by Flow Hive 4 min read
‘There is nothing more crucial to a home garden than bees’
We’re chatting with our Flow community from all over the globe about what makes them (and their bees) tick!
Below, we speak with Paul Jones from Brecksville, Ohio, USA. Paul’s a passionate lifelong gardener who educates families in the art of the green thumb via his project thegardeningdad.com. His focus is on sharing the joy of growing home produce and making gardening feel more accessible (and fun!) for everyday families.
I've spent my entire life around gardening. Helping my grandfather and father in our family gardens served as my inspiration and motivation to continue our family tradition when my wife and I purchased our home about 10 years ago. I have fond memories of gardening from an early age and have had priceless moments being able to continue those with my children.
In addition, I have always loved teaching and coaching those around me. I often heard my friends and neighbors tell me how they would love to eat fresh fruits and vegetables from their garden but had no idea where to start. Thegardeningdad.com project combines my expertise in gardening with my love of helping those around me.
There is nothing more crucial to a home garden than bees. I have found that there are a lot of people scared of bees due to a lack of knowledge, and they try to keep them away even though they don't realize how gentle and beneficial these creatures are. Once they learn more about them and see them on me and around the hive they have a much different perspective of what bees mean to us and gardening.
Growing up we never kept bees... [but] once I began keeping a pollinator garden, beehouse, and beehive I noticed not only a dramatic difference in the amount and quality of crops I was able to harvest but also the number of bees that would frequent our yard. It is always amazing watching them go from flower to flower and truly have an understanding of how important they are to our ecosystem.
Before I started growing my own food I wish I knew just how easy it was. The thought of prepping, planting, caring, harvesting, etc. can seem overwhelming to someone just starting, but gardening is very easy and fun!
My biggest tip is to just try gardening. What's the worst that can happen? If you are tight on space, start with gardening containers. If you live in the suburbs then plan what your garden should look like now and in the future.
And if you want to give yourself the best chance for success then get a beehive! It won't add much more time, money, or energy to your gardening, but will provide more benefits, quicker.
The biggest benefit that gardening has provided to me and my family is the ability to eat healthy, fresh produce while having fun and taking pride in knowing we grew it ourselves. It is something I have been able to enjoy with my father and grandfather and now get to experience with my family. Best of all is to see the pure joy my children get being outside and enjoying mother nature.
Just as important, gardening has allowed us to eat fresh produce daily at an unbelievably reasonable amount of money (pennies on the dollar) while inflation continues to fuel our community's grocery bills.
I currently own the Flow Hive Classic. Setting up gardening tools and supplies seems to get harder and harder due to a lack of instruction manuals. Not the Flow Hive. It was incredibly easy to assemble… the wood was of fantastic quality, and the hive is even better than expected.
We've had the hive for 4 months and it has been amazing to watch our bees go in and out and begin filling up the hive with honey… it’s not only going to continue to make beekeeping safe, but easier and more fun.
All images supplied. To read more from Paul, head to thegardeningdad.com
or @the.gardening.dad.
Ready to add a Flow Hive Classic to your garden or apiary? Shop now.
by Flow Hive 5 min read
by Flow Hive 4 min read
by Flow Hive 3 min read
• Recommended for beekeeping in cold climates
• More room in the brood box which can lead to a larger bee colony
• An extra Flow Frame in the super for higher potential honey yield
• 10-frame Langstroth sizing
• Harvest 21kg (46 lb) when your Flow Super is full
• Our most popular Flow Hive size around the world
• A slightly lighter option for easier lifting
• 8-frame Langstroth sizing
• Harvest 18kg (40 lb) when your Flow Super is full
Control the height and level of your hive perfectly, even on uneven ground, ensuring the ultimate slope for honey harvesting.
Keep your hive level to aid in straight foundationless brood comb formation
Keep your hive dry and off the ground, preventing ground dwelling pests from gaining easy access.
Simply add the coupon FREEHIVESTAND at checkout to save €70!
Offer available until midnight September 28th or until sold out. T&Cs apply.
Control the height and level of your hive perfectly, even on uneven ground, ensuring the ultimate slope for honey harvesting.
Keep your hive level to aid in straight foundationless brood comb formation
Keep your hive dry and off the ground, preventing ground dwelling pests from gaining easy access.
Choose the size and model that matches your Flow Hive
8 Frame Brood Boxes are compatible with 6 Frame Flow Hives.
10 Frame Brood Boxes are compatible with 7 Frame Flow Hives.
If you need assistance in understanding which model Flow Hive you have, please contact support.
Bee suits are designed to be worn slightly baggy over your normal clothing, so it’s best to choose a slightly larger size than you would normally wear.
Be sure to give yourself plenty of room to move around with additional length for movement – ankles and wrists need to remain covered when you’re crouching, bending or stretching.
You do not want the suit to be tight fitting – it’s this loose fitting material that offers sting prevention.
If in doubt or between sizes, go up to the next size:
Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | ||||||||||
50 | 56 | 62 | 68 | 74 | 80 | 86 | 92 | 98 | 104 | 110 | |
145 - 150 | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | |||||||
150 - 155 | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | |||
155 - 160 | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | L | ||
160 - 166 | XS | XS | XS | S | M | M | M | L | XL | XL | |
166 - 171 | XS | S | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL |
171 - 176 | M | M | M | M | L | L | L | L | XL | 2XL | 2XL |
176 - 181 | L | L | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL |
181 - 186 | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | |
186 - 191 | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
191 - 197 | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | ||
197 - 204 | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | 5XL |
Height (feet) | Weight (lbs) | ||||||||||
110 | 123 | 137 | 150 | 163 | 176 | 190 | 203 | 216 | 229 | 243 | |
4'9" - 4'11" | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | |||||||
4'11" - 5'1" | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | |||
5'1" - 5'3" | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | L | ||
5'3" - 5'5" | XS | XS | XS | S | M | M | M | L | XL | XL | |
5'5" - 5'7" | XS | S | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL |
5'7" - 5'9" | M | M | M | M | L | L | L | L | XL | 2XL | 2XL |
5'9" - 5'11" | L | L | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL |
5'11" - 6'1" | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | |
6'1" - 6'3" | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
6'3" - 6'5" | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | ||
6'5" - 6' 7" | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | 5XL |
Your bundle will ship when all items in order are in stock, please check below for any for any possible delays.
Hive
Flow Hive 2 - 6 Frames – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Hive 2 - 7 Frames – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Bee Suit
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - 2XS – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - XS – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - S – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - M – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - L – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - XL – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - 2XL – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - 3XL – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - 4XL – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit – Organic Cotton - 5XL – Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Smoker
Flow Smoker – Dispatches in 1-2 working days