Spring is here!
It's the perfect time to start beekeeping.
Spring is here!
It's the perfect time to start beekeeping.
Exciting news for garden lovers and foodies
If you’ve been wanting to improve your home-produce, pollinate your garden or collect your very own honey, now is the perfect time to get started! And we have a swarm of resources available to support you as you discover the fascinating world of bees.
In most areas, spring is the best time to start keeping bees. As the cold season ends, flowers bloom and nectar flows, making it the perfect environment for your hive to thrive.
For new beekeepers, now is the time to purchase and assemble your new hive, work out its best location and learn as much as you can.
Looking for the best way to get started?
Spring is here and to celebrate we have a special November Starter Bundle to help our Aussie Flow Community to get beekeeping this spring.
Featuring our Australian Flow Hive Classic - Araucaria 6 frame, an organic beekeeper’s suit, stainless steel smoker, goatskin gloves, a J-Hive tool and Flow Veil, PLUS an incredible saving of $115!
You’ll have everything you need to take advantage of this year’s spring blooms.
The magic of beekeeping in your yard
Imagine being able to taste what is flowering in your local area
With a Flow Hive, you’ll be able to experience the flavours collected from blooms in your region, as foraged by the bees to create your very own unique honey blend.
From the zesty delights of a nearby citrus orchard to the floral notes of lavender, honey harvested from a Flow Hive is raw and completely unprocessed, making it superior in flavour to commercially produced honey.
Keen on starting but feeling nervous?
Don't worry – Flow will be here to help you every step of the way. We have plenty of online resources to help you gain confidence.
Read on to find the best help for your learning style...
Keen on starting but feeling nervous?
Don't worry – Flow will be here to help you every step of the way. We have plenty of online resources to help you gain confidence.
Read on to find the best help for your learning style...
Online beginner beekeeping course
Fast-track your learning easily and enjoyably at TheBeekeeper.org. Learn in your own time with high-quality, expert-lead video lessons explaining what you need to know in order to feel confident looking after your bees.
Bee mentorship
There's nothing quite like experiential hands-on learning. Connecting with a beekeeping mentor is a great way to get started.
The Flow Forum is also a fabulous place to connect with beekeepers around the world. Read through threads dedicated to beekeeping topics, and have your questions answered by experienced beekeepers!
Like learning in a group?
You may like to join your local beekeeping club or association – a great way to meet fellow beekeepers, with knowledge on how to keep your bees happy and healthy most relevant to your local area. Check for video meetings if COVID-19 is impacting your state's social gathering laws.
Bonnie’s beginner beekeeping story
Meet Bonnie, who split a hive with her neighbour.
"The advice I'd give a new beekeeper or someone who is considering bees is the more you learn about them and interact with them, the more joy you'll receive from them.
Bees are also easier than you think. They are easier than a dog, as you can go on vacation for a week and not worry about them.
It's another anchor to bring me outside and make me slow down, look and care for things, and weeding the garden is so much more pleasant when i can smell the honey!"
Where do I get bees?
One of the most frequently asked questions from new beekeepers is – “How do I get bees?”
The first thing to remember is that bees won't always wait until you're ready for them,
so it's important to have your Flow Hive set up and ready to go.
Here are two great ways you can find a colony to call your own.
Purchase a nucleus (nuc)
One of the best ways to source bees is from a reputable bee breeder who will help provide you with a healthy colony for your new Flow Hive.
A Nuc is a small colony which includes a laying queen, workers, drones and 4 or 5 frames of brood and honey, and is an easy way to set up your first hive.
Split a hive / buy package
The wonderful thing about spring and beekeeping is that when a colony expands, it's easy to perform a hive split and make one colony become two.
So it's a great idea to have your hive set up and ready to go, so you can receive a split from a beekeeping friend, mentor, beekeeping club or bee enthusiast.
Is my home suitable for bees?
The good news is, you can keep a beehive almost anywhere! Especially a Flow Hive, as there is no need for additional processing equipment or for lugging heavy frames full of honey for harvesting. From rooftops to balconies to backyards, it’s now possible to harvest honey directly from your hive.
Here are some tips to make sure your location choice is both good for you and for your bees.
You will need to register your hive with state DPI, so be sure to check the regulations in your local region.
Start your pollinator garden
When selecting your garden blooms, make sure to include some local native plants in a variety of different colours.
Bees, like humans, enjoy diversity. Include flowers of different sizes and shapes, and plant in clumps to make foraging a breeze.
Find plants that bloom at different times of the year. Support a range of different pollinators throughout the seasons. Trees and shrubs produce much higher quantities of pollen and nectar, however, smaller plants produce forage more regularly – it’s great to have a selection of both. Download our bee friendly garden PDF now.
Ready to get started this spring?
Our special November Starter Bundle has everything you need and an excellent saving.
FAQS
I'm new and still not sure where to start
We’re here to help! Email with our friendly support staff, or phone in and kick back for a good old chat with Trace, or live chat to get fast answers to your buzzing questions.
There is a lot of new beekeeping terminology that you’ll need to understand. From queen excluders to drone bees and all the parts of a beehive, download our simple PDF guide to beekeeping here to get on top of it all.
If you're thinking about getting set-up for the first time, here is a handy Decision Chart to help make your choice a bit easier.
Does the Flow Hive work in really hot or really cold temperatures?
Yes! The Flow Hive is successfully in use in all climates wherever beekeeping is possible, from tropical North Queensland climates to cold Tasmanian climates.
Is beekeeping a good family activity?
Yes! Getting set up with a Flow Hive is a great interactive family activity as our revolutionary honey harvesting technology removes the need for additional harvesting equipment, making this enjoyable hobby much more accessible.
All Flow customers get unlimited access to our basic beekeeping guides, beginner beekeeper video series, email, phone and chat support to get you set up and confident in starting your new hobby. We also have a dedicated forum where members of the 75,000 strong Flow community discuss beekeeping and answer any questions you may have.
Still have questions? We'd love to hear from you.
How do Flow Frames work?
How will I learn about Beekeeping?
Beekeeping is a fascinating and rewarding hobby, one in which the learning never ends.
We have a swarm of resources available to support all new beekeepers, including:
- Beginner beekeeper online course thebeekeeper.org
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- Weekly Facebook live / Youtube Live where Cedar answers beekeeping questions
- Beekeeping blogs
- A community forum with experienced Flow Beekeepers on hand to offer support
Plus a knowledgeable support team on hand to answer your questions.
Learning from experienced people in your local area is invaluable so it's also helpful to connect with a local beekeeping club, beekeeping course or mentor for support.
I have a small yard or rooftop,
Yes! Flow Hives are perfect for setting-up just about anywhere.
You will need enough space to access the back of the hive for easy harvesting and your bees will require a clear space at the front of the hive for their flight path.
You'll also need to check-in with local governing bodies to find out if there are any regulations that you need to be aware of.
See our video above on where to set up your beehive.
Is there any safety information I need to be aware of?
Beekeeping is a labor of love. As with all animal husbandry, it’s a pastime that requires knowledge, skill and dedication and which carries with it inherent risks.
Beekeeping suits and other personal protective equipment can offer excellent prevention against bee stings but are not 100 percent effective. It’s important new beekeepers exercise caution when tending to their hives and are comfortable with the fact that sooner or later, all beekeepers get stung.
Check out this Flow sponsored safety pamphlet covering common beekeeping safety risks and first aid responses.
Perfect for beginners
A Flow Hive is great for beginners as our technology makes harvesting so easy, PLUS all hive purchases come with our Bee Supported package, including dedicated email, chat, phone support, and access to our Flow Community Forums that are a hive of activity and information.
Start by downloading our simple PDF guide to beekeeping here to get on top of it all.
Not ready to begin your adventure? Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know of our offers and latest product developments.