Minding Our Own Beeswax

 

 According to our "bee bible" (Bee Keeping for Dummies), Labor day weekend is supposedly a good time to harvest honey.  We knew we had some honey to collect this year, and so we were looking forward to the project.

 

After an inspection of the hive, Jason determined that we would collect the honey from only one of our shallow boxes.  We'll give the bees a couple more weeks to finish filling the second and we'll harvest again near the end of the month. 

 

Last year was our first attempt at collecting honey.  With the exception of being lucky enough to get honey in the first place, it was a sticky disaster.  After Jason researched the topic online, we found a great video tutorial that guided us through a more effective method of harvesting honey for this year's event. 

 

First, we scraped the honey-filled comb off of the frame with a putty knife.

 One frame at a time, we gathered the comb into a baking pan lined with a pastry mat.

 

We crushed the comb until it was the consistency of oatmeal before we transferred it into a filter that fit into the top of a five-gallon collection bucket.

The bucket was then placed outside so that the heat of the day would assist the honey to flow through the filter and collect in the bottom of the bucket.

Once all the honey was filtered, we got to filling the jars and bottles.

We reaped a lovely amount of honey, rich and deep golden in color.  I swear it tastes better than any other honey we've had, but that just seems to be the way it is when it comes from your own garden as a product of your own labors.

And now if you'll excuse me.  I think I will go make myself a peanut butter and honey sandwich.

This post authored by Amber