Beehives

I build my own wooden horizontal hives in Bergen. Horizontal hives are not part of Norwegian beekeeping tradition, which is exactly why I care about developing them further in a way that makes sense for Norwegian weather and natural beekeeping. Wood breathes, insulates, and lasts in a way no industrial material truly can.

Gregor Horizontal Hive

An insulated wooden Gregor-type horizontal hive in Norwegian frame dimensions with two supers above for winter colony division. It was developed in Bergen and for Bergen’s conditions, to protect bees in the city’s rainy weather and give them comfort through the winter as well. The supers warm up naturally from the colony below — gentle on the bees through the cold season; for rainy Bergen, the outer shell is additionally protected against water.

This type carries the name of its creator — Jan Gregor, my friend and beekeeper, whose care and craftsmanship gave this hive its character. I bought four Gregor hives directly from Jan and am very happy with them. Jan passed me the baton and gave me permission to keep building these hives — and I try to honour his approach.

Ukrainian Horizontal Hive

Built after the tradition of my wife’s grandfather, who kept bees in Ukraine. My first two Ukrainian horizontal hives were built with help from my friend Gordiy Lebediev from Kharkiv, Ukraine. Thick-walled boxes that mimic a natural hollow tree, providing excellent insulation. This hive type is traditionally used in apitherapy, often in a small bee house, where the hives stand beneath a bed or resting platform so people can relax and sleep above them. It is a calm way to unwind and feel closer to nature.

If you would like to have a small bee house on your property, feel free to contact me. I can help plan the project and provide professional guidance for both hive building and beekeeping.

Accessible Horizontal Hive

It builds on the proven Gregor horizontal hive, but I use even thicker solid-wood walls and the standard Norwegian frame size. My goal was to make beekeeping accessible to everyone while ensuring that the hive takes ordinary Norwegian frames, so it remains compatible with other beekeepers even in harsh northern conditions. That is crucial when a weak colony needs to be strengthened with brood from another colony. It can also be insulated with wool from local Norwegian sheep. Instead of supers above the main colony, it has a light hinged aluminium roof so the hive is quick and easy to access. Children, people with back pain, and even wheelchair users can work with it. It is an accessible beekeeping hive. (The yellow hive.)

Interest in the hives has already begun to arrive — get in touch if you would like a hive.

Natural Comb Building

Commercial foundation gives every colony the same starting point — like a developer who builds a house without considering the person who will live in it. Every colony is different, and natural comb building gives it the space to create exactly what it needs. Besides, bees simply enjoy building.

Log Hive — my dream

The most natural beehive that exists. A hollowed-out tree trunk that mimics what bees choose for themselves in the wild — a deep cavity with thick walls, natural microclimate, and space for free comb building. No right angles, no industrial materials — just wood, air, and bees.

The thick walls of the trunk insulate better than anything else. Humidity, temperature, and ventilation inside the cavity regulate themselves naturally — exactly as bees need them to. Outside intervention is minimal. Natural comb building is a given here, because nothing else is even possible.

I do not have this hive yet — but I dream of it.

This page is part of the history of horizontal hives in Norway — and that history is still being written. I would like to document it as fully as possible. If you keep bees in a horizontal hive or any other wooden or natural hive, or know of such a hive in Norway, please get in touch.