Hello, I'm Nathan
Hello, I’m Nathan, a backyard urban Beekeeper that has grown to have 7 separate apiaries with around 40-50 hives. I’m based in far northern suburbs of Melbourne Australia at a place called Doreen and have hives in small suburban backyards, a local nursery & wellness centre, on large rural properties and even on the roof of a garage all within my local area. I live in Doreen with my Partner, Candice and my two Sons, Kai and Levi.
Beekeeping for me is more than just a hobby gone wild, its a passion. A hobby is something you do outside of your normal occupation, primarily for relaxation and enjoyment, but a passion, when you discover it, truly grips you and provides you with a new drive and determination. Beekeeping put me more in touch with nature, my local community and genuinely helps me de-stress and be a happier version of myself.
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![Thanks to the Flow hive](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/themes/2151039809/settings_images/0SGXHGWQSTOOk2n5AtBY_ns-img02.jpg)
Thanks to the Flow hive
I owe thanks to Cedar Anderson and his father Stuart Anderson the inventors of the Flow hive. Not only did they raise a record-breaking A$16.9 million in just 6 weeks but they have now sold over 51,000 beehives to 130 countries. Besides their phenomenal business achievement, I sometimes wonder if they realize the joy and happiness they have brought to the lives of so many others throughout the world who became Beekeepers, of which I am just one.
I have experimented with numerous hive formats including Flow Hives, Kenyan Top Bar Hives, Warre Beehives, to name a few. I now universally use hives with a standard 8-frame Langstroth format (either Flow Hives, Poly Hives or I buy traditional wooden Langstroth Hives). I have found ventilated bottom boards, good hive insulation and using ideal size honey supers works well for me. More recently, I have taken a fancy to the Paradise Honey BeeBox polystyrene beehive system. I am a Certified Flow Hive Ambassador and approximately half of my Mentoring clients opt for a Flow Hive because of its benefits for smaller Backyard Beekeepers.
My First Hive and Apiary
My first apiary was on a beautiful 20 acre rural bush block of land. There were plenty of eucalyptus trees but honey flows were rare and I quickly realised the block had a lack of biodiversity and regularly flowering plants. Any more than about 7 hives and the bees would either abscond or starve. There were two huge dams of water and beautiful tranquil surrounds that added to the whole relaxing beekeeping experience.
![My First Hive and Apiary](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/themes/2151039809/settings_images/DW1jBBxwQK2ppOqmSKIb_ns-img03.jpg)
![An Allergic Beekeeper!](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/themes/2151039809/settings_images/oFUkP7avRUKLUr8fL7hr_ns-img04.jpg)
An Allergic Beekeeper!
An experience no Beekeeper ever wants to experience is anaphylaxis. Within 30 minutes of my third bee sting, I experienced a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. Fortunately, I recovered and later visited a Specialist Doctor and was given a choice. Stay away from bees or undergo allergen immunotherapy. I now have regular bee venom injections. While the treatment is ongoing and not overly pleasant, I have managed to build up some immunity so my bee stings now react less than most people. Like most Beekeepers, I get stung fairly regularly, but take added precautions including almost always wearing my suit and carry two EpiPens at all times.
My local Beekeeping Business, Maya’Xala Honey
In 2017 I moved back to a suburban area, into a housing estate known as Laurimar (Doreen Victoria Australia).
Through our very local Maya'Xala Honey Brand we now offer:
- Pure & Natural Raw Honey
- Honeycomb
- 100% Beeswax Candles
- Gift Packs & Promotional Value Packs
- Beehive Tours
- Beekeeping Incursions for Kindergartens and Schools
![Mayaā€™Xala Honey](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/themes/2151039809/settings_images/peU4nKJkTKCmeCcCgZmB_ns-img05.png)
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