This morning Rick and I checked six of our hives. We put a queen cell into two separate hives on June 5th, and I am happy to report each has a new prolific queen. I was so happy to see my attempts at re queening was successful. All the hives were doing well and making honey.
I have several honey supers ready to be extracted. I guess I should be extracting this week.
I have an old Dadant stainless steel honey extractor. It was a gift from an old family friend whose husband had bees some thirty years ago. It is a four frame, hand crank model. I do fantasize about the twelve frame radial ...Mac Daddy model sometimes. . .but I am very grateful I have an old family heirloom.
It was really hot this morning with all of our protective gear on. We could only check six of the ten hives. With temperatures climbing to 98 degrees today, I was lucky to get six inspected.
We sell our honey at Wild Birds Unlimited on Washington Road, in Augusta, GA. I delivered the larger, pound and half jars of honey on Friday and they ask me to bring in some of my lotion bars and lip balm. Our products are made with all natural botanical oils, Shea, mango or cocoa butters and 100% pure beeswax. We use no chemicals, preservatives or petroleum in any of our products.
I will be happy and very fortunate if Wild Birds decides to carry Sasserfrass Hill lotion bars also.
The hot temperates are hard on us and our tiny pollinators. Make sure you drink plenty of water and keep a clean supply of water for the birds and the bees. They need our help and will appreciate our efforts.
Stay Cool,
Ms Deb
Oh Ms Deb, I envy that you are able to extract honey already. We've had so much rain up here in Vermont that we're not sure we're going to get but one late season harvest. Hopeful that things will surprise us with an unexpected wonderful July honey flow. Always enjoy reading your blog :)
ReplyDelete~Valarie