Messages from satisfied OPTIMAL beekeepers
"A coherent concept that works perfectly! You can tell you've put a lot of thought into it. A lot of work went into it. It's simply brilliant."
"You are the ones who have found the solution to the Varroa problem and put it into practice. You should be mentioned in every beekeeping magazine."
"I was always told that treatment-free is not possible. At times I had the entire beekeeping community in my association against me. Now in my third year of treatment-free, they are themselves interested in the OPTIMAL concept. After weakening or decimating their colonies so much through acid treatment. And I still keep my colonies in the best of health without acid."
"It became clear to me: A bee-friendly climate in a species-appropriate housing is the foundation for species-appropriate beekeeping."
"At first I thought it was pretty expensive for a beehive. But that's only because we're used to cheap junk from third world countries. When I look at today's toxic chipboard furniture and what it costs, you're really cheap. Especially considering the high manufacturing effort, which I realized when I spent days building a DIY module for the first time. And the great instructions. In short, you get an incredible amount for your money."
"It's great what you're doing! Finally someone who offers a real solution to the misery of beekeeping and doesn't just talk big and boast about unrealistic solutions in order to be in the spotlight themselves!"
"The thatched roof is a real eye-catcher in the garden, everyone wants to be the first to see our new hives."
"I have to tell you, the colonies in your hives are much more relaxed and calm. The smell when you open them is indescribable: a pure, dry honey scent, free of the previous sourness."
"I have a log hive, but I don't use it. It's far too difficult to handle as it's not accessible at all. Leaving the highly bred domestic bee to itself won't work. That's how I ended up with your system."
"I measured it: 34 degrees outside, 22 degrees inside. That's a record."
"I harvested about a third more honey. The investment is really worth it."
"No more robbery even without me having to block the entrance hole. Apparently the round entrance hole actually helps with defense."
"Round entrance hole, better defense. The guard bees are not so far apart but have contact. This has probably got around to the neighboring bees!"
"Beekeeping without acids, your instructions for organic beekeeping help me enormously throughout the year."
"I save myself all the equipment for acid treatment, protective clothing, technology, and the acids every year. The OPTIMAL is worth it in the first year. Not to mention the time saved."
"Beekeeping without acids is a relief for me. I don't have to pollute the bees and the environment with pesticides. I tested for Varroa several times with my beekeeping sponsor, and he was shocked. It worked perfectly. Thank you!"
"The honey from your straw hive is in a whole different league. Now I press it according to your instructions. Apart from that, I was the only one in our club who had any honey worth mentioning this year (2021)."
Messages from satisfied OPTIMAL beekeepers
"I'm pre-ordering two more hives. The straw magazines have proven themselves, now I want to try the module."
"I used to find beekeeping disgusting because of the smell of sweaty feet under the plastic sheeting. And the dead bees after the winter. Now I'm happy every time I can go near the bees with my mom and dad."
"The climate roof is a hit. The ventilation seems to be good for the bees. I get about a third more honey!"
"Organic beekeeping at the highest level. Now I no longer have to worry about my colonies."
"Finally, the basic prerequisite for organic beekeeping. And thank you also for the reference to the organic beekeeping instructions from Kirchhain."
"I threw out all the log hives and replaced them with yours, they were too wet and the fact that they didn't meet disease control standards made me think!"
"I thought that if we hung the overpriced tree hives in trees it would help the bees. But they're all gone. And then there's the drama with the veterinary office. It's good that I found you on YouTube!"
"Thank you for your competent instructions on beekeeping without chemicals. I would never have dared to do it alone."
"I was given a wooden hive that was so wet, moldy and musty that it was impossible to keep bees with it. That was my first and last non-OPTIMAL hive that was useless even if you got it as a gift."
"The prey used to be warm on the outside when I touched it with my hand. Now it's nice and cool."
"The bees hardly needed any honey over the winter. We never expected such a large harvest."
"My bees are much calmer and more relaxed. I really notice it when I approach them."
"The smell that comes from a straw hive is indescribable! You can literally smell the dryness and how well the bees are doing."
"I have already shown my module to my fellow beekeepers. The young beekeepers in particular are enthusiastic! I am also envied for the drawers. My father says that he can now keep bees again despite his back."
"Hello Mr. Bloch and Team Optimal,
For some time now, we have been following your developments in species-appropriate beekeeping with growing interest and are thrilled with what you have achieved!
A good three years ago, we learned what beekeeping means in Hamburg with the Stadtbienen eV and learned about the importance of supporting nature with pollination. This has developed into a hobby, a passion. We keep a colony in a city bee box, a single-room trough hive, on our roof terrace in the middle of the city.
Although the concept of Stadtbienen eV is great, we are very dissatisfied with the bee box. There is an unhealthy, damp climate in the cold season and the temperatures in the box are too high in the summer. We hope that your Optimal Module hive will provide the right answer to our problems, which are certainly also related to the exposed location on the roof terrace."
"At first I was enthusiastic about the so-called trees, but now I no longer believe in them. I bought three and hung them in trees with great effort. None of the three families survived the winter. After the self-sustaining attempt failed, I was faced with the question: How do I gain control over the bees? That's how I came across you and your concept of species-appropriate beekeeping on frames."
"As a beginner beekeeper, I ended up with the Optimal Bee hive because I got a lot of information about it from Mr. Bloch (on the Internet and especially by phone). The thought that the bees have an easier time in this (naturally insulated) hive made it easy for me to decide to go for it. It is obvious that the bees use less energy in an insulated house (hive), just like we humans do in our own homes. In addition, the building materials are ideally suited to creating a habitat for other creatures such as the book scorpion where they feel comfortable.
My natural swarm, which was a little weakened at first, has developed wonderfully in it. I have already carried out long-term temperature measurements on (in) the hive and am pleased with how the temperature curve in the brood chamber and honey chamber has leveled off regardless of the outside temperature. I want the bees to be happy and I have a good feeling about my hive. The usual Varroa treatment, which is a burden for the bees, was also a thorn in my side. The alternative methods that were provided to me with the hive in written form and with links are much more convincing.
I observe the bees' entrance holes every day and am happy to see how they are developing. A garden with bees is a wonderful feeling for me. When the first winter is over, I will decide whether to get another straw hive."
Stefan Nussbecher, ÖDP deputy district chairman Lower Bavaria
"I have spent a year working on the floor and especially the entrance hole, regardless of which hive system we have, it is a key to eliminating many problems!
The steam diffusion openness and the design/function of the entry cooker must be coordinated! At Optimal, this team more than deserves the name Optimal!"
Messages from satisfied OPTIMAL beekeepers
"My beekeeping equipment under the roof is really brilliant. And nowadays, being able to lock things up is a must. And no one is going to take the Compact away from me any time soon."
"The first thing I did was put the prey in the blazing sun to measure it. It was 32 degrees outside and nice and cool inside."
"In the forest my hives were kicked over several times in the winter. It was terrible every time. That can't happen to me again with the Compact. Thank you so much!"
"In winter, according to my measurements, the humidity in your straw single-room hive never exceeds 50-60% and there is no condensation. With your climate roof, my colonies in the single-room hive have survived the winter so well that they are now literally exploding. I can now form two offshoots from one colony in mid-April. Can you build me a climate roof especially for my log hive? Because it is too humid."
"Beekeeping with drawers. A revelation. Why not sooner?"
"With your loot, no colony died last winter. That was the first time. Before that, it was always about 20% of the colonies."
"The drawer magazines are great, it is now really fun to look through them. The people in the straw hive are
my best people, strong, vital, healthy, powerful. And that's why I'm ordering a DIY hive right away."
"Your assembly instructions are simply brilliant! Everything worked out great! Huge price-performance ratio for super solid quality."
"First of all, a big thank you and praise for the beautiful loot. I can't walk past it for a day without being happy:-)!"
With young beekeeper André near Lingenau in Vorarlberg, Austria. André got into beekeeping through his bee sponsor. Through his beekeeping friends who work with straw hives, he learned about their excellent properties. With his first Optimal products, he saw significant changes in the behavior of his bees: "The colonies under the climate roof are much more relaxed in comparison."
In Vorarlberg, at around 1000 m above sea level, alpine climate conditions prevail: today, at 11 a.m., it is already 30 degrees in summer heat. "You can fry fried eggs on the metal lids. The bees hang outside. And then there is the acid treatment. That kills a lot of colonies. We're doing things differently now."
Klaus: Beekeeper with vision in Tyrol
The passionate biker and airbrush artist got into beekeeping through his wife.
"When I started, I quickly saw that a lot of things were going wrong with today's beekeeping and that there was a lot that could be improved in terms of ecology and species protection. That's how I came across Torben Schiffer. But leaving honey bees to themselves won't work. I also want to harvest some honey in a way that is compatible with bees. So your hive is just right for us!"
Klaus already owns a fully built Optimal and spent two days building several Optimal magazines DIY. "I have also installed a round 4 cm entrance hole in my old hives. The defense against wasps works much better!"
Klaus gave us a jar of real blossom honey from 1400 m altitude, which we are now very excited about. We are delighted by your love of nature, your courage and your willingness to put this into practice and we would also like to thank you for your valuable input!
Messages from satisfied OPTIMAL beekeepers
"Your newsletter is super informative and full of news for me!"
"You speak from my heart with all your work and the optimal hives!"
"Hanging highly bred honey bees somewhere and leaving them to their own devices will not work. That's why your hive is perfect for species-appropriate beekeeping."
"You offer the hardware and, with the instructions for species-appropriate beekeeping, also the software for species-appropriate beekeeping with sense and understanding. Disease control is a must."
"It's great how you have processed all the old knowledge for today's beekeepers. A big compliment. You are on the right track. Keep it up!"
"You have the knowledge, you show the way! No wonder you are now going to Expo Dubai."
"We have been watching your site for three years. It's amazing what you have achieved in such a short time. Everything is so perfectly thought out, I've always wanted this."
"Now that the money is devalued, I'm going to take another shot, because this is an investment for the future!"
Lieferung einer OPTIMAL Modul Lilleslot zum Bienenprojekt in die Kappelner Werkstätten.
Wir freuen uns über die gute Zusammenarbeit!
We are currently delivering an Optimal Modul Amalienborg in DNM in the guesthouse at the Stadt Wehlen National Park right on the banks of the Elbe! "Here, its dehumidifying properties are urgently needed," says Christian happily.
Messages from satisfied OPTIMAL beekeepers
"I came across your products while searching for natural beekeeping and have been very enthusiastic about your beehives ever since."
"2 years ago I discovered bees and was horrified at what we are doing to the bees!!!!!!! I bought a swarm in June 2019 and didn't make it through the winter. A hive that was too moist! This summer 2020 I got 2 bees and experienced the whole treatment with oxalic acid. No no no... far too much disturbance for the colonies, a lot of time for me and it is certainly not healthy (for anyone...animal & human). As a fungus controller and hunter I am close to & in nature and I have always taken different paths. I would like to be in a network with people who offer the bees a habitat in which they can be natural. Thank you for your years of work."
"I am interested in beekeeping for the benefit of the bees. I went online and met local beekeepers who, in my opinion, practice factory farming. Then I came across Sigrun Mittl's contributions. That is what drives me. (...) I do not see the point in being a member of a local beekeeping association and submitting to them. I am not interested in this type of beekeeping. I also want to treat my bees as best as possible without acid." (abridged)
"Thank you for your informative newsletter. I get a lot of benefit from it, which I can put into practice straight away."
"Thank you for the quick forwarding of the damaged package over the holidays. That meant I could carry on building right away! Most people could learn a lot from your customer service."
"Thank you very much for the detailed advice, now I am on the right path."
"Your detailed site and the good beekeeping instructions with the hive are great, I read everything carefully. That saved me those totally overpriced eco-beekeeping courses at X. in Austria." (Name deleted by admin)
"In July 21, hailstones the size of tennis balls fell from the sky in Zurich. While all of our neighbors' hives were smashed, the modular hive didn't have even a scratch."
"In the end, the construction method, which is oversized by today's standards, is the only true one."
"Building it step by step using your great picture instructions was almost meditative!"
"Since we want to gradually convert our bees to natural and bee-friendly, after much searching I found your wonderful magazine hives on the Internet. Now I am interested in the Optimal Magazin Ambrosius (kit)."
"I hope I haven't held you up too long with this overly long email. Unfortunately, I only have the usual beekeepers here and I can't talk to anyone locally about a different form of beekeeping without being laughed at or treated with rejection. So I have to find my own way and turn to experts like you before I increase my colony population in the next few years. I am aware of my responsibility."
The concept seems to be logical, in any case the warm hive with correspondingly few interventions, the largest possible honey storage, etc., shows completely different behavior of the bee colonies. I observe the bees several times a day and know their behavior very well and can interpret it. They are doing very, very well."
"It is important to me that you have been working with the reed hive since 2012 and, above all, have been able to gain experience. I am sure you will report on this. I cannot offer a new system without several years of practice. In my view, this is irresponsible."
OPTIMAL BEES custom-made, a double module climate hive.
Der schöne OPTIMAL Magazin "Bienenturm" Ambrosius erstrahlt im traditionell dänischen Bienenhaus Weiß.
DIY-Selbst gebaut: "Dank eurer guten Anleitung ging das einfach!
Ich denke, dass Königinzucht auf Varroatoleranz in einer klimatisch für Bienen geeigneten Beute wesentlich besser funktioniert."
Updated 23.09.2021:
Our OPTIMAL BEES friend Jörgen, who recently submitted the honey to the Danish Beekeepers Association for assessment, is delighted with second place and a silver cup. And that as a beginner in the first year with OPTIMAL BEES climate hives!
We congratulate him and are happy for him!
Here is his statement:
"Thank you so much, Chris, you are my mentor. You answered all my questions so patiently and took so much time. The others don't do that! Everything you said was absolutely correct and has also been applied to my people. I spoke to the people you recommended and acquired the rest of the specialist knowledge from them.
As a beginner, I was sometimes really confused by the many beekeepers' opinions, some of which seemed really absurd to me. But I chose the logical path and that was yours.
I did everything exactly according to your instructions, followed the drying level and pressed the honey instead of spinning it like everyone else does.
I didn't let my colleagues dissuade me from my path. Logically, I knew that you at OPTIMAL BEES were right!
I didn't do any acid treatment because it simply wasn't necessary! My bees grew strongly in the OPTIMAL climate hives, collected a lot in a year when others had almost nothing, and had almost no Varroa. This also surprised my bee sponsor, who examined the bees with me several times. Your concept has worked perfectly for me and you are unbeatable in terms of price-performance!
I knew that I had produced a gourmet honey. As a beginner, I won second prize in the Danish Beekeepers' Association's honey tasting competition in Denmark out of over 400 participants in my first year.
I am now the only one in my club who has ever received a medal for his honey.
Among the tasters were the two-time honey world champion and several professionals from the food industry.
I'll get another trophy. I'll put it on your OPTIMAL climate loot and take a photo! You can show it to everyone! Your concept is simply brilliant!!"
Here, at the Pension am Nationalpark, directly on the Elbe and at the foot of the Bastei, a beautiful place is being created for the OPTIMAL Module Climate Hive Amalienborg.
An important contribution to environmental protection and biodiversity, because species-appropriate beekeeping attracts other insects through synergy effects, as recent studies show. Here, the riverbank vegetation is pollinated.
"Wir sind stolz auf unsere erste selbst gebaute DIY-OPTIMAL Klima Magazin Beute Ambrosius!
Sie steht in Tirol auf 700 Meter Höhe. Ich freue mich auf meinen ersten Schwarm, um sie zu besiedeln!"
Update Rechts:
Der Schwarm ist eingezogen.
Messages from satisfied OPTIMAL beekeepers
"Your hives are simply amazing. When I go there and smell them, they are so dry, there are spider webs and other symbionts inside, I really like that. My old ones are painted, which is nice, but I notice the difference from the Optimal one extremely."
"I want to go back to the roots. Today's beekeeping, with formic acid, that wasn't for me. The way the bees huddled together was enough for me."
"My beekeeping mentor keeps bees like in factory farming with acids and has no idea about anything. If you have the courses, let me know! I want to learn all of this, you are on the same page as me, I really like it."
“The brood in your hive is wonderful, the queen is wonderful, the colony has formed two brood nests and is sitting on two Zander frames.”
“I have to wait until I have success without acids, then I can present it to my club.”
“I have the feeling that they feel comfortable, the peace and quiet in the hive.”
“As a rule, powdered sugar treatment and total brood removal are not necessary in this hive.”
“I had three swarms, I put them together in a box, they developed extremely well in your hive!”
“Thank you for your site, it’s so great and easy to understand, really great, I printed everything out and put it in a folder!”
"Your newsletter is very informative, I collect everything in a ring binder."
"We recently helped our father-in-law with the bees, and that was the first time I had a Styrofoam hive in my hand. I must tell you, it shook me." Beekeeper with five OPTIMAL colonies, Allgäu
"Your newsletters are on my bedside table, I'm eagerly awaiting your first book and the seminars."
"Thanks for your answers!
Yes, I sanded down the blocks - that worked well. And the starting strips, which I used this time instead of ship's hull strips, were also well received.
But I'm looking forward to your multi-frames.
Attached is a photo of the new magazine hive (below is the housed swarm building, above I am feeding them with sugar water).
I'll experiment a bit with the grid."
"Dear Christoph,
Thank you for your great work. We will soon start building our hives :-) We are looking forward to it and we are already making a conscious decision not to use any chemical treatments. We want it to stay in nature and we are convinced that the bees will be able to cope with it in our current hive.
It's crazy how some people resist, but always remember - pay attention to your thoughts, energy follows attention and that's not what we want! We want to concentrate on beekeeping that is appropriate to the nature of the bee.
Just wanted to write to you and wish you and your family and team all the best for the next year 2024!
Warm greetings from Schwarzsee "
"Lieber Christoph und Team,
Großes Dankeschön für eure Bemühungen sowie offenen Worte um das Wohl der Bienen und verbunden damit auch zum Wohl der Natur. Als behandlungsfreier „Imker“ der das natürliche Schwärmen zulässt sowie ein Überwintern auf eigenen Honig in isolierten Behausungen ermöglicht, bin ich dankbar, dass es Menschen wie euch gibt.
Freu mich schon auf das Frühjahr wenn die Mädels wieder aus meiner „Dänenbehausung“ rauskommen und mir beweisen, dass sie auch ohne Behandlung überlebt haben😀 und ich es den sogenannten Profis erzählen kann. Verständnis erwarte ich mir keines, aber sie sollen die Botschaft hören😉
Wünsche euch ein erfolgreiches neues Jahr, bleibt gesund und geht euren Weg weiter.
Liebe Grüße"
“That’s straw! I wouldn’t have thought so. I’ve never seen anything so solid here before.”
"Dear Christoph,
I completely agree with you. In your detailed report in your email.
During an otherwise good training course with a well-known Demeter beekeeper last year, I noticed an attempt to convince me to at least use evaporation. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful.
My bees have not been fed any acids for over 10 years. A customer recently said that your honey contains the happiness of your bees. Nice, isn't it?"
"Lieber Chris, gestern sind die Strohdach-Beuten bei mir angekommen. (...) Ich freue mich riesig. Ich habe eine Beute ausgepackt und bin begeistert!!"
"I have the distinct impression that Mr. Schiffer's knowledge of the indoor climate and his preparatory work are being incorporated into a manageable, practical result."
Amalienborg im Münsterland
Guten Morgen ihr Lieben,
ich wollte euch mit dieser Mail nur an meiner Freude teilhaben lassen,
dass seit Mittwoch eure Amalienborg von der Messe in Münster mit einem Naturschwarm bewohnt ist.
Es ist so schön, wenn es endlich wieder im ganzen Garten summt.
© 2018-2024 OPTIMAL BEES.
All Rights Reserved
IBAN - CHF - DK8420005036636191
