Haver Til Maver

What Haver Til Maver does

Haver til Maver is a Danish non-profit founded in 2006 by chef and entrepreneur Søren Ejlersen to deliver hands-on culinary and agricultural education to school-age children through a network of physical school gardens. The core product is the "Grundforløb" — typically an 8-visit program across a growing season during which primary-school classes (predominantly grade 4-5) cultivate vegetables, harvest ingredients, and prepare outdoor-cooked meals, with light curriculum integration into science, food literacy, and sustainability. Supplementary offerings include single-visit day programs and professional development courses for educators. The program reaches 5,000+ children annually across Denmark and produced over 30,000 green meals in the most recent year, with 200+ classes enrolled in grundforløb.

The revenue model blends three streams: (i) per-program fees charged to schools, kindergartens, and SFO'er (day programs from DKK 4,000+, kindergarten grundforløb from DKK 19,000+); (ii) facility rental income from the Haver til Maver-Huset teaching kitchen, meeting rooms, and full venue (DKK 2,000-6,000 per booking); and (iii) foundation grants supporting both programs and infrastructure. Major funders include Realdania, Frederiksbergfonden, Novo Nordisk Fonden, Følsgaard Family Office, Liljeborgfonden, Villum Fonden, Fonden for Plantebaserede Fødevarer, and Innovationsfonden. There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or API; the IP base consists of the curriculum library, the trained "formidlere" (educator) network, and the physical garden sites. Headcount sits in the 11-50 band.

In 2023-2026 the organization executed a material scaling phase: a multi-year strategic alliance with Følsgaard Family Office and Liljeborgfonden (2023); the March 2025 opening of the ~300 m2 national headquarters "Haver til Maver-Huset" in Frederiksberg (DKK 10+ million capex); a new director duo (Stine Lolk and Camilla Roed Otte) and board chair (Louise Køster) appointed in March 2025; first-ever geographic expansion to Jutland (Glud Museum, Hedensted; Randers; Norddjurs/DrakonHeart) in 2025; the addition of new gardens at LIFE Campus (Lyngby) and DrakonHeart in 2026 bringing the network to 14 sites; the Årets Arne 2026 architecture award for the new HQ; product extensions into vocational education (Fra mark til menu), urban community gardens (Hørgården), vulnerable-youth programs (Allégården), and applied research (FoodACT); and the April 2026 transition from a forening (non-profit association) to an erhvervsdrivende fond (commercial foundation) named Fonden Grobund, enabling broader revenue activities and targeted national coverage by 2030.

Name

Haver Til Maver

Legal name

Haver til Maver

Website

https://havertilmaver.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Haver til Maver is a Danish non-profit operating 14 school gardens nationwide, delivering hands-on culinary and agricultural education to 5,000+ children annually through multi-visit grundforløb programs, day experiences, and educator training, funded by program fees, facility rentals, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Food Education Programs

NAICS

Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Nature-Based / Forest School Early Learning Programs (EDACADAD)

Keywords

• School garden programs
• Outdoor food education
• Culinary school gardens
• Educator professional development
• Facility rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederiksberg

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. School Program Fees: Fees from schools and municipalities for participating in school garden programs (grundforløb, day visits, etc.)
2. Facility Rental: Rental income from Haver til Maver-Huset for meetings, workshops, cooking events, and team building activities
3. Professional Development Courses: Fees for educator training and professional development courses on culinary school garden pedagogy

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Haver Til Maver operates a national network of 14 school gardens across Denmark delivering outdoor food education programs for children in primary schools, kindergartens, after-school clubs (SFO/fritidsklubber), and special-needs schools. Its core offerings are the multi-session Grundforløb curriculum, one-day "jord til bord" experiences, kindergarten modules, and educator professional development courses, complemented by venue rental services at the award-winning Haver til Maver-Huset in Copenhagen.

Product overview

Haver til Maver is a nationwide Danish school garden organization offering educational programs for children and youth centered on vegetable cultivation, cooking, and nature understanding. The core offering consists of Grundforløb (basic course) where school classes visit gardens 8 times per season, alongside one-day 'En dag med jord til bord' experiences, kindergarten programs, and competency courses for educators. The organization operates venue rental services from the award-winning Haver til Maver-Huset on Frederiksberg, including meeting rooms, teaching kitchens, and terraces available for events and team building. Haver til Maver also runs multiple collaborative projects including FoodAct (research), Den Grønne Rygrad (climate education collaboration with CONCITO), Grøn Skolemad (green school meals), and Fra mark til menu (vocational education). The organization celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2026 and established Fonden Grobund as a commercial foundation to continue its mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grundforløb (Core Educational Program) An 8-session core curriculum of garden-to-plate ("jord til bord") education for school classes, covering growing, harvesting, cooking, and circular food systems. Purchased by Danish primary schools (folkeskoler) and municipalities as a structured educational program.
• En dag med jord til bord (One Day with Soil to Plate) A single-day intensive "jord til bord" experience for school classes, offered as a full day or a 6-hour half-day variant. Designed for primary schools seeking a one-off outdoor food education experience.
• Grundforløb for børnehaver (Kindergarten Core Program) A six-module garden and food education program adapted for kindergarten-aged children (børnehavebørn), delivered in kindergartens or at Haver Til Maver locations. Purchased by Danish kindergartens.
• Aktiviteter for SFO'er og fritidsklubber (After-School Activities) Outdoor food and garden activities tailored to Danish after-school programs (SFO) and youth clubs (fritidsklubber), offering hands-on "jord til bord" experiences for school-age children outside regular school hours.
• Kompetenceløft (Educator Professional Development)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 children and youth participate annually in school garden programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LIFE FondencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LIFE Fonden financed the establishment and startup of the school garden at LIFE Campus in Lyngby. The garden is part of LIFE Campus's outdoor areas including an arboretum, shelter site, and forest circle.
• DrakonHeartcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DrakonHeart and Haver til Maver created an adventurous kitchen garden at Sostrup Slot, combining the magical universe of DrakonHeart with educational garden programs for school classes and DrakonHeart guests.
• HørgårdenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Apartment building on Amager where Haver til Maver runs programs for residents to learn growing and cooking, in collaboration with Københavns Kommune.
• Glud MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Glud Museum, a state-recognized open-air museum in Hedensted Kommune, hosts the first Jutland Haver til Maver garden. 229 children from 13 classes had already 'trial-grown' the garden before official opening.
• Randers NaturcentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Randers Naturcenter hosts the second Jutland school garden in the scenic surroundings by the Gudenå river. Funded through Finance Act 2025.
• MadkulturencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Madkulturen leads the Grøn Skolemad project. Økologisk Landsforening, NORION and Haver til Maver are partners. Funded by Fonden for Plantebaserede Fødevarer.
• Økologisk Landsforening / Organic DenmarkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Grøn Skolemad project working to advance plant-based school food across Denmark.
• NORIONminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Grøn Skolemad project.
• TechcollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Techcollege leads the 'Fra mark til menu' project (Villum Fonden, 2.9 million DKK) where Haver til Maver contributes to making vocational education greener.
• Københavns ProfessionshøjskoleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in 'Fra mark til menu' project, establishing outdoor kitchens and developing teaching programs for vocational students.
• AamannsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Catering partner that delivers organic food to events at Haver til Maver-Huset, offering breakfast, smørrebrød, and sandwiches.
• Ungdomscentret AllégårdenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supported by Frederiksberg Fonden, the project creates a green courtyard at Ungdomscentret Allégården for vulnerable children and youth, expected to complete May 2026.
• Det Danske SpejderkorpsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Haver til Maver developed all 69 recipes for the Danish Pathfinder Corps' new green cookbook 'Ild, mad og fællesskab' (Fire, food and community) aimed at strengthening cohesion and climate hope.
• Center for Klinisk Forskning og Forebyggelse (CKFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partnership to understand and document the evidence behind school gardens' positive impact on children's wellbeing, health, and learning. CKFF contributes expertise in health research and evaluation.
• Københavns Universitet (KU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partner in FoodACT project, working with Haver til Maver and CKFF to evaluate educational activities and develop strategies for health promotion and sustainability research.
• GyldendalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Gyldendal digitized Haver til Maver's 'Hvor fast er fastfood' curriculum, making it available for free download on their website for food education teaching.
• Hello Kitchen (Fars Køkkenskole, Mors Verdenskøkken)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Other partners that utilize Haver til Maver-Huset facilities in afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
• CONCITOs KlimaambassadecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019CONCITOs Klimaambassade collaborates with Haver til Maver on Den Grønne Rygrad project, which strengthens practice-based climate and sustainability education in Danish primary schools.
• Frederiksberg KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partner for Haver til Maver-Huset and school garden programs on Frederiksberg. Borgmester Michael Vindfeldt opened the Dyrk Livet Festival.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Garden to Table (New Zealand): New Zealand charity running school garden and kitchen classroom programs with similar seed-to-plate philosophy. Comparable business model: corporate/foundation funding, school partnerships, hands-on curriculum with measurable participation outcomes.
• Life Lab: California-based nonprofit running garden-based learning programs for K-12 students since 1979, including the Garden Classroom and national educator training. Highly comparable: outdoor school garden curricula, teacher professional development, and research-driven pedagogy.
• Meyers Madhus: Danish food education initiative founded by Claus Meyer (co-founder of Noma) running cooking schools, food festivals, and educational programs. Comparable as a Denmark-based food literacy nonprofit combining education with venue/festival operations.
• Edible Schoolyard: Alice Waters' school garden program founded 1995 in Berkeley, California. Operates the original 1-acre school garden and supports replication through the Edible Schoolyard Project network. Direct comparable model: school-based culinary gardens combining hands-on cultivation, cooking, and curriculum integration.
• Madkulturen: Denmark's national food culture organization, currently leading the Grøn Skolemad project alongside Haver til Maver. Direct comparable as the Danish state-recognized body promoting food literacy and culinary skills through partnerships and programs.

Regional players

• Skovskolen: Danish outdoor and nature school offering field-based learning programs and educator training. Comparable as a Denmark-based outdoor education provider serving schools, though more nature-focused than food/garden-centric.

Broad incumbents

• Jamie Oliver Food Foundation (The Jam Foundation): UK-registered charity founded by Jamie Oliver to improve food education and combat childhood obesity. Comparable mission and curriculum-development approach; broader brand and resources make it a large-scale incumbent in the same category.

Others

• CONCITO: Denmark's green think tank and partner on the Den Grønne Rygrad climate-education initiative. Comparable as a Copenhagen-based sustainability organization partnering with Haver til Maver on school curriculum integration.
• Aarstiderne: Organic food box delivery company co-founded by Søren Ejlersen, Haver til Maver's founder. Comparable ecosystem connection rather than direct competitor; share founder and sustainability/culinary DNA.

Emerging players

• Børn i Naturen / Naturligvis: Danish municipal and association-led outdoor learning initiatives for children. Comparable as a Danish outdoor-education provider targeting schools and kindergartens, though more diffuse and less centrally organized than Haver til Maver.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/havertilmaver
• Facebookfacebook.com/havertilmaver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Haver Til Maver