The backyard bees are very busy again today. There are three new hives in amongst this lot, with another nuc at the bottom of the garden that needs hiving now. I'll try to move them out to their permanent site soon. I hope to start extracting honey tomorrow or Tuesday, all being well, now that … Continue reading Busy Bees
Time to Make Honey
Cleaning all the kit ready for extraction - 10 supers to extract already, honey tank and extractor drying off after being rinsed (they were thoroughly cleaned before being put away). Uncapping tray and buckets ready - I pour the honey from the buckets into the honey tank, so I only need a few buckets for … Continue reading Time to Make Honey
Supers Warmer
My new Supers Heater Trolley from Abelo arrived this morning, so I hope to be able to warm up the supers that are in my bee shed so that I can extract the honey, somewhat later than planned. To use, you stack your supers on this heated platform to warm them for extraction. The heavy … Continue reading Supers Warmer
We have a winner – or two!
A very good first ever honey show for Lytchett Bay Apiaries, and I won what I considered to be the creme-de-la-creme, first prize for my honey in the Commercial Section. I got two First places for honey, a second for honey, a second place for Honey cake, a second for photography, a third place for … Continue reading We have a winner – or two!
Not quite right…
I've been rendering and cleaning wax for entering into the honey show, and moulded some wax yesterday to see how it came out. The 8oz blocks were a dismal fail, I must've got some water (probably from steam) into the wax, because this happened; This would have been my entry into class10; Class 10 One … Continue reading Not quite right…
Show wax part 2
Here is the update on my show wax preparation... For a first try at cleaning wax to this level, and moulding it, I don't think it was that bad. I need to control the cooling down period more to prevent the wax shrinking too much in the mould, and losing shape - you can see … Continue reading Show wax part 2
Honey Show Preparations
I'm thinking that it was time I entered my hive products in the honey show, so am currently cleaning 2lbs of wax to make some 8oz and 1oz blocks for part of my entry. Now to sit back and see how it comes out, this is the first time I have attempted to clean wax … Continue reading Honey Show Preparations
Thieving gits!
My honey for sale sign always attracts a lot of attention - some of it unwanted. I've had to replace the screw eyes and chain with heavy duty one's, as somebody has been trying to cut them to steal the sign. The base has 2 paving slabs in it, so it's (hopefully) too heavy to … Continue reading Thieving gits!
Propolis (bee glue)
Propolis (bee glue) Propolis or bee glue is a resinous mixture that honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the hive. Propolis is used for small gaps, while larger spaces are … Continue reading Propolis (bee glue)
Beeswax
Beeswax Made from the honeycomb of the honeybee, beeswax is the purest and most natural of all waxes. For each pound of beeswax provided by a honey bee, the bee visits over 30 million flowers. To produce one pound of wax requires the bees to consume about eight to ten pounds of honey. They secrete … Continue reading Beeswax