continuation of projects initiated by the Giant Company's Reduced Emissions Program, developed in partnership with PDI Sustainability Solutions. Through the Reduced Emissions Program, for every gallon of fuel purchased at a Giant or Martin's fuel station, PDI invests in carbon reduction projects across the globe, offsetting up to 30% of the customer's vehicle emissions.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, along with local county-based affiliates, has more than 30 years of experience in organizing volunteer-driven community improvement events. Visit http://www.keeppabeautiful.org for more information on programs or to find local events.