Production of a one-of-a-kind beehive
BEEcosystem production, being a one-of-a-kind beehive, has not always been easy. Although manufacturing started in the United States, distribution expanded to Europe in 2018. After the manufacturer in the United States closed down due to COVID-19, we also began manufacturing in Europe. In that process we started distributing worldwide and from 2020 both production and distribution are located within Europe. Making it easy to serve a worldwide audience and still promise fast shipping. Now that you know more about the history of BEEcosystem production and distribution, let’s take a closer look at how it is made.
We are proud to have De Houtkern as our manufacturer, as their focus on sustainability and a green environment aligns with ours. They add an extra step to production by constantly seeking improvements, whether it be improving product functionality or using even better materials. Each BEEcosystem hive is handmade from the highest quality materials, mostly using red cedar, as it is the perfect wood for a beehive. It is also very sustainable, and untreated red cedar can last about 20-25 years outdoors.
Red cedar
The hive, lid cap for the top-feeder, bottom drawer, and modular panel are all made from Western Red Cedar sourced from managed forests. This is currently the most eco-friendly, sustainable building material and is completely carbon-neutral. Red cedar’s natural resistance to decay, moisture, and insect damage, combined with its visual appeal and durability, make it the ideal wood for BEEcosystem hives.
True to nature
As we want to give the bees a natural environment our top-bars are made out of poplar wood. This is locally grown poplar that is not treated during the process. It goes straight from nature to the manufacturer so that the bees enjoy a perfect piece of poplar turned in to top-bars to build their comb on. Due to the shape of the top-bars the bees will automatically build comb downwards, starting at the edged bottom of the top-bars.