Since the launch, Cedar and Stuart Anderson have created a whole new generation of bee keepers who would not have otherwise thought twice about keeping bees. While this is somewhat controversial in bee keeping circles and almost certainly not what Flow Hive originally set out to achieve, it's ended up the outcome of their 2015 crowd fund.As their global sales approach 70,000, it's ironic to think that $70,000 was the target of their first crowd funding campaign, which they sailed past about 10 minutes after opening, on their way to a place in history and $19,625,650 from 38,516 backers. That's a tad more hives than they initially hoped to sell to get their invention off the ground. Apart from giving the team the funds to refine their invention and grow their market, they literally changed the way we think of bees and bee keeping. Even at an average of only 10,000 bees per hive, Flow Hive have put at least an extra 700,000,000 bees into circulation around the world.In a world where we desperately need more bees, whatever you think of Flow Hive's plastic combs, what is undeniable is that the invention has created a conversation and interest in bees and honey that simply didn't exist before.As we approach Christmas, if you are thinking of what to give your family, we are advocating for gifts that keep on giving, preferably with generosity beyond the people receiving the gift. Flow Hive ticks many boxes as a great family project, grow your own organic food - around 18kg of honey locally, pollination for your garden, pollination for your neighbours, the opportunity to focus discussions around the harmful impacts of chemical fertilisers and pesticides also on the list.Bear in mind though that a Flow Hive could potentially be worse than giving a cute, but unwanted puppy for Christmas if the person you give it to has no interest in bees. While the hive might be easier to manage than a traditional bee hive, it still requires work and knowledge.An excellent alternative, and better for a native garden, is a Native Bee Hive or 'Hotel'. Many of these little beauties require zero maintenance beyond a secure and sheltered spot. There are around 2,000 species of Native Bees so make sure that you do your research buy the right hive or hotel for the area in which you live. Bees live variously in hives, in solitary, on the ground, in trees. Different bees are native to different areas in Australia.Biome and Little Eco Shop sell Native Bee Hotels and Homes which are sweet and great conversation starters. Sugarbag sell Stingless Bee Hives and there are many bee keeper trainers around for both European and Native bees. Also consider giving the gift of bee flower kits.
Images: Flow Hive