Shipped orders placed by Sunday evening are typically prepared early in the week and ship on Friday.
Ignore any mentions of "no shipping" - just add to your cart, make sure to enter the shipping address, and check out. 
Due to significant increases in carrier freight rates for oversized shipments (100lbs+), our pricing has been adjusted to reflect current transportation costs ($185).
 
MADE IN THE USA - Amish Handcrafted
This is not your typical top-bar hive made from thin lumber and inconsistent dimensions like most on the market. Built with extra thick wood for strength, durability, and performance, this beautifully handcrafted hive is heavy duty and offers substantially better insulation and thermal mass than most non–Bee Mindful designs on the market (significantly increases colony survival rates in cold and hot weather), while still coming in at a much lower total cost once shipping is included.
 
With nearly 2-inch-thick walls, it delivers exceptional thermal mass and insulation, far exceeding the ~3/4-inch construction common in most top-bar hives. It also features standardized internal dimensions for consistency, compatibility, and ease of management, fully interchangeable with all Bee Mindful hives and NUCs.
 
If you find yourself in the area, you may also pick up in person in Austin TX or in Alma Center, WI where we receive them by the pallet (starting at $220 per woodenware kit to $295 assembled - after bulk shipping costs are factored in). We are also working on a pickup location in Alma Center Wisconsin - let us know if you would be interested in that location. 
 
These hives are offered at cost to support a dedicated Amish community and to ensure this hive style remains accessible to beekeepers who choose not to or cannot build from our free DIY plans at www.Bee-Mindful.com/plans.
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BBBBBB:
Beekeeping that's Better for the Bees and the Beekeepers' Back and Budget
Best for Backyard beekeepers, Hobbyists and small scale to sideliner beekeepers (Langstroth boxes are best for commercial beekeeping operations and moving boxes to pollination contracts)
 
What makes our hives special:
Our hives are twice to three times thicker, sturdier, and more insulated than most other top-bar hives on the market, allowing the bees to lower their energy requirements and stress levels, and making them ideal for extreme weather (heat or cold).
They are also drop-dead gorgeous and of higher quality than most top-bar hives sold by major bee supply companies. 
We source these hives from a wonderful Amish community we support and sponsor, in alignment with our community outreach principles (Together We Rise, as Les always says!). 
The wood is milled onsite and kiln-dried. It is more insulating, thicker and lighter than regular 2in lumber, and the hives and bars feature a rough interior, for a immune system boost  (encourages propolization). 
These Les-Is-More hives (they follow our plans) are carefully and expertly handcrafted by our Amish friend and woodworker, using traditional techniques and belt driven saws. 
Les-Is More hives feature a 30 degree angle and shallow depth, for better structural integrity and less collapse/attachment
Our FLEX Hives allow for easy Langstroth adapting/conversion, for the best of both worlds or to start your hive with existing large or NUC Langstroth colonies (see our explanations at www.Bee-Mindful.com/post/easy-hive-conversion) instead of with only packages or swarms
 
More info on Amish lifestyle:
The Amish lead a lifestyle that intentionally separates them from many aspects of modern society. 
Their daily existence revolves around the principles of humility, hard work, and a deep sense of faith. 
The pace of life is deliberate, emphasizing family and community bonds over individual pursuits, as well as a commitment to simplicity and traditional values.
They live frugally from the land in close-knit agricultural communities, where families work together on farms and rely on manual labor and horse-drawn equipment, avoiding the use of electricity and most modern technologies. 
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Advantages
These striking Horizontal Hives allow for a more natural and mindful approach to beekeeping, and bountiful harvests of liquid honey, comb honey and beeswax.
They make for calmer, healthier bees and happier beekeepers than in commercial Langstroth boxes, and leverage the natural instinct and biology of the bees over commercial practices.
There is no heavy lifting (max 8lbs, compared to 90-100lbs in Langs)
There is no need to store multiple boxes of supers and drawn comb in the winter, or bulky extractors
No expensive frames needed (Langstroth frames are 10x more expensive than bars, and Layens frames are 20x more expensive!)
They can host 2 normal size colonies, OR 1 extra large colony (thanks to the removable center partition)
Easier beekeeping for all, including for people with disabilities, children and retirees
 
 
CHECK OUT OUR SHOP FOR MATCHING (local pickup only in Driftwood, TX): 
Top-Bar NUCs at Bee-Mindful.com/product-page/tbh-nucs (starting at $360) - higher chances of success
Packages at Bee-Mindful.com/product-page/russian-packages (starting at $170)
 
MAKE YOUR OWN USING OUR FREE PLANS:
We believe so much in these hives that, if you are handy, you may build them yourself using our free plans at Bee-Mindful.com/product-page/plans
If you prefer, you may buy them fully assembled or in kits here. 
 
 
 
 
Not sure? 
Come and visit with us at the address below and we can show you how they work in person on our demo hives every Friday 11am-6pm or by appointment at (512) 699-0605, or just text&call us with your questions.