FLOW HIVE - Why I haven't used it. 

🌹🌷🌼"MAYBE YOU SHOULD PLANT FLOWERS TO HELP THE BEES DURING THE DEARTH." 🌺🌸🌼 This comment keeps coming up over and over. You're not the first one to think about it! In fact, the season before we got bees, we plowed, disced and tilled an acre of our field RIGHT NEXT TO THE BEE YARD and planted a full acre of bee-friendly wild flowers. We spent hundreds of dollars on seed. Unfortunately, we also had the driest summer in recent history that year so the flowers did not produce like we hoped. 2016 Record-breaking drought. (No water, no nectar) I'm sure what did come up helped, but it was not the success we had hoped for. Knowing we had a solid acre of wildflowers in the ground in 2016, we decided to plant a SECOND ACRE on the other side of the bee yard to add more flowers. So we plowed, disced and tilled a second acre and planted buckwheat, sweet clover and alfalfa. The buckwheat came up and produced a very thick stand of flowers all through June and a little into July. Unfortunately, the alfalfa did nothing. No germination. The clover germinated, but quickly was taken over by grass and sod that came right back up right after we seeded. To make things worse, the acre of field we had planted with wildflowers the previous summer (2016) reverted right back to exactly what it looked like before we started planting. So it was basically just a grassy meadow with native pasture flowers. The several hundred dollars of wildflower seed just disappeared and didn't come back the second season. That patch is where the majority of our goldenrod is, so I am hesitant to do too much to disturb it now. That goldenrod is right next to the bees and they really need it in September. We are going to try re-tilling the second acre and replanting buckwheat and some different types of clover this spring. It's a crap-ton of work, time and money. It is a little sad to walk out in that field and throw hundreds of dollars onto the ground and not know if it is even going to grow. Believe me, we are doing everything we can to help the bees. We just can't control the weather.

One thing you can see do to help is plant sweet clover. It will not make a super difference but sweet clover builds up the soil and they have flowers and will help some. Sweet clover is a legume. Look that up legume put nitrogen in the soil. They also have a lot of flowers. It is something that will not cost a lot of money but will make a little difference. Sweet clover may take years to realy get going. Plant some the next year there should be a little more sweet clover. Over time you should have a good amount of sweet clover. Each year you should get more. No it will not give you a lot of honey but will give a little more. Sweet clover will grow like grass maybe a little taller. But after time most of the grass area will have sweet clover adding a new flower for the bees. Next plant fruit trees! You get the fruit and the bees get the flowers. This is not a ONE THING deal Look at all the parts. You want more honey put things around to help them make honey. When you add things make the things that will build you soil of give something to eat.

This is the most informative video I have watched and could be easily called “Factors You’d Never Consider Before Becoming A Bee Keeper”! You share so much great information while you share your Flow story. Thanks you for a great video! Fingers crossed for you this year!

As always, a thoughtful and informative video. I bought my Flowhive on the second crowdfund release in 2015. When it arrived I found your video on assembly. Then I watched everything you made. It was inspirational. I am blessed to live in the Blue Mountains NW of Sydney Australia. The coldest we get is maybe -4C for a very short time. My bees were busy all but two weeks in my first Winter. Most of the flow comes from the eucalyptus forest that surrounds me. I am fortunate that I harvested within two months of starting beekeeping and again later in the season. But the harvesting is just the icing on the cake. The real joy is in making the cake. I am totally obsessed with beekeeping now. Like you say, I would definitely start with two hives if I had my time again. It seems to me that you enjoy your cake even though it may take some time before you get to taste icing. You'll have a freak season some time and have a super flow and you'll finally be able to Flow. I look forward to that video.

Love all this info! I don’t know why all of this is so interesting, I’m happy to see how gentle you are with your bees! Awesome job👍✌️😊

G'day from downunder!! You are so right about our weather. In Australia we have 90% of our country does not have snow or temps under -2degC (28F). Only 10% drops to maybe -8C. Where I live, 30 deg S Lat, 80 naut miles from the E coast as the crow flies, our minimum, minimum temp has been -4.5C, basically shorts & T shirt weather all year round. Local temp variation from 45C to -4C and we don't get snow, definitely no snow. We don't even have a permanent snow line. Although I am not a beekeeper, I can truly understand exactly what you are saying. I commend the work you have done and your comments. I'd like to get into bee keeping, atm I do my "apiarying" through you my friend. Yes I do watch others, but enjoy your work (more) and look forward to your videos (addicted). Keeping bees helps your local environment stay strong and vital, that is very important. With each passing year your bees will get stronger and stronger through natural selection, hang in there, the flow hive will be in use, I can feel it in my bones. The learning curve you are on, and the information you publish helps others along their individual paths, and that is bloody brilliant. You are building a massive bank of good Karma. To coin an Aussie saying......... "Maaaaaaate, ya dun good!!!!"

From what I've seen online, the biggest issue getting started with flowframes is getting the bees to accept them and prep them. Once they get going a strongish hive will fill them surprisingly fast in a strong nectar flow. I would still put it on your strongest hive to let them prep the frames this year so that they're ready to go for a good flow year

on the brightside, it was your flow hive video that first brought me to your channel ages ago. and ive been a subscriber since. i look forward to your videos this year :) p.s your channel is probably the best ive seen for beginners to get into beekeeping.

You are an inspiration. I just ordered bees!! Can’t Wait! I’ve been watching your beekeeping process, learning, laughed with you, and sometimes at you (hood/helmet flipping). Living in Minnesota, I had hard time not jumping at the Flow Hive, BUT it greatly inspired my interest and pointed me to find your amazing channel. Thank you for YouTubing this journey, you’ve inspired me!

Thanks for this video. I am in same environment as you and have been wanting a flow hive. My initial investment for my first bees was just deeps and a couple mediums. Was lucky to have a mentor tell me to start off that way. After 6 months of beekeeping I realize the flow hive will not be needed for a couple years. Great video and again thanks for your explainations!

I love your videos and have learned so much from your bee keeping experiences. I’m starting 2 flow hives (a 7 frame and a hybrid) next month here in Texas and hope I have better luck with being able to use the flow supers this year.

Your channel has been one of my go to channels while I was researching beekeeping and has remained so since I started last year. It was so strange to see your bee yard with just one hive in it @ 3:41 and no shrubs around the outside!!! Keep up the great thoughtful well explained vids :)

I am almost down the street from you in Belmont MA. I started watching you to learn from you, and compare bees. ( also a new bee keeper) My bees did good the 1st year and I used my flow hive the 1st year. (I used waxed frames, maybe that speeded the process) In the Summer of my 2nd year they all died, maybe swarmed. My 3rd year now, I am going to start all over again with a package bee. I believe if you start with a strong hive in the spring, flow hive will work. I love your videos, you say you are a new bee keeper, but we all learn so much from you. Good Job, Thank You.

Thanks alot, i guess you just saved me some frustration (living in Sweden) ..I just have to see further down the road if Flow hive is something i can use, but i start up with some classic ones.

Great video, thank you, have been working my way through year 1 of your bee videos and had to peek forward a bit, I'm between Vino Farm and Boston and 2021 will be year one of beekeeping in the city/'burbs...really appreciate all of the work you've put in and it's helping me immensely as climate among so many variables are all a part of the learning.

I’ve recently started my research into becoming a beekeeper, and I came across the flow hive and thought it would be perfect...this information has made me seriously reconsider, since I live in Michigan and we also have extended cold and some harsh winters. Thank you for the information.

According to your explanation, flow frames or not, you'd be lucky to get any honey at all... yay! Btw, you are a great "teacher" you are very articulate and conveying the relevant information, great job, thank you for sharing!

Oh, I forgot to mention, I have two Flow hives one regular and one hybrid and also have yet to use one to harvest honey. I had one of them on the hive for a couple months last year and the bees came up, ran around, and used it for a rec room but never put any honey in it. They got snippy when I wouldn't put in a pool table...

Thank you! Love the visuals on the drawing board 👍

Wow you are doing so great! Love your videos and watching you grow as a new keeper and how you have learned your area. Learning how to bee keep within your realm. I remember you first starting so many questions and doubt and now my friend I feel you habe it and will be very successful. Great job!

Similar story here with Flow Hive in the Berkshires (Western Mass) but I’m starting to think your resource Nucs could be the answer. If your primary hives are in good shape after winter then move some brood frames from your resource nucs to the Flow Hive to catch the first nectar flow - Michael Palmer in one of his videos called it “dropping a brood bomb”. I just assembled my resource nuc (which you introduced me to, thanks) and now I'm thinking i should get a second one, but i'll have over a year to see if I can get my dusty Flow supers to work. Good luck and thanks for the great videos.

That is definitely a tough timeline. Maybe this year will be better and the numbers will be on your side. I think a flow hive would work for me here in VA. b/c we only have a couple of really cold months. I would definitely love to try it some day. Good luck this season. 👍

Hey bud, nice video. I learned a lot as a new bee keeper, even I am not thinking about the flow hive. But all your explanation makes a lot of sense when it comes to honey flow and when to take honey. Thanks and keep it coming.

Thank you! This was just what i needed to know. I live in Norway with the same long vinters as you have. I’ll follow your advice and try to become a beekeeper and then deside what to do! Thanks for many entertaining and helpful videos! Greetings from Totto.

Well since you now have multiple hives and each winter a hive that dwindles (and or dies) you might want to use another strategy for just a little bit of honey harvest in non-optimal years. You put one or two flow frames in the flow box and the rest of the space you fill with normal frames. If that one flowframe gets filled with honey you harvest only that one, ones a year. Once harvested and the frame is cleaned by the bees you switch the box and take out the flow frame and put in a normal frame. They only have one frame to add honey :) To support strong hives getting through the last bit of winter you'll need the weak hives and you'll need to combine them making sure the food is used by a strong hive. If a hive dies, freeze the honey frames and use those to get stronger hives through winter. Deepfreeze for 2 months kills pests, honey will be fine once thawed. If you have 10-30 frozen frames full of honey as a backup then hives not making it in Sep/Okt or Feb/Mar/Apr can still be given good honey. And you won't have to worry about harvesting 2-3 frames of fresh honey in Jun/Sep. You've already experienced that there can be other issues bugging the hive to get it to dwindling. Once that dealt with the short nectar flow is over and adding frames from your backup would fix it. Yes I know you don't have 30 frames of honey backup, and it might take you multiple years the get to that amount to store but eventually you will. You might want to "travel" with a hive putting it near a neighboring meadow about 3-10 miles away during good honey flows. While wintering it in your own backyard. Then you might expand to 5 hives of which 2-3 survive winter. 2 hives dying during winter would leave you with 4-10 frames of backup honey.

The description of Massachusetts weather had me laughing. I’m right below in CT and it’s so accurate about April

Excellent video. Thanks, you helped me decide whether or not the cost of the Flow Hive is worthwhile for me (South East Ohio), the answer is so obvioius to me after you broke things down. Love watching your videos, thanks for sharing!

Great information, best of luck for You in the future. Thank you. Learning a lot from your videos

Well... This is interesting. I bought a Flowhive on a whim because I wanted an easy way to get into beekeeping. Then I found your you tube channel and have watched every episode of your beekeeping experience. The difference between you and I starting up was that I had heard that you should start with two hives. I didn’t want to buy another Flowhive so bought an 8 frame flat packed Langstroth hive so I could share elements of both hives. After installing two 6 frames nucs, the Langstroth proved to be the more successful and productive hive. Like you I haven’t harvested any honey yet from the Flowhive but I’m trying to figure out a strategy so I can. Unlike you though I fortunately didn’t lose any bees over winter. I now have 4 hives in total. One 8 frame Langstroth , 2 ten frame Langstroths and a 32 frame Langstroth frame long hive that we call our “Longstroth” This year the Longstroth will converted into a 5 x 5 frame nuc hive and I plan to get another 4 or so Langstroth hives going. I won’t be buying another Flowhive. Like you I don’t have anything bad to say about the Flowhive except it’s probably not for me either. What I will say is this, the Flowhive may have been the catalyst for me to start bee keeping but it won’t be the reason I remain a bee keeper. I absolutely love it. I still do a little jig, like you, when I find a mated queen for the first time. I also really enjoy your channel and feel I truly can share your delights and frustrations. FYI... I live on the south western tip of the UK.

Fun Fact: i missed this Video back in the day - just watched it. Funny thing is - my beekeeping story is exactly the same as yours ^^ The good thing - through Flow Hive i got into beekeeping, and i found your channel. started watching you with the first Flow Hive Video.

Excellent explanation. It will help many in their decisions with some very well thought out information.

It was great to watch your reasoning on why you have not used the flow hive. This year just might be your first as it looks like you might have a hive that makes it. I myself could probably use it and may try as my area is very mild. Great presentation. All new beekeepers should Learn about their area and their bees before they think about a harvest.

Bee keeping is a like a box of chocolates .8-)

Brilliant video. I genuinely think the technology and the concept of Flow is brilliant (I feel as though you agree?), but it's the application which makes me dubious. Your video has given me a truly balanced insight - so many beekeepers appear hostile towards it, often though misunderstanding. It was fantastic to watch a video which is 'negative' about flow, but with a brilliant justification. Thanks very much for this. For me, as silly as it sounds, one of the aspects I love about the Flow is the observation window... but that's partly because it's a great way to show bees in action to those not comfortable being around an open hive. I'm yet to get into beekeeping - I've just found your channel so I think I'll watch your videos and learn from your learning experience! Anyway, that's the end of my rambling. :)

Jim, thank you for the video and your thoughts on the system. And no worries, your technique, explanation, and logic was all very informative and in no way came across as biased or demeaning. I think you were fair and helpful. I was concerned when I first started watching I must admit because I just placed an order for the Flow Hive 2 and I’m north of the border. But I think it will be a useful challenge to ensure I learn as much as I can about bee keeping in our area as it seems I will have to be very attuned to the flows, etc., as you implied. I should mention I’m only starting out and switching from a rented hive to purchasing 4 of my own this year. Thus I may wait till next year to challenge my self with this system. Thanks again and All the best,

This was a great video. Thank you so much for laying it all out. I've always been suspicious of the Flow Hive, but I like the fact that you didn't badmouth the hive, just let us know how it (doesn't) work for you.

Here's an analogy I thought of while I was out walking the dog... Say you've always wanted to learn how to swim and you didn't know anything about swimming and you came across someone selling swim fins with a really compelling ad about how swim fins can enhance your swimming experience. So you buy the swim fins and get really excited to learn how to swim. However, you live in Canada and your local swimming pond has ice on it 6 or 8 months a year. So you wait until the perfect warm summer day to go swimming and realize you can't use your new swim fins because you still need to learn how to swim. Then you spend the summer learning to go underwater, dog paddle, tread water... all the basics. Cold weather comes and your pond freezes and you hang up your swim fins for the winter. The next year, you get a little better at swimming and never take out your swim fins because you realize the "traditional" finless swimming method was OK and you really didn't get to swim all that much anyway. The fact remains that there are tons of very happy people in the Caribbean, who live on the beach who love their swim fins and use them every day. The swim fins are a perfectly fine product that greatly enhance their swimming experience. However, the people living up north probably don't really need them all that much.

So the flow hive is perfect for where I live after hearing that is mostly for hot-warm weather because I live in Trinidad and Tobago and we don't have winter(we have a DRY season, Rain season and fall). But I do still have mix feelings about it and after watching this video this Really opened my mind if I want to live that has a winter and I wanted to start with a flow hive. 🤔

I’m not too far from Athol so I find it very useful to hear you break down the beekeeping year month to month in this area! It’s my first year beekeeping. I started my first hive beginning of April and I just started my second hive with a Nuc two weeks ago! This past month has been pretty exciting. I enrolled in The Hampden Country Beekeepers Association’s annual bee school last Jan and since then I’ve become nothing short of obsessed!! It’s sad to think all the fun comes to an end at the end of fall. Good to know what to expect though! 💛🖤💛🖤💛 good video!

Exactly what I thought. I am in Chicago and started a hive with a nuc last summer late (July). Like you I was inspired by the Flow hive but did jump on it wanting to see some first hand experience. Well, my bees did not make it. But even though it is not quite as cold the season is just about as short. So I am in a similar situation like you and your review is exactly what I had been looking for as FLOW has announced the FLOW 2 and another indigogo promotion that I want to take advantage of because I love the idea of the flow hive, but like you I just don't think there is enough season or flowers to support it. Thank you so much for doing this video, it really helped me to make up my mind. I'm sad that the flow hive is not right for me but it is an expensive hive and I don't want to end up like you with it unused.

Maybe try a double queen colony like some commercial beekeepers do. Queen in top box, queen in bottom box, queen excluders bottom and top, flow hive/supers in the middle. Maximises honey production in short period of time if your seasons are short. Good luck.

I do not think a flow hive is for cold weather country

Excellent video! Very informative. I have been considering purchasing a FlowHive for a couple of years. I have been watching a lot of videos and yours was one of the most informative in ways I had not thought of. I live in the North Georgia mountains. I am not sure how this would do here but I have been trying to reach out to the local beekeepers associations with unfortunately very little luck for return calls:( Thanks for putting this together. Best of luck!

I know nothing about bees but have gotten hooked watching your videos about bee keeping. Really interesting!

Dude, the only difference between a flow hive setup and a longstrop is the FH has taps to take honey, when required. Just set it up and see how it goes... :-)

This video has very nice lighting. The colours are great, the music in the end enters very naturally and the video has a professional feel. You've become a proper videographer mr. Vinofarm. What's your name btw? I'm sure you've mentioned it on some episode, but I can't remember.

Thank you for your informative videos. I will be taking the classes at U of M for Beekeeping. Here in Minnesota we have brutal winters. At the same time we have flowers that bloom before the snow is completely gone. May I suggest that you talk to your local plant nurseries and plan your flower blooming for the whole summer. Again thank you.

You hit a home run with this video. I am a third year , Zone 5, beekeeper that is still learning and I agree with you completely. I also have the same goals for this coming year. One of three hives made it through winter so far. I treated for mites (OAV), wrapped hives, used insulated/ ventilated winter cover. lots of food, ets. So I am bummed that two hives are dead. would like to get some comb honey this year. Hopefully you have found the "Honey Bee Suite" website, which is fantastic. Thank you for all the time you put into your videos. Good luck this year.

So, if using normal hives you have a lack of honey, why place emphasis on the flow hive? Just seems like there's a lack of honey overall.

I'm liking the Beard! really suits you.

I just about never comment, but your video is incredible. Thank you for the realistic thoughts and the info! We are in Northern California and want to start beekeeping. Finding your channel and this video is SOOO helpful. We have 22 acres and after moving to this property in December, we have fruit trees and wildflowers finally planted, I'm hoping to learn more before jumping into the deep end.

Hi Jim! Thanks so much for putting in so much work into your videos. I enjoy them a lot! I live in a quarter acre lot in a village in New York and there is no way I could have any hives. I have been watching your bee adventures for 2 years now and everything I have learned about bee keeping has been from your content. It seems that your hives are stronger this year than what they were this time last year. I was wondering if you could plant a field of wildflowers around your bee yard. Would that be practical to increase the flow? Maybe find some wildflowers that peak during your dearth months. Just a thought from someone who knows nothing! I hope you have a great bee season this year coming up!

As a beekeeper, I get asked about the flow hive all the time. I always refer those questions to videos like yours, and Brandon's Bees. I feel that you guys get it. You still have to be a beekeeper with the flow hive. You can't just put it on, and wait for the magic to happen, you may get a crop, but the bees will most likely fail. Keep on beekeeping JIm. I love the journey!

You have a lot of acreage to plant. Yellow clover is the best provider of nectar. One acre can produce a ton of honey. I would look into it. Not sure about ur zone. Also we havent put on our flow hive super yet either. Second year we are trying to put it on during the first nectar flow. With the issues in your area sounds like you need to feed early and use pollen substitute to kick them into production. Also melt some wax you have collected and coat ur flow frames, put a queen excluder on and put on ur flow frames early. They will need to clean it up and get it ready before they even start storing. Also as a new beekeeper I wouldn’t buy the flow hive initially, I would do what u said just buy traditional hives then get the super. I feel your pain. Really hard to get the honey going!

Great video. I'm from southern NH and totally agree with your assessment on the Flow Hive's use in New England.

Wow, I love your bee keeping video's and I hope you continue. Working on ways to improve your bee survivability during the winter months is key. If you could build a small bee shed enclosure like some have already mentioned. Make it closer to the house with a power supply and a door for you and a way for the bees to get in and out of the hives. Then heat that space with something and you may have a bigger and stronger hive come spring. Hope you can find a way to succeed this year.

have you ever thought of planting wildflowers where are you live??????

I'd say keep your Flow Hive ready to use. You and I live about 2 miles apart, as the bees fly. We've had some wonky weather that hasn't helped anyone in this area. 2016 we had a drought. Bees worked hard to find flowers with nectar in them. 2017 saw the end of the drought, and what I had heard through Worcester County Beekeepers was that shower and rain activity diluted or washed the nectar from flowers. Again, the bees had to work hard to find nectar. 2015 though, lots of nectar was readily available, and ours made lots of honey. Since this is agriculture and not manufacturing, we are at Mom Nature's mercy. Keep the faith, good years are coming. 🐝

Excellent video Jim, really well explained. It looks like you might have to sell the flow hive. I would concentrate on planting tons of pollen and nectar rich plants near your apiary.

I love your video though. It’s thorough, honest, and very thoughtful. I just wasn’t on board with this style of hive.

No one should look at a flow hive till you have real strong hives. When I got mine I had a hive that was two brood box's and a super. I put the flow hive on top with a queen excluder and got good honey but the hive was about 3 or 4 years old and I had never taken any stores from them just left them from year to year.

This is funny and sad because if you didn't have "FlowHive" in your titles, I never would have watched any of your videos in the first place. Doesn't Mr Dunn live near you? Why does his work and yours doesn't? I AM SO CONFUSED. Good presentation, but leaves me with more questions than answers.

Thanks for all the info. this vid is super helpful!!!! especially for me coming form north eastern MA.

thank you for your explanation we are in OKlahoma, have been thinking about getting a flow hive and are more exited than ever about getting one because of this video, again .......thank you

Unless you live in the arctic this will work. RULE 1 IN BEEKEEPING IF YOU WANT HONEY ,YOUR BEES MUST BE AT MAXIMUM POPULATION BEFORE THE APRIL MAY OR JUNE FLOW. This means your bees must be strong going into the winter. They must be mite free and lots of honey. Then as soon as it starts warming ( note no particular month) feed sugar syrup and pollen patties. As soon as the flow is on ( note when the dandelions are blooming) throw the flow frames on. In my case, Chinese knockoffs.

What i would do is have a give-a-way.

Great video that offers a lot to ponder over. I personally think the flow hive is more of a gimmick for the "save the bees" crowd than a tool for a serious beekeeper. That said, I believe the concept works. As a few others pointed out, the problem is not the length of your winter, nor is it the split flow. Rather, it is your colony strength coming out of winter. Balboa hive looks pretty good this year so I would expect with proper spring feeding, it will explode for you. I am in Virginia so obviously timing is different but I start feeding 1:1 and pollen about 8 weeks before our flow starts. Which means I have been feeding syrup and pollen sub for six weeks already. It also means increased swarm awareness due to the hives being full of bees earlier in the season. Your hives look well insulated so chilled brood shouldn't be much of a problem with an early build up. BTW, found your channel last year while learning how to grow garlic. Bees was a suprise bonus! All the best to you.

Thank you for sharing. You have answer most of my questions. We live in a cold Toronro area.

You should try catching wild bees they already know what they need.

Please sell them to me :( I’m just getting ready to start beekeeping , and of you want to sell that I would love it.

Great video with an interesting perspective. I'm in Annapolis MD and was in the same Kickstarter period as you but haven't had a chance to use yet. Flow was the impetus for getting into beekeeping.

Thank you so mush for the info that was good to know, I live in Canada and have long cold winters. I wanted to get into beekeeping and start with a Flow Hive, but now I will consider your information and start with two regular hives.

YA WANT 75 BUCKS FOR IT ? I'LL PAY SHIPPING.

lol you bought it but you don’t plan to use it. You sound like my wife

Hi. I’m a little confused. I thought the flowhive super was just the same as a standard super, but the honey was collected in a different “easier” way. So if your bees weren’t producing enough honey to fill the brood box and the flowhive super then what difference will a standard super make??

Great info. I'm in Minnesota and want to start keeping bees I'll be going with a standard hive set up. Lots of good points and things to be considered, Thank you.

I agree that you can expect to put that frame in the hive and get a flow but I also believe that you didn't try it so you really don't know and all you're doing is making excuses for yourself in order not to use a product that I guess you unlike most of us can afford just to throw $700 away on and never use. all I see in this video is you making excuses for wasting your money. I have heard that the flow hives are not good for your bees but I've also heard that you can't do a review on a product you haven't used just because you bought it. I'm one of those 11 thumbs down for that by the way

What do you think about a top bar hive. I have a bad back. And it looks like a top bar hive would be easier on the old back??

Send me the box..I live in Victoria Australia..You are right we really don't experience snow, only on our tall mountains. But you have made me feel better were I live, Im always complaining how cold winter is here...Its nothing like what you guys experience.

I'll just say good luck. Bee keeping in itself is great and thanks for helping out in that regard! Keep up the amazing work ~

Hi Jim, Could by using your flow frames as your main honey storage for your bees, be an advantage for them, as they only need to seal them with wax instead of having build up complete cells. Therefore giving themselves more resources to make honey instead of wax?

Hey mate, great analysis, I am a bee keeper in south East Queensland in Oz. The flow hive is hit and miss down here as well. It's a great concept but although our winters may be moderate our spring and summer can be draught ridden and hard. I've seen a full 8 frame flow hive produce 100ml of honey after 6 months. Cheers mate.

Thank you, used to help my Dad when I was a kid in The city of Dallas Texas.

I'm in NY about 90 mins up from the city. We had a weird winter this year - flowers started blooming mid-may and continue to do so now in June - so it seems like when I get into beekeeping (outside research), I'm going to have to work with the bees for a full year and see how well they do during that year. I don't want to take the honey away from them when they need it more than I do. My plan, along with my husband's (who hates bees but knows I want this in my life), is to get the yard ready for them. We're looking at flowers, bushes, and trees that will give the bees what they need, then place the hive. Luckily, there's a local beehive supply place in Kingston so I can get my bees and tools, attend workshop classes, and have more questions answered there as well. But your video was very helpful (I'll be watching your Q&A); and you answered some questions I had about this Flow Hive. You also gave a great pointer towards the end of your video where you said that when you start beekeeping, start with two hives. So thank you for that! Good luck in your venture and may your colonies be strong this year and years to come. :)

Really good video review and thoughts on the Flow hive. We're in Zone 4 at 8,200 feet. I'm a 2nd year beekeeper and we are in a total dearth right now... Had to even take down the hummingbird feeder because the bees were ALL over it. (Like hundreds of bees on 1 feeder.) Thanks for all of the thoughts on the FLOW hive. Even though I don't have one, your conclusions are what I arrived at as well, given that we have 5 months of quite cold winter here.

Love your videos! I'm also new to beekeeping , but you should research a little be about the Slovenian "beehouse". I'm building one to see how my bees will handle the winter here in WA. I'm also planting lots of buckweat, sweet clover, sunflower, lavander and other flowers all around my property to improve the honey flow. Keep the videos coming ( specially the bread videos lol )

A question.... do beekeepers in your area collect any honey the traditional way? If so then why not try the two queen system where two hives joined together with the supers linked to both in the middle? This way with two hives collecting nectar, the supers would fill up twice as fast enabling you to add the flow frames in early September.

If there is something getting me into bee keeping it's also your movies. Very well done! Keep up the good work.

Interesting!!! Thanks Jim. Im excited for this season!!!!!!

Thank you for doing this video! You have certainly helped me to better think about what I will choose to do. I, .. like you, had been wanting to start bee keeping in 2015, ..and I was captivated by the Flow Hive! Unfortunately, 'thing's, have caused a delay in my starting. I've decided to be 😐😘mentored first, and then I can better plan exactly how to move forward. I too, live in a rural area. I need to be sure my little homestead will be good for bee keeping. The good news is, I am in north central Florida, (warm weather,) and with great resources close by. You have helped me to clearly see the need to Really Think Things Through,.. before I leap ! Awesome advice! Blessings, and Happy Beeing! 👍🙄👌

Thanks Jim! I'm down in Nanuet, NY. I may try flow hive one day, but my focus is learning how to get the bees to survive the winter. Plan for this year is, get the bees and see them to survive the winter. Next year, try to get some honey out of them. Maybe in 3 years i'll try flow hive... or maybe i'l just find getting honey too easy at that point and not have a use to buy it.

Hi Jim. Would there be a chance for you to plant some plants that bring nectar in the dearth period? Even some non local ones, I'm sure there is something you can plant in your farm for this. Question is, would you do it of there was a plant for it?

Gday mate ..Great videos .. I’m in Australia and yes prob have no winter like you... stupid question but what is a dearth and golden rod flow ??? Is nectar being available from flowers what u call golden rod flow ??

So if they never fill their boxes and you want those full before winter does that mena you have be bee keeping for 3 seasons and never harvest honey?

Hindsight is always 20:20. I really enjoy your videos and I liked following your journey from "day 1" on. Do you think you would have become a beekeeper if it hadn't been for the Flow Hive?

Where can I find the map of my area(Northern Indiana) that shows the information you showed about temps and altitude?

I live in South Eastern NC near the coast, what are your thoughts on the flow hive here.

So down here in Texas with my 11-12 month season its a good method?

Awesome video mate....very well-put arguments!

This video was extremely helpful. Thank you.