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In the past, we have let some of our property for commercial bee keeping, hoping to eventually do this ourselves. This year, we decided to start on a very small scale. Of course, not satisfied with doing anything the traditional way, we wanted to try out some new apiary technology.
Our new assembled Flow Hive
Last year, a father and son team from Australia launched a crowd funding campaign for a concept they had developed. This involved a bee hive, called a Flow Hive, which would allow the beekeeper to collect honey from the combs without the removal the combs from the hive or the use of centrifuge to extract the honey from the combs. We were intrigued and after a bit of research we were compelled to be one of their original backers. We were definitely not alone and their crowd funding campaign exceeded all expectations, raising much more than originally anticipated.
This month, as original supporters, we were rather thrilled to get our first Flow Hive. The entire hive came in two neat packages and required quite a bit of construction. It was a bit like an Ikea kit. Based on recent Ikea experience, we would have to admit this was of better quality. The instructions were well detailed and after a morning of construction we were pleased with the results.
From the Flow Hive kit, a brood box takes shape.
The only two issues we did face during assembly was a brood box panel which was not pre-drilled and an access door which was rather tight.
The key to this technology are plastic frames which sit on top of the brood box. These frames are composed of multiple partially finished plastic cells. Bees will eventually complete these cells with wax and fill them with honey.
The critical element to the Flow Hive
Once the hive is assembled, two access panels or doors are used to collect the honey. On the top is a slot in which a long key is inserted. In the bottom is a collection tube. Once turned, the key splits the combs and the honey flows to the collection tube.
Accessing the Flow Hive frames for honey collection
A couple of added niceties for being original supporters of the concept, were a wood burned recognition on the hive's access window panel and a beekeeper's hat which was sent with the kit.
Already feeling like a beekeeper
Of course we will be augmenting this hive with a couple of more conventional units. However, our first experience with this particular model would suggest that this may be the ideal hive for the hobbyist. We will now need to assess it with a bee colony and their honey to give a final verdict.
For those wishing to know more about this technology here is the Flow Hive web site. Below, you will also find one of their videos which really explains the concept.
It's now time to educate ourselves on beekeeping and get some colonies!
