oil seed rape honey extraction

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oil seed rape honey extraction
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Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:04 am Post subject: oil seed rape honey extraction
It doesn't spin out does it? Frames just collapse Ted Hooper suggests warming it (but doesn't go in to details) I don't want to spoil the honey or melt the wax in it and make a worse mess. How have you dealt with it?

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:13 am Post subject:
What about selling / using it still in the comb? Richard

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:16 am Post subject:
I'd leave it in a warm room overnight, I guess. If that didn't work, what Richard said.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:17 am Post subject:

RichardW wrote:

What about selling / using it still in the comb?

Richard

its on wired foundation so can't be cut out like that although it could be scraped off back to the original foundation - which has occurred to us and it was something else I read somewhere.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:18 am Post subject:
I've wondered about a low oven? Its not all rape thats one of the problems; there are bits of standard honey that will flow but the rape is stopping that coming out as it won't spin

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:20 am Post subject:
A low oven might work - but be careful that you don't singe the wax ... .

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:28 am Post subject:

I don't have this problem as we don't have OSR around us - So no advice to offer I'm afraid but I'll be interested to here how you go on as it could be an issue for us in the future if farmers around here start growing it

I can't believe you've got honey to take off - My bee's have got 2 almost full supers on them and I keep checking but they just are very reluctant to cap it all off - I think with the funny weather they are eating it and therefore it never gets to the stage where they are storing it up

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:33 am Post subject:
just one super to extract that is all capped. I think in part as the hive was in a field surrounded by field beans and other early flowers crops including rape seed. Now they're at the allotment I'm guessing (and hoping ) we'll not get as much of it next year. There is another super that's heavy but not capped which we've left on the now divided hive to give the bees in there something to do.

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:36 am Post subject:
On a slightly different note. Just found two part used jars of honey at the back of the cupboard. Both have set in a very crystalied way. I am gently warming them up & giving the odd stir. Is there anything else I can do to make it more useable? Will it just re crystalies when it cools? Richard

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:39 am Post subject:
As some one that does not use loads of honey or realy want to buy all the kits / learn all the skills. Is there any mileage is allowing some one to site a hive on our land & them pay us in honey? Whay would be the min number of hives that some one would want to place & what would be a fair deal (jars per hive per year sort of thing) Richard

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:42 am Post subject:

RichardW wrote:

As some one that does not use loads of honey or realy want to buy all the kits / learn all the skills. Is there any mileage is allowing some one to site a hive on our land & them pay us in honey? Whay would be the min number of hives that some one would want to place & what would be a fair deal (jars per hive per year sort of thing)

Richard

I'm wondering the same thing

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 10:53 am Post subject:

Min number of hives - probably one - I wouldn't let anyone put more than 8 on your land as unless you are growing crops like borage or OSR there isn't enough forage to support them properly

Rent is traditionally 1lb of honey per hive BUT that is for migatory beekeeping when people take the hives to the heather - I'm sure it would be different for a permanent site

I'd contact your local BKA and make an offer - I'm sure someone would be interested

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 11:05 am Post subject:
For 1lb (�1.30 for 454g in Tescos) honey per hive its not worth it. Loosing the use of part of the land, having other people coming & going etc. Richard

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 11:17 am Post subject:
I'm sorry - you just cannot compare crappy blended honey from Tesco's to the stuff produced on your own land - Current honey prices are between �4 - �6 a jar of honey - I would ask for a rent of at least 2 or 3 jars per hive per year - That is equivalent to about �10-15 per hive plus the massive improvement in pollination of your fruit and vegetable crops by having bee's present

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 08 12:08 pm Post subject:

jocorless wrote:

I'm sorry - you just cannot compare crappy blended honey from Tesco's to the stuff produced on your own land - Current honey prices are between �4 - �6 a jar of honey - I would ask for a rent of at least 2 or 3 jars per hive per year - That is equivalent to about �10-15 per hive plus the massive improvement in pollination of your fruit and vegetable crops by having bee's present

I agree.
You can site as many hives as you like but what you will find is there is a maximum number after which the return from each hive will diminish.
Here I can run 12 to 15 hives when I had more I didn't get more honey just more work.
You don't need fields of borage or rape, plentiful mixed hedgerows & clover full pasture with an abundance of willow for pollen early on will do but an experienced beekeeper will be able to gage how many hives an area will support.
I usually reliquify honey in the microwave at defrost setting or on top the rayburn (off the hot plate) depending on the time of year & yes it will recrystalise in time.
The more times its reheated the more of the aroma & flavour is lost.
As for rape honey from what I've read the trick is to extract it as soon as the bees have filled the comb, not a day later.
Once it has crystalised heat might do it but luckily I have no OSR around here so no experience.

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