@Dawn_SD i don’t have a second key. being a bit worried that flow frames had too much propolis in the cells from last year and the plastic being fragile. any pointers on a diy second key option?
Either order one from Flow (they are available on the web store), or just mark the one you have even in 10% increments, then put the key in the left of the channel, turn, put in the right, turn and wait. Maybe @Freebee2 can advise too?
1 Like
Thanks, that sounds like a good tip Dawn, or you can purchase a spare one here https://www.honeyflow.com/shop/flow-spare-parts/flow-key/p/268 (currently sold out but available for pre-order with June shipping)
1 Like
well, checked the frames and the capped honey was only on the outside of middle frames in a half-circle pattern. no nectar either, like they left space for the queen to lay. of course, there’s a queen excluder so she won’t. heaviest frame was one on the outside, but it wasn’t capped yet and no much visible honey in the pic on that frame. back to waiting…
Hi folks,
Complete newbie here.
As part of our efforts to become a bit more self-sufficient, especially as we progress in these strange times of the new normal, my wife and I are considering getting our first Flow Hive. We live on Whidbey Island, and have just under 3 acres in an area with a lot of farms nearby. We have a 4000’ sq.ft. veggie and flower garden and are planning on expanding a new cut flower garden at nearly that size or larger pretty soon. Also about half an acre at least is covered in blackberry bushes. So lots, we hope, of potential for a new family of pollinators to enjoy.
So…big question: where the heck can we find a nuc?! I’ve looked at multiple suppliers and apiaries through the puget sound beekeepers association website and found that everyone so far says they’re sold out of nucs for 2020!
I’m wondering if that’s just for the first spring nucs or is that for the whole year? Will more be available in early summer or did we miss our chance this year entirely? Or is everyone saying they are sold out due to the pandemic and statewide shutdown order preventing them from being allowed to be “open for business” at this time? (Our business is still shut down but apparently as of June 1st we are allowed to proceed to Phase 2 reopening in Island County)
Thank you for any guidance or suggestions you may have for us to get started this year if it’s not too late.
- Joe & Rhiannon
unfortunately this endeavor requires a few months of planning. nuc colonies are usually only available in the spring, and newbies really need to order them in january. best thing right now is probably befriending a farmer with hives on their property, so you can see what it involves. good luck!
Hello,
I see that the last post here was in spring 2020, so I don’t know how active this thread will be, but I figured I would introduce myself as connecting with some local Washington folks is helpful especially when things go wrong.
My girlfriend and I are 2nd year Flow Hivers and we also started a top bar hive this year. We live in Skagit County near Clear Lake on about an acre with lots of fields around us.
Both hives are mostly doing well (both re-queened and the top bar hive dropped 4 frames of comb in the extreme heat wave) and we were just able to harvest about 30 pounds of honey from our Flow Hive this week! It was very rewarding and a big moment for us - About 1 1/2 years of work and $1500 later. But beekeeping has been an enjoyable hobby for us and we like being more in tune with nature.
I am always curious about nectar flows and since it has been so dry for the last couple months, it definitely seems like we’re in a hard up nectar dearth. I’ve been supplementally feeding the Flow Hive and top bar hive to help during the dearth. Before the dearth, it seemed like the Flow Hive added about 40 pounds of honey into the super once the blackberries started blooming in early June and into late June. I had heard that bees in Washington get lots of stores from the blackberry bloom, but it was still shocking to see them be so productive in such a short time (about 2 1/2 weeks).
Anyway, nice to meet you all and I will keep up with this thread if any posts come along. I’m always eager to learn and offer what little insight I may have.
-Steve