Thinking Inside and Outside the (Hive) Box

We are fortunate to live on a nice sized block which allows us the joy of having chickens, geese and yes, since 2020, Native Bees.
As our Hives grew in number we started making and supplying Hive Boxes and other products to people with similar interests.
Recently, we’ve seen more people showing interest in Native bees for their gardens. Particularly since the unfortunate events of the past year with the The Varroa mite, affecting honeybees in Australia and the added, pleasant, situation where more and more people are becoming concerned and aware of the important of Bees, in particular Native Bees to the environment and general wellbeing of many people’s personal spaces.

We are sure many other Native bee suppliers have had increases inquiries for purchasing of stocked hives.

Unfortunately, our property is near a busy road and pathway which placed us in full view of prying eyes and curious minds. Curious as to what was in the sheds or just lying around the yard. It only took a couple of fence jumpers before we started thinking of the vulnerability of our much-loved hives, we have dotted around the place.

Sad to say, but… as with most things that are in short supply, there are a few that see it as an opportunity to make a quick dollar by stealing and reselling what others have worked hard to obtain. Full hives are considered a much desired, easy and untraceable way of making money.

As a result of these cerebral meanderings over the past few months, we have been working on and perfecting some new slants for some already well-established Native Bee products. That is, an upgrade and rethinking Hive Boxes and Hive Box Security.

All that said, the outcome is that we developed a range of OATH Hive Boxes that can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt who owns them. To paraphrase the old saying ‘Possession maybe 9/10ths of the Law’. We believe that we have come up with a way that will allow you to indisputably prove ownership of Hives with that remaining 1/10th of the Law

Regarding the solution to the challenge of Security, we acknowledge there are many fine, fantastic and functional Hive retaining devices around which protect the hives from a would-be “Bee Rustlers”, those whom would profit from your hard work by availing themselves of a loose hive or two.

These structures and devices are very functional and serve the purpose for which they were designed, i.e. Securing the Bee Boxes, It has been suggest to us by others that there is, in many cases, a lack of sympathetic or artistic leaning within the designs that allow them to be conducive to the environment of the garden or other situations in which they may be placed. These conversations led us to what we are now also doing. Making designer Cages to not only project the hive from Bee-knappers. but personalising them to either blend in with or make an Artist Statement with the surrounds, whichever is preferred by the Hive owners.
Addressing another concern of Hive owners, judging from the many inquiries and posts on various Online Platforms and Groups.
That is, the temperature of the hive throughout the year. ‘Should they be covered?’ ‘Move it?’ ‘Shade it?’ ‘How to protect them from the cold or heat?’ etc.

As a response to the frequently asked questions about what’s happening inside the hive regarding temperature. We feel we’ve overcome that issue in a significant way. Allowing Hive owners to monitor the inside temperature all year round without the clumsy attachments of external thermometers and loose wires.Write your text here...