My first honey!

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My first honey!
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woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 11:53 am Post subject: My first honey!
Click this link to see how we got on extracting our first batch of honey. https://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x73/ludlowlass/extracting%20honey/?action=view&current=1180784498.pbw

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 11:57 am Post subject:
Excellent slide show. Is it your extractor? How did you find it. I am thinking of hiring the one from the apairy this year, but it is always worth finding out what other people use.

Kinnopio

Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 12:07 pm Post subject:
Fantastic stuff - it must be such a rewarding thing to do!

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 12:15 pm Post subject:

We bought the extractor, along with two hives and bits and bobs from a chap on rivercottage.net Alison. We bought them 12 months ago and I'm ashamed to say I can't remember who it was!

It is our first time of using it but it worked really well. Its called a tabletop extractor, its in Thorns for about �120.
We only have two hives so it will be fine for us but I can see why you'd want an electric one if you had many more hives.

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 1:01 pm Post subject:
Good stuff, i would like to put some hives down the lottie. The guy in charge didnt exactly say no but didnt seem too keen, mumbled on about vandalism. Is there any way you could do it in a medium sized back garden in Brum? We get loads of bees in the garden anyway and never any problems.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 1:22 pm Post subject:
Brilliant, I'm gobsmacked by the amount of honey you got, is that from two supers on one hive?

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 1:53 pm Post subject:

Yes Johnnyboy!! We havent even touched the second hive yet and hive number one have already almost filled another super. We're expecting to get another harvest at the end of August but it might be sooner from hive 1.
Andy, we keep our bees in a tiny corner of the farmers field. A back garden is plenty big enough. Its better if theres a fence or barrier in front of the hive, it makes the bees fly above head height.
Get some, they're fab.

otatop

Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 1425
Location: North London

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 3:10 pm Post subject:

There was an interesting discussion on radio 4 last week (can't remember what the programme was, but possibly "Costing the Earth") about "city honey". Seemingly, biodiversity in cities is on the up and up - private gardens, allotments, parks, cemeteries, "brownfield sites", roof spaces, window boxes & etc.... Anyway, "London honey" got a definite thumbs up when compared with a lot of "rural honey" - "rural" being often flavoured with agribusiness rape. The rector at my church allows a couple of parishioners to keep bees in the rectory garden - and I must say that the honey is wonderful.

I wish my garden was bigger .....

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 3:57 pm Post subject:

Andy B wrote:

Good stuff, i would like to put some hives down the lottie. The guy in charge didnt exactly say no but didnt seem too keen, mumbled on about vandalism. Is there any way you could do it in a medium sized back garden in Brum? We get loads of bees in the garden anyway and never any problems.

Much better in your garden with some kind of screen in front to take them up---unless your allotments are totally secure the little sc****s will trash the hives---usually in the winter when there aren't so many people about--and by the time you find the tumbled hive the colds killed them---makes an amusing change for them from forcing the shed doors and nicking stuff

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 9:14 pm Post subject:
Pity you can't train the bees in allotment security. That would keep the little buggers out!

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 07 11:45 pm Post subject:
This evening I had a good nosey round the spot in my neighbour's garden where I am hoping to put hives next year. I'm slightly worried it's too exposed, though it's on the side of the valley away from prevailing winds. At the moment it's rough grass, with patches of Rose of Sharon and bramble. What should I be planting between now and next Spring? Those first jars look great. Very inspirational.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 07 8:22 am Post subject:
That's awesome Jules, wish I had the time... Wonder if I can find a local keeper that'd keep some on our land?

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 07 8:26 am Post subject:
brilliant side show and great info about extractors. Eyeing up the equipment you've used to make a check list - its not something we've got any kit for so far.

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 07 8:42 am Post subject:
Fantastic result and a lovely slide show Jules ! It's lovely to see al the stages in the process and the amount of honey is amazing.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 07 9:46 am Post subject:

tahir wrote:

That's awesome Jules, wish I had the time...

Wonder if I can find a local keeper that'd keep some on our land?

The usual "rent" is a jar a hive---but alot are more generous---if you approach your local beegroup/club I'm sure you'd find people only too keen to site a hive/hives on your land---many clubs are always on the lookout for outapiarys

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