Why I Chose Flow Hives for My Future Bees

A while back, I started digging into what it would take to grow catnip. One of my businesses sells it, and I figured if I could grow a better version myself, I’d learn something useful in the process.

Turns out, catnip isn’t just good for cats. It’s also one of the best plants for honey bees and other pollinators. The flowers attract bees and support healthy ecosystems. 

Around that same time, I stopped by a local farmers market and saw someone selling local lavender honey. I bought a small jar. I took it home, tried it the next morning, and was floored by the flavor. It was rich, smooth and floral.

That was the moment I started seriously thinking about keeping bees.

I waited until the barndo was finished at Mission Farmstead, then I finally ordered a Flow Hive. It’s my first step toward raising bees and adding more homesteading practices into how I live.

What Is a Flow Hive?

A Flow Hive is a type of beehive designed to simplify how to make honey. Instead of pulling apart the hive to remove honeycomb, the Flow Hive lets you insert a key into the side of the box. Honey drains straight into your jar with minimal disturbance to the bees.

Everything else functions like a standard hive. The bees build comb, raise their young, and collect nectar. But with a Flow Hive, you don’t need to dismantle the structure to extract honey. It’s a cleaner process with less stress on the colony.

You still need to suit up in protective gear, including a veil and gloves. Routine hive checks are part of how to start beekeeping, even if you’re using a Flow system. I’ll be wearing gear just like any other beginner beekeeper.

Why Are Bees Important on a Farm?

Bees help pollinate crops. On a regenerative farm, pollination supports biodiversity, improves yields, and contributes to stronger plant health. Without pollinators, nothing thrives long term.

At Mission Farmstead, I’m not planting wildflower rows just for the bees. I’m including pollinator plants directly in the pasture system. White clover, catnip, chickory, and birdsfoot trefoil all help improve soil and attract bees. When cattle eventually rotate through those pastures, they’ll be grazing land that also supports honey bee populations.

If you’re thinking about how to start bee keeping, step one is building a good forage environment. You don’t need to install gardens or floral strips if your pastures already do the work.

Save the Bees: What It Means on a Small Farm

People talk about saving the bees. But that starts with habitat. Clean, chemical-free forage. Minimal disturbance. Healthy nectar flow.

By choosing a Flow Hive and integrating pollinators into our pastures, I’m working toward a small but meaningful solution. One hive won’t change the world, but it can strengthen the systems on our land.

The Flow Hive also makes beginner beekeeping easier. The setup is designed for new beekeepers, and it simplifies the harvest process without sacrificing the work that bees naturally do.

If you’ve been researching how to make honey or how to raise bees alongside homesteading, it’s worth looking into.

How to Start Beekeeping (Even as a Beginner)

Here are a few lessons I’ve picked up as I prepare to launch my first hive:

• Find a good spot. Bees like morning sun and shelter from the wind. A water source nearby helps.
• Start small. A single Flow Hive is a manageable entry point for beginner beekeepers.
• Use protective gear. The kit includes basics, but you’ll still need to wear a veil and gloves for hive checks.
• Do inspections. You may not need to open the hive for honey harvest, but regular health checks are still important.
• Choose plants that support pollinators. Catnip, clover, and trefoil provide nectar and improve pasture health.
• Be patient. Your first season might not yield a full harvest. Focus on building a strong colony first.

My plan is to get the hive settled, monitor activity through the season, and harvest small batches when the bees are ready. This is how most people get started with bee keeping.

Beekeeping as a Homestead Skill

Adding bees to the farm is part of a bigger picture.

At Mission Farmstead, every part of the system supports another. The roots of our pasture plants feed the soil. The cattle will fertilize and graze. The bees will pollinate what grows and help bring it all to life.

Bees aren’t just a side project. They’re essential. Without them, the balance breaks.

That’s why I chose the Flow Hive. It fits the rhythm of our farm and supports our long-term goals. Over time, I’ll build out more habitat, increase forage options, and continue tracking how the hive performs.

If you’re just getting started with your own farmstead or looking for ways to support local farms, planting for pollinators and keeping a hive is a great place to begin.