Sweet path to success

THE father-and-son team who revolutionised backyard beekeeping around the world have unveiled their latest invention, which is set to help in the fight against Varroa mite.

Flow Hive creators Cedar and Stuart Anderson, who are based on a property at Newrybar, believe the Flow Super Lifter solves the greatest problem in beekeeping – the heavy lifting required to open a beehive.

The pair have spent seven years perfecting the contraption, which allows beekeepers to lift one or two boxes weighing up to 40 kilograms each at a time and easily separate them.

With Varroa mite now infiltrating Australia, including the Northern Rivers region, it will make it easier for beekeepers to carry out essential checks for the parasitic pest.

The kit, which starts at $349, is also better for bees, as keepers can also realign and replace the box when they close the hive without squashing the insects.

The pair invented the Flow Hive, in which honey can be harvested directly from the hive, in 2015 and gained notoriety after appearing in an episode of Australian Story.

The product’s launch raised more than US$12 million through crowdfunding, with more than 100,000 kits sold worldwide.

Cedar said feedback from the global community helped with the idea for the latest invention.

“Unlike the Flow Hive it wasn’t like a eureka moment where we saw the honey flowing for the first time,” he said.

“With this it was a progressive curve where we would make something and improve it and improve it.

“The main thing is that we have developed this to make it a lot easier for our beekeepers to be able to look after their bees.”

Cedar said it was a relief to launch the product, as he can now use it himself.

“I have been teaching beekeeping here for years now but with an invention you have to withhold it until you’re ready so I haven’t been able to use this – I have been having to do it the old way time and time again and I have wanted to use this new tool that we have made,” he said.