In this Flow Hive Live, Cedar and special guest Hamish from bowralbeekeeping.com harvested honey from a scratch-and-dent Flow Hive while discussing beekeeping, honey production, and the Flow Hive ambassador program. They explained that scratch-and-dent hives are made from timber that doesn’t quite meet A-grade cosmetic standards but still functions perfectly once assembled and finished. During the harvest, they highlighted the importance of only harvesting well-capped honey, demonstrated how Flow Frames can be harvested one frame at a time, and discussed local nectar sources such as paperbark trees, which produce a distinctive honey with malty, cinnamon-like notes. The conversation also explored the incredible complexity of bee communication, foraging behaviour, and how environmental factors such as herbicide use can affect bees and their ability to navigate.
Hamish shared insights from his 45 years of beekeeping experience, managing around 180 hives and running Flow Hive workshops in the Bowral region of New South Wales. The discussion covered how honey flavours vary dramatically depending on floral sources, climate, and even soil conditions, with examples ranging from light clover honey to dark mahogany honey. They also compared beekeeping in subtropical climates, where nectar is available year-round, with cooler regions where beekeepers must leave substantial honey reserves for winter. The session concluded with an overview of Flow Hive’s ambassador program, which now includes more than 50 experienced beekeepers worldwide who provide locally relevant support, education, and mentoring to Flow Hive customers.