There are many social media horror stories about local beekeeping associations throughout the country treating new beekeepers who have bought Flow Hives badly, leading to them either selling their hives or giving up completely. We are NOT one of those groups!

We continue to welcome beekeepers from all walks of life — from those managing traditional wooden hives to those experimenting with newer designs such as the Flow Hive. In fact, our President has recently started using a Flow Hive and demonstrated its use to our members at a visit to his apiary.

The Flow Hive has attracted many new people into beekeeping, helping raise public awareness about pollinators and honey bee care. While it may differ from conventional methods, it’s important to remember that every responsible beekeeper shares the same goal: healthy, thriving bees.

Some associations may have concerns that Flow Hives could encourage “hands-off” beekeeping. However, most Flow Hive owners quickly learn — as all of us have — that good beekeeping requires observation, hive inspections, and a genuine understanding of bee behaviour. The equipment is simply a different way to extract honey, not a substitute for sound beekeeping practice.

As an association, we want to support learning, not judge choices. If someone’s interest in bees starts with a Flow Hive, that’s a success story — because it means another person is contributing to bee awareness and local biodiversity. With mentoring and community engagement, Flow Hive users often become knowledgeable, caring beekeepers.

Let’s celebrate diversity in how we keep bees. Whether you use a WBC, National, Langstroth, or Flow Hive, what matters most is bee health, good husbandry, and mutual respect within our beekeeping community.