We have our meetings in a school library and for that month because of the interest it got moved into the auditorium and it happened that they were having a basket ball practice in the gym next door.
The flow hive is a great conversation starter about bees. Lots of people have heard the hype and seen the video. I think in over simplifying beekeeping in the video, they have lost the support of some beekeepers before they even started production. Even in there promotion of the complete flow hive, (all you need to do is add bees). most beekeepers that have hives know that one brood box and honey super are not adequate space for a colony of bees. Especial when it is only a 8 frame super. It will work for the first year if you start from a package but once the honey is tapped off and the flow super is removed will the bees have adequate stores for winter.
The same can be said for most starter hive packages, you get enough equipment to get started. additional equipment is needed.
The design of the frames are really quite good any concerns I have had about there design and the way they work have been answered thru close examination of the frames. The last of the honey that is in the bottom of the frame is allowed to drain back into the hive so the bees can clean it up and restore it. So the bottom tray wont end up full of crystallized honey. As far as honey spills, it is going to happen if we are not paying attention. It happens coming out of the extractor. over filling clarifier or not having the pump plugged in or turned on. Over filling the settling and bottling tanks. Even over filling or misjudging where the honey will land when the spout is opened to pour.
Personally I think it is a great invention with a huge potential. Would I buy and use one? Yes, But not at the current pricing. I have a feeling there will be some good deals coming up on E-Bay in the near future. Or it wont be long before you can buy a cheap knock off direct from China.
The price of them is not that bad when you consider frames with foundation in small quantities will cost close to $3.00 each, add the value of the 2 lbs of honey required to draw out each frame so by the time the honey super frames are drawn out it has a cost of $130.00 in value.
A super full of flow frames costs $447.00 $500.00 with shipping to the USA