It’s simpler than most people expect. Getting bees is a bit like buying seedlings before you plant a garden. It’s one small step at the beginning, and once your bees are settled in, you’re well on your way to the rewarding life of a beekeeper.

Most people get their first bees from a local beekeeper or bee supplier. The two most common options are a nuc (short for nucleus colony) or a package of bees. A nuc is usually the easiest place to start because it’s already a small, established colony with brood, honey, and a queen, so your hive gets off to a confident start. A package of bees is another good option, especially if you enjoy being part of the process from the very beginning.

A great first step is to contact your local beekeeping club or community and ask where other beekeepers nearby get their bees. Local bees tend to do best because they’re already adapted to your climate, and many suppliers take bookings a few months before spring, so it’s worth planning ahead.

Some people also receive a split from another beekeeper or even catch a swarm, but these are usually things people try once they’ve gained a little more confidence.

The good news is that once you’ve sourced your bees and settled them into their hive, the hardest part is already done. It’s an exciting moment! Where you stop preparing to become a beekeeper and start to really feel like one.

The great thing is, you can put a hive almost anywhere! A Flow Hive only needs a small amount of space, so you don’t need a big property or a huge backyard to get started. People keep bees successfully everywhere from suburban gardens and small yards to rooftops, balconies, and larger rural spaces.

Choosing a spot for your hive is a bit like finding the right place for a veggie patch or setting up a little outdoor workspace. Once you’ve found the right spot, it becomes your own peaceful beekeeping corner.

The main thing is to choose a spot with a little room in front of the hive for the bees to fly in and out (we call it their "flight path"), and enough space behind it so you can comfortably harvest your honey. Bees also tend to be happiest when the hive is sheltered from strong winds, gets some morning sun, and stays fairly dry. In the Northern Hemisphere, many beekeepers like to face the hive entrance roughly south or south-west so the bees catch the early sun.

Once you’ve chosen your spot, the hard part is done! From there, your hive becomes a lovely little part of your garden or outdoor space; something to look forward to checking in on and making your own.

The amount of honey for harvesting depends on many factors, including hive strength, local climate and available forage.

When the Flow Super is full, you can expect to harvest approximately 3 kg (6.5 lb) per Flow Frame.

A 6 Frame Flow Hive can hold up to 18 kg (39 lb), and a 7 Frame Flow Hive can hive up to 21 kg (46 lb) of fresh, unfiltered honey each time the honey super is completely full.

When harvesting it's important to remember to leave enough honey stores for your colony to see them through the winter. Lessons on harvesting are provided on TheBeekeeper.org as well as weekly livestreamed lessons from the inventor on social media.