OPTIMAL. The best goods are made from the best raw materials.

Nordreet. From the Danish west coast. Weather tested.

Basis for quality: The right choice

For our high-quality OPTIMAL climate hives we only use reeds from the north.

The so-called lignin is responsible for the stability of the reed. Lignin is a substance similar to wood that is stored in the stalk and gives it its strength. The higher the lignin content of the reed, the more stable and resilient it is.

The northern reed we process is extremely stable and durable due to its high lignin content, slow growth and therefore short cells. We check the goods with the utmost care before harvesting and are only satisfied with the best.

The quality of our reed begins with the harvest

Reeds grow in water. The reeds are cut directly after the second knot above the water line on the reed stalk. Parasites and fungi have no surface to attack here. The deeper the stalk is cut and the cleaner the bundles, the less opportunity harmful microorganisms have to attack the product. This is the first step towards first-class quality. Our reeds are cut at the ideal height and are therefore water-resistant: they do not absorb any water in the cut area and are permeable in this area. Without moisture, there are no microorganisms and no fungal infestation.

Equally important for quality: drying

After the harvest in winter, the reed is gently dried for a year. During processing, it must not contain more than 18% moisture. We pay attention to this. The Danish northern reed is used to extreme temperatures: up to minus 20 degrees in winter and up to plus 40 degrees in summer. And no other raw material can cope with moisture so easily: our northern straw copes with everything from 100 percent humidity in winter dominated by coastal fog to the shimmering hot, dry air of the steppe-like heathland on the west coast. Therefore, with appropriate processing, it is suitable for almost all climate zones. The reed straw is pure nature, which means it is completely untreated and therefore 100% sustainable.

Here too, only the best is recommended for the bees, as incorrectly cut and treated cheap goods can even absorb water and thus lead to mold and mildew, as well as being toxic due to chemical treatment and fumes.

Quality through thoughtful processing

Our reed is pressed into the magazines according to its load-bearing capacity. This way, the valuable hollow spaces are preserved and nothing breaks. At the same time, it is pressed so tightly that it is absolutely windproof. This is not the case with straw mats from the hardware store. This is how we ensure that our products offer you the maximum in terms of dehumidification, insulation and windproofness. And all this while being as light as possible.

We install our climate reed straw roofs with a roof pitch of 47 to 49 degrees. This is because the water drains off better than with the usual roof angle of 45°. With 5 degrees more steepness, the roof lasts about 10 years longer.

Cheap reeds harm your bees

Cheap reeds from the hardware store are usually imported and are fumigated to prevent pests before they are imported. The fumigation can cause fumes. For the bees and their sensitive organisms, natural raw materials are a must in order to keep them healthy and strong.
Cheap reed mats stretched over metal wires are also unsuitable for your bees. Radio and mobile phone waves can have a negative impact on the development of the brood and the health of the bees. Since it has not been scientifically proven whether wires on the hives further increase these negative effects, we only use the best, natural northern reeds without wiring for our products.

Our wood: local and well stored

We only use local woods: the fragrant Weymuth pine for the magazines, larch for the cladding and roof. The wood is carefully stored until it is gently dried: this avoids later cracks and warping caused by moisture and heat. Larch is extremely durable and weatherproof and is often used for outdoor terraces, for example. We prefer short distances and buy our wood exclusively from local timber merchants nearby who know exactly what we need, help us with our selection and have the best pieces ready for us. This way, your OPTIMAL will last for decades.

If you wish, we can deliver your OPTIMAL with moon wood. Moon wood is wood that has been felled at the right time and does not lose any of its strength for centuries. It is extremely flame-retardant and is considered to be the most valuable wood in the world in terms of quality.