Flow hives: high technology in apiaries

Many people still think of beekeeping as a very simple craft that has changed very little – hives, bees, honey and the same methods that have been used for hundreds of years. And whilst respect for traditional beekeeping is very important to us, the reality today seems far more interesting.

Modern beekeepers are constantly looking for ways to ensure better conditions for bees, manage hives more efficiently and, at the same time, bring people even closer to the mysterious world of bees. Consequently, alongside many years of experience, new technologies are gradually finding their way into apiaries – from specialised hive designs to smart solutions that offer a completely different perspective on honey harvesting. And in the search for more modern and convenient ways to enjoy bee products, natural honey gumdrops – loved by both children and adults alike – are attracting increasing attention.

We are constantly experimenting, exploring and testing solutions that would help not only bees but also people to better understand their lives. That is why, in this article, we want to show what modern beekeeping looks like and what makes the flow hives – which the whole world is talking about today – so special.

The bottomless hives marked the beginning of a new era for beekeeping

From the very beginning of Brothers’ Honey, brothers Ignas and Vilius Jackevičius have been making all the hives themselves in Kupiškis. Almost nothing has changed, except that instead of the simplest hives, made from materials that are “just around the corner”, we now use special bottomless hives – we now have more than 90 colonies of bees, and we strive to provide them with the best conditions.

We keep our bees in an organic and completely natural environment, so they are constantly surrounded by woods and meadows. This natural environment is also important for other bee products, such as pollen, which is valued for its rich nutritional content and natural composition. We would like to remind you that our apiary participates in an exceptional quality programme – our hives are regularly inspected, and the certificate we have been awarded is further proof that our honey products are of high quality.

Bottomless hives, as the name suggests, do not have a bottom, but only a metal net to protect the bees from insects and wild animals. The narrow bottom allows air to circulate in the hive continuously and in all seasons. This ensures even better health and well-being for the bees and, of course, higher quality honey.

Flow hives for bees – the latest innovation in beekeeping

This year, the ‘Brothers Honey’ apiary has introduced a new generation of flow hives – modern hives with special smart combs that allow honey to flow directly from the hive via a special mechanism. We only found out about them ourselves last autumn, as soon as this type of hive was launched. So, without further ado, we decided to get in touch with the hive engineers in Australia, and six months later, the first hive of this kind arrived here. Of course, we had to modify this hive slightly and adapt its design to our climate: we insulated the hive walls slightly and made them thicker, and fitted a perforated base to ensure the hive is ventilated all year round; and we also fitted numerous glass panels to allow sunlight to penetrate the hive, whilst also enabling us to observe the entire life of the bees.

It took the bees about two weeks to get used to the new combs, which were made of plastic rather than the wax they were accustomed to, so this was a real challenge for both the bees and us. However, it was definitely worth the wait and the effort, as we saw the first results by the end of spring. Thanks to the smart frames we’re using, all the bees have to do is bring their honey into them. All we have to do is insert a special key, and the honey starts flowing through the tap straight into a container or onto a spoon, so there’s no longer any need to scoop, stir or do anything else with the honey.

Even the Japanese Ambassador came to see this innovative beehive – in Japan, natural Lithuanian honey is attracting increasing public interest due to its unique flavour and medicinal properties. And among the most highly valued bee products, bee pitch (propolis) is increasingly mentioned; it has long been used to naturally strengthen the body’s defences and is valued for its antibacterial properties. Although hives of this type are not yet intended for commercial beekeeping, we use them all the same – they are, as it were, our flagship product, and we also use them to educate the public about the life of bees – after all, you can see all the bees through the hive’s viewing windows!