Flow Hive Demo

Flow Hive Demo:

Typical - Video didn't work - I have about 4 seconds of film :cry: I set the camera running and handed to a guy I know from our Scouts who is a member; don't know what happened but it switched off .

Anyway bright side - I wrapped the frame completely in Cling film (Saran, Glad), and it was in my car in the warmth - there was method in this madness - I was trying to keep the honey as warm out of the hive as it would be in the hive and catch any leakage if it got too hot.

Set up on a table well away from out Group Apiary Bees - actually at the entrance - people saw it set up as they came in. I set the whole hive up as we know it, (empty brood box), spare frames in the Flow Box, so people could see the full set up.

The problem was they left me to the coffee time to demonstrate and the honey had cooled by then - I did have to explain that the honey in the hive would normally be at 35°C and it would flow a bit faster (I guess it was about 30°C by then - so my plan did work).

I would have preferred to set it running and then beeks could come and see it running. once I did the initial opening.

I handed around a couple of empty frames and demonstrated the key in the empty ones close up so people could see the mechanism working.

Celia Davis was doing honey collection, processing and legal requirements for sale of Honey in the UK so it fit in rather well with the nights proceedings. The remainder of the group were doing inspections and Varroa treatments in the hives.

Lots of questions asked: explained about the 2° angle of the base, viewing window, need to still lift off the Flow to inspect the brood, I think it went well.

What would I do differently?

• Do the extraction at the beginning of the night's proceedings - let it continue to drain while you do other stuff

• Only 1/3 or 1/4 undo the frames - you need not do a whole frame - takes less time

• Make sure the person you hand the camera to doesn't accidentally switch it off

What would I do again?

• Mise en place - as a Chef an important part of working - everything ready helps to keep you on track

• Set up the full kit ready for people to see - near the entrance get's people talking

• Hand empty Frames around so people can see and talk about them

• Do small close up demo of the Key working 3 or 4 people

• A plastic bag to put the empty frame in

• Keep the frame as close to Hive temperature as possible