36 : Flow Hive Experiences: Part 2
REPORTS OF THE FLOW HIVE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC
Experiences: Part 2 T
Flow Hive Simon Croson and Larry Alderfer Fisher
Flow Hive Diary Larry A Fisher
he rain did stop and we have been getting a pretty
good nectar flow in June and July. I harvested honey from my three regular hives. My Flow Hive setup remains my most active colony.
3 (of the Five Aspects) Going With The Flow
Looking into the Flow Hive The bees have not ventured onto the ‘Flow’ frames
A Mid Season Update Simon Croson
T
o date, the Flow Hive has been sat upon a double
brood box of well populated combs. There has been a short but effective flow from lime and many other midsummer floral sources. It has been very disappointing to see that the bees have not ventured onto the Flow frames, other than to propolise some of the cells. I will spray the frames
www.bee-craft.com
with sugar syrup to try and entice the bees to work them, as they seem very reluctant to do so. The brood area is well stocked with bees and, with nowhere else to go other than upwards, I was sure that the Flow frames would, at least, get some attention from the bees but, alas, they have not.
Comparison of Performance
Nearby colonies within the apiary that are being managed conventionally have all been
busy taking advantage of the local forage and have provided a good honey crop. I know from other experiences, with plastic foundation that it can be a bit problematic to get bees interested. With only a short period of our season remaining, it is difficult to see our Flow frames being tested. There are a few floral sources that may provide a good honey crop, but they are not suitable for the Flow frame system. Maybe the bees will surprise me yet and produce a frame from which my harvest will flow!
Apimondia Gold Medal for Popular Beekeeping Journals, 2007, 2013 and 2015
from the side through the window, you can only see one end of one frame. By taking off the end board you can see a good portion of the end of each frame. It is this access that allows you to attach tubes for harvest. All summer, there has been a lot of activity in the Flow Hive and evidence that the bees are sealing up the cracks in the cells, preparing them for depositing nectar. But no nectar. I sent a panic letter to the Flow Hive Forum and was told by some to be patient. Others affirmed my plight by saying they, too, were not getting any honey. Finally, someone from the Flow Hive company responded with some actions I could take. I am not sure why these actions were not mentioned to purchasers
September 2016 Vol 98 No 9
Simon Croson
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