Extracting the Honey, Processing and Making New Products

Tonight should be interesting as we learn how to get the payback for helping our pollinators.  I am proud of our MHSEABS (Mount Holly Smith Educational Apiary Bee School.

Please go to Lesson 22 which I just created on this topic for more information and more videos.

• The day before the harvest you need to have a good idea of what you are harvesting.  Good time to check condition of frames
• Be sure your smoker operational and have plenty of fuel.  There will be a good bit of wax and propelus to break apart.  You may want o do this the day before the harvest
• Be sure all of your equipment is ready.  A wagon or some carrying device is wise to have along with you.
• A bee brush is really essential to move the bees out of the way and prevent them from stacking up.

• Keep your extractor in prestige equipment.  Should be well maintained and cleaned after each extraction.
• Take a look at your weather when you extract.  Wind can work against you.
• Using is fume board to move the bees down.  (I use a natural walnut extract…smells great to us, but bees hate it.)
• Do not smoke the front of hive once you add fume board as this will drive them back up.
• Have a plastic cover to place on the ground so you can place supers on this rather than the ground.
• If the entire super is not filled, just take out the ones that are good and be sure to replace with empty frames.
• Place these frames you are taking in an air-tight box.
• Continue to move to the next super and making your harvest.
• A good way to collect is using empty supers to place frames of Honey with your lid to cover as you harvest.
• Always have a bottle of fresh sugar water to calm the bees as needed.
• A 5 gallon pail of Honey will weigh about 60 pounds after extraction.
• if you are using the GCBA extraction equipment…remember to schedule.
• Set up….Extract….Cleanup

Videos: