Sweet Surprises from our First Flow Hive Honey Harvest Adventure

Beekeeping and the promise of sweet honey had intrigued us for months. Initially daunting, it transformed into a thrilling adventure when we finally harvested our first batch using the innovative Flow Hive system. Imagine this: a bright sunny day, surrounded by the gentle hum of bees, and the sweet golden treasure of honey ready to be collected... and a cover from the sun! Lord, it was hot that day LOL

In this blog post, we'll share the excitement of our experience, the surprises along the way, and the sweet joy of tasting our first homemade honey!

The Flow Hive Experience

When we first came across the Flow Hive, we were captivated by its unique design. This revolutionary beekeeping tool allows bees to fill hexagonal frames with honey. Best of all, harvesting becomes an easy task - just turn a tap, and the honey flows out. Gone are the strenuous battles with heavy equipment! And while the Honey Harvesting process is a breeze, everything else remains the same. You still have to do regular hive maintenance and inspections, something we didn't want to lose out on.

As beginners, we appreciated the idea of a more straightforward, less messy approach though. The Flow Hive seemed perfect for folks like us who wanted to enjoy beekeeping without feeling overwhelmed. Watching the bees at work while having an easier time collecting honey was a tempting prospect!

Setting Up the Flow Hive

Setting up the Flow Hive turned into an adventure itself. We built it (Thank you to the Flow Hive team for actually creating an easy-to-follow instruction book) and began by picking a sunny spot in our backyard, ensuring it was shielded from wind and high foot traffic. The assembly process was surprisingly easy, even for a novice. Once we added our bees, we gave them time to settle into their new home.

Watching the bees was mesmerizing - like observing a bustling city! They quickly got to work exploring, foraging, and building brood combs. Each day brought new discoveries. For instance, we noted how a single bee can visit over 2,000 flowers in a day, demonstrating their incredible productivity and forage roughly up to 3 miles away from their hives.

Waiting for the Harvest

After months of nurturing our bees and overcoming initial challenges with Mother Nature, we finally saw the honey-filled frames. The excitement and anticipation were palpable! We often imagined the taste of our home-harvested honey. One burning question hung in everyone’s mind: Would it taste as good as the jars we saw at the store?

As the time approached for our first harvest, we prepared ourselves for the task. Gathering supplies and learning the harvesting process felt thrilling yet slightly nerve-wracking. But we were ready for this step thanks to endless hours of YouTube and online class taking!

A brood comb is being built

The Harvest Day

On the day of the harvest, we were debating whether to suit up in our beekeeper outfits (you always end up feeling like a character right out of a sci-fi movie, LOL ), but knowing our bee hive, we felt comfortable going in without attire! Thankfully, the bees were calm. With the frames filled to the brim, we turned the key, attached the tab and, to our sheer delight, the golden honey began to flow.

Watching it pour into jars was a sweet surprise - literally! The honey looked vibrant and smelled wonderful, far surpassing anything we had bought before. The moment was both satisfying and surreal.

Our first honey flowing into the jar

Seeing our efforts materialize into golden jars was rewarding. The honey had a smooth texture, and the flavor was thrillingly rich and floral, unlike anything we ever imagined.

The Flavor Profile

After filling our jars, we dedicated a delightful afternoon to tasting our honey. We were astounded by the different flavor profiles! Each jar contained a unique blend of floral notes based on the nectar our bees collected. For instance, one jar had hints of clover, while another carried a distinct wildflower essence. Did you know that honey can vary in flavor depending on the flower types - bringing in elements as diverse as fruit to herbal notes?

The variety was a sweet surprise! It felt like capturing a piece of happiness in a jar.

Valuable Lessons Learned

Our first honey harvest taught me invaluable lessons about beekeeping.

1. Patience is Key: Whether we was waiting for the bees to settle or for the honey to mature, this journey emphasized the importance of being patient.

   
   

2. Embrace the Unexpected: Nature can be surprising. We learned to appreciate the unexpected twists and delightful variances in my honey’s flavor and quality. We also learned all about things that can cause issues for your bees, such as Varroa Mites and Hive Beetles. Research how to combat those because it's important for your bees' health!

   
   

3. Connection to Nature: This experience heightened our appreciation for the natural world. Realizing the effort required to produce just a jar of honey made every bit of work worthwhile.

Chris harvesting our first few Jars

Wrapping Up the Adventure

Our first Flow Hive honey harvest adventure exceeded our expectations in many delightful ways. We discovered a new hobby that connected us deeply to nature. We also produced delicious honey with a unique taste and character.

From setting up the hive to nurturing the bees and savoring the flavor of our homemade honey, this journey was filled with joy and learning. We eagerly anticipate our next harvest and everything that comes with the continuous adventure of beekeeping. So much in fact, that the following day we went ahead and orders a second flow hive!

If you’re considering starting your own Flow Hive journey, we wholeheartedly encourage you. You never know what sweet surprises await you!