Ackerhelden
Ackerhelden GmbH operates bio-certified rental vegetable gardens across 100+ German cities through partner Bioland farms, sells handcrafted organic raised beds and gardening consumables via D2C e-commerce, and delivers corporate wellness and educational programs. Founded in 2012 in Essen, it serves consumers, enterprises, municipalities, and schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersEssen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ackerhelden does
Ackerhelden GmbH is an Essen-based, founder-controlled organic-gardening company operating since 2012 as a private limited company under managing director Birger Brock, co-founded with Tobias Paulert. The company's core business is the operation of bio-certified rental vegetable gardens (Bio-Mietgärten) at partner Bioland-certified farms across 100+ German cities, supplemented by an Austrian subsidiary running parallel sites in Vienna. Each 40 m² rental plot is pre-planted with 20 rows of vegetables and flowers for a 6-month season (May–October) at 249€ per season, with Ackerhelden supplying soil preparation, water access, tools, and ongoing agronomic guidance.
The product platform extends to a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store (Shopify-powered ackerhelden.de) anchored by the Bio-Hochbeet-Komplettset, a 1,150€ raised-bed kit manufactured from domestic sweet chestnut wood sourced in Rhineland-Palatinate with Bioland-certified peat-free soil, expanded-clay drainage, organic seed, and plant-based fertilizer. Around this, the company sells a deep accessory catalog: organic seeds (vegetables, herbs, flowers, seed tape, seed bombs), bio young-plant sets, organic fertilizers (CarboVit, Meeresalgenkalk, Hochbeetdünger), seasonal plant-strengthening SKUs, branded tools (Felco pruning shears, Filbio crop protection nets), two published books, branded jute bags, and digital gift vouchers.
The go-to-market combines D2C e-commerce, seasonal rental bookings, a direct enterprise sales motion for corporate wellness and B2B team-building installations (active since 2017; flagship site at Alnatura Campus Darmstadt), municipal urban-gardening project work, and the Ackerhelden machen Schule non-profit-leaning educational sub-brand serving kindergartens and schools. Revenue streams are split across subscription rentals, one-time hardware sales, recurring consumables, professional services for corporate/government clients, and educational programming. The company is owner-operated, holds the DE-ÖKO-006 organic certification, partners with multiple Bioland farms, and relies on a conventional SMB-scale tech stack (Shopify, Klaviyo, Meta Pixel, AWS) without external venture or institutional funding disclosed.
Ackerhelden firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ackerhelden
- Legal name
- Ackerhelden GmbH
- Website
- https://ackerhelden.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ackerhelden GmbH operates bio-certified rental vegetable gardens across 100+ German cities through partner Bioland farms, sells handcrafted organic raised beds and gardening consumables via D2C e-commerce, and delivers corporate wellness and educational programs. Founded in 2012 in Essen, it serves consumers, enterprises, municipalities, and schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ackerhelden industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Urban Gardening Services
- NAICS
- Landscaping Services (561730), Landscaping Services (56173), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vegetable & Herb Garden Installation and Maintenance (HSAIAFAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs) (HSAIAFAB), Garden Bed Design, Layout & Planting Plans (HSAIAFAA), Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Plants, Seeds & Nursery Retail (Garden Centers) (CRAIAIAB)
Keywords
Where Ackerhelden is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Essen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ackerhelden business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Rental Garden Subscriptions: Seasonal rental of bio-certified vegetable gardens (40m² plots) at multiple locations across Germany. Customers rent for 6-month growing seasons. Revenue recognized per season with automatic contract renewal pattern (annual).
- Raised Bed Product Sales: One-time sale of Bio-Hochbeet-Komplettset (raised bed complete sets) including wood frame, bio-soil, drainage layer, seeds, and fertilizer. Single high-ticket item (1,150€) with free shipping.
- Accessories and Consumables: Sales of bio-seeds, bio-fertilizers, plant strengthening products, garden tools, and books. Unit-priced products (3.75€ seeds, 6.50€-16.90€ fertilizers, 15-60€ tools). Recurring consumable purchases from existing customer base.
- Corporate Wellness Programs: B2B services including company garden installations and corporate health management programs. Projects implemented directly at company premises or via rental gardens. Since 2017.
- Educational Programs: Ackerhelden machen Schule - non-profit educational project for kindergartens and schools teaching bio-vegetable growing. Separate entity at ackerheldenmachenschule.de. Revenue from program fees and partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Bio-Gemüsegarten rental - seasonal subscription for 6 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bio-Hochbeet-Komplettset - one-time purchase of complete raised bed system |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bio-Saatgut individual seed packets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bio-Pflanzenpflege products - fertilizers and plant strengthening |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Jungpflanzen-Sets - young plant sets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard shipping and delivery |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Gift vouchers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ackerhelden product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ackerhelden operates bio-certified (Bioland) rental vegetable garden plots (40 m² per plot, 6-month seasonal subscriptions at €249 per season) at partner farms across 100+ German cities, and sells the Bio-Hochbeet-Komplettset — a handcrafted raised bed kit made from domestic sweet chestnut wood (€1,150) including bio-certified soil, drainage, seeds, and organic fertilizer. Supporting offerings include organic seeds, young plant sets, bio-fertilizers, plant care products, garden tools, books, gift vouchers, plus enterprise services spanning corporate wellness programs, urban gardening consulting for municipalities, and educational programs for kindergartens and schools.
Product overview
Ackerhelden is an organic gardening company offering a portfolio of products centered on enabling consumers to grow their own bio-certified vegetables. The core offerings are the Bio-Mietgarten (rented vegetable garden plots) at multiple German locations, and the Bio-Hochbeet-Komplettset (complete raised bed kit) for home use. The product portfolio extends through supporting add-ons including organic seeds (vegetables, herbs, flowers), young plant sets, organic fertilizers, plant strengthening products, a plant care set, garden tools and equipment, educational books, and gift vouchers. All products are bio-certified and aligned with Bioland standards, with the raised beds manufactured in Rhineland-Palatinate from domestic sweet chestnut wood.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ackerhelden machen Schule: Non-profit educational project for kindergartens and schools, teaching children and adolescents about organic vegetable growing, healthy eating, and ecological agriculture since 2013.
Products and services
- Bio-Gemüsegarten (Bio-Mietgarten) — Bio-certified rental vegetable garden Seasonal rental of bio-certified (Bioland) vegetable garden plots (40 m²) at partner farms across 100+ German cities. Pre-planted with 20 rows of vegetables and flowers; includes soil preparation, water access, tools, and ongoing guidance for a 6-month growing season. Targeted at urban individuals and families without land access.
- Bio-Hochbeet-Komplettset — Complete raised bed kit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20,000 people growing with Ackerhelden
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ackerhelden
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ackerhelden technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
Ackerhelden partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Bioland e.V.coreBioland is Germany's largest organic farmers association. Ackerhelden is a certified Bioland partner, with all rental gardens and raised bed products bio-certified according to Bioland guidelines. This partnership provides the certification foundation for the entire business model.
- Alnatura Campus DarmstadtflagshipAlnatura Campus has a dedicated Ackerhelden rental garden location on its corporate campus for employees and local residents. This represents a flagship corporate wellness partnership.
- Bioland-Betrieb KlosterberghofcorePartner farm hosting Ackerhelden rental garden location in Essen. Bioland-certified operating farm.
- Bioland Gut WulksfeldecoreBioland-certified farm hosting Ackerhelden rental garden location in Hamburg Nord (Tangstedt).
- Deutsche Post, DHL, DPD, UPSminorShipping and logistics partners for product delivery. Deutsche Post, DHL, DPD, and UPS handle standard and freight shipping.
- Snoek NaturprodukteminorSupplier of biological plant care products including Brennnessel Extrakt Compositum, Ackerschachtelhalm Extrakt Compositum, and other organic fertilizers sold in Ackerhelden shop.
- Andermatt BiogartenminorSupplier of biological garden products including Brennnesselpellets, CarboVit, Meeresalgenkalk, and other organic fertilizers.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ackerhelden competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hornbach: German home improvement and garden retailer with deep DIY assortment including raised beds, soil, and tools. Competes with Ackerhelden in the home gardener segment, particularly in raised bed hardware.
- Pflanzen Kölle: Major German garden center and nursery operator with organic product lines and raised bed offerings. Overlaps with Ackerhelden in raised beds, organic plants, and gardening accessories, but operates retail rather than rental.
- Dehner: Germany's largest garden center chain with broad assortment of plants, raised beds, seeds, and garden supplies. A broad incumbent that competes for the same gardening consumer wallet but does not offer a rental subscription model.
- Gärtner Pötschke: Long-established German mail-order and online gardening retailer selling seeds, plants, raised beds, and gardening equipment. Direct overlap with Ackerhelden's e-commerce catalog but without a subscription/rental model.
- Bauhaus: Pan-European DIY and garden center chain with significant German footprint. Sells raised beds, soil, seeds, and tools in categories that overlap Ackerhelden's D2C accessories, though focused on broad DIY rather than specialty organic.
Emerging players
- Sonnentor: Austrian/Czech organic herbs, seeds, and natural products brand with strong DACH retail presence. Comparable in the bio-certified consumables category that complements Ackerhelden's seeds, fertilizers, and plant care SKUs.
Direct peers
- Andermatt Biogarten: Swiss/DACH specialist in biological plant care, fertilizers, and biocontrol products. Ackerhelden is a reseller of Andermatt products (e.g., Brennnesselpellets, CarboVit), and Andermatt's assortment is directly comparable to Ackerhelden's Bio-Dünger and Bio-Pflanzenstärkung lines.
- Meine Ernte: Direct competitor offering self-harvest vegetable garden rentals at farm locations across Germany. Operates the closest comparable business model to Ackerhelden's Bio-Mietgarten concept, including seasonal subscriptions and pre-planted plots.
Regional players
- Samen Maier: Austrian specialist organic seed retailer with strong DACH organic positioning. Comparable in the bio-seed product category and useful as a regional Austrian market reference alongside Ackerhelden's Vienna subsidiary.
Others
- Snoek Naturprodukte: German supplier of biological plant care products (Brennnessel Extrakt, Ackerschachtelhalm Extrakt) that supplies Ackerhelden's organic fertilizer and plant strengthening lines. Comparable as a supplier-adjacent peer in the bio-inputs category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ackerhelden social profiles
Digital presenceAckerhelden compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Ackerhelden financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ackerhelden leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ackerhelden subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Ackerhelden funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ackerhelden M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ackerhelden
What does Ackerhelden do?
Ackerhelden operates bio-certified (Bioland) rental vegetable garden plots (40 m² per plot, 6-month seasonal subscriptions at €249 per season) at partner farms across 100+ German cities, and sells the Bio-Hochbeet-Komplettset — a handcrafted raised bed kit made from domestic sweet chestnut wood (€1,150) including bio-certified soil, drainage, seeds, and organic fertilizer. Supporting offerings include organic seeds, young plant sets, bio-fertilizers, plant care products, garden tools, books, gift vouchers, plus enterprise services spanning corporate wellness programs, urban gardening consulting for municipalities, and educational programs for kindergartens and schools.
Is Ackerhelden a public or private company?
Ackerhelden is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ackerhelden founded?
Ackerhelden was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ackerhelden based?
Ackerhelden is headquartered in Essen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Ackerhelden make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Rental Garden Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are raised Bed Product Sales, accessories and Consumables, corporate Wellness Programs and educational Programs.
Who are Ackerhelden's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hornbach, Pflanzen Kölle, Dehner, Gärtner Pötschke and Bauhaus. Sonnentor is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Andermatt Biogarten and Meine Ernte. Samen Maier is listed as a regional player. Snoek Naturprodukte is listed as an others.
Does Ackerhelden have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ackerhelden.
What industry is Ackerhelden in?
Ackerhelden's product category is Organic Urban Gardening Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIAFAM, Vegetable & Herb Garden Installation and Maintenance, with a secondary code of HSAIAFAB, Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs). Its NAICS code is 561730 and its SIC code is 700.