mattx Posted July 29, 2010 Posted July 29, 2010 I spent all morning with the Science Teacher today extracting our first lot of honey from our hives. As this was the first time we had done this we just used 4 frames and managed to get 14 jars !! We are going to need quite a few more jars as we have another 50 or so frames full of honey..... http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4841195580_a62f9761cc.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/4841192256_91871007ab.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4841194454_b96a2fdc4a.jpg Link of short video of the frames in the extractor. Honey Extracting3 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! 2
featured_spectre Posted July 29, 2010 Posted July 29, 2010 how much for a jar? I would happily pay for a couple if they get shipped properly!
mattx Posted July 29, 2010 Author Posted July 29, 2010 how much for a jar? I would happily pay for a couple if they get shipped properly! At the moment we are just giving it away to see what people think. The best time to get the honey is around Sept but as we have so much in our first year we wanted to see what was involved in extracting it. I'll keep you informed and will happily send a jar if I can find a good way of shipping it without it breaking or spilling everywhere. I took a few jars home with me today to give to neighbors etc, one of the jars leaked a little all over my waterproofs in the back of my Givli box, they are now as you can imagine quite sticky !!
tmcd35 Posted July 29, 2010 Posted July 29, 2010 "Well," said Pooh, "what I like best -- " and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. I think that quote sums up my love of honey 1
mattx Posted July 29, 2010 Author Posted July 29, 2010 How does it taste? Lovvvvvvverly.......and very sweet.
tmcd35 Posted July 29, 2010 Posted July 29, 2010 Lovvvvvvverly.......and very sweet. Okay, I'm not liking this thread now! I'm positively salavating as I read and I know I had the last of my honey this morning. Gonna have to take a trip to Asda in the morning and buy a jar.
mattx Posted July 29, 2010 Author Posted July 29, 2010 Okay, I'm not liking this thread now! I'm positively salavating as I read and I know I had the last of my honey this morning. Gonna have to take a trip to Asda in the morning and buy a jar. .....which won't be as nice, pure & fresh fresh fresh as mine.....!! If I do some tomorrow I'll put a jar aside - just for you. 1
bossman Posted July 29, 2010 Posted July 29, 2010 @Mattx: Did you rush to work this morning by any chance? Just that looking at the pics you have posted you will notice you have your teeshirt on inside out hehe!! (just an observation my friend ) The honey looks absolutely to die for, lovely and clear, have you tasted it yet? does it have any subtle undertones of flavour like in other areas for example dependant on the type of flowers available in the surrounding area? What are you going to call it? Perhaps Mattx's buzzin honey fresh from the B? Congrats M8 something I have been wanting to do for quite some time now but not had the time or the motivation to do (something for my retirement me thinks) 1
kmount Posted July 29, 2010 Posted July 29, 2010 Wow, that looks fantastic mate, a perfect tribute to a friend I say. 1
mattx Posted July 29, 2010 Author Posted July 29, 2010 @Mattx: Did you rush to work this morning by any chance? Just that looking at the pics you have posted you will notice you have your teeshirt on inside out hehe!! (just an observation my friend ) The honey looks absolutely to die for, lovely and clear, have you tasted it yet? does it have any subtle undertones of flavour like in other areas for example dependant on the type of flowers available in the surrounding area? What are you going to call it? Perhaps Mattx's buzzin honey fresh from the B? Congrats M8 something I have been wanting to do for quite some time now but not had the time or the motivation to do (something for my retirement me thinks) The chap in the pic is the Science Teacher Chris - he joined the school about 2 years ago now and has had a massive impact. It's great that he also has a passion for keeping bees etc. We were really grinning and excited when we started getting jar after jar filled !! The honey is just perfect - so sweet it's incredible. I will be buying some porridge this weekend just so I can pour a load on it. Most of the pollen and nectar has come from the nature reserve which are blackberry bushes etc. The bee activity around them over the last 8 weeks have just been amazing. Because of this I would go as far as saying the honey has a sort of taste around that but my god it's sweet. I have been a bit naughty sometimes and when inspecting the hives, pulling some of the excess cone off and sucking the honey out -quite incredible taste. The honey at the moment is just called St Johns Northwood Honey - the label has a Paranamic pic of the school I took a few years ago with Science Techs name on [ who sadly passed away a few weeks ago ] - we want to keep that now and we will add our names either side of it [ myself and the Science teacher ] If anyone is thinking of getting into keeping bees I highly recommend it - it's great learning about them, it's easy, very rewarding and best of all it gets you out of the complete and utter crapness of the ICT world [ and for me that's just fantastic !! ]
p858snake Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Did you run the honey though a filter (fly screen is usually good) before bottling it?
mac_shinobi Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 See if DOS_BOX ( aka edugod ) will let you setup an edu honey shop - am sure lots on here will buy it Maybe some some free samplers Do you / him have a guide on how to set all the stuff up / hints / tips / advise etc on getting it all going
mattx Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 Did you run the honey though a filter (fly screen is usually good) before bottling it? Oh yes, that's vital - a very fine mesh came with the extractor we got - as you can see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO-e_ndY5AQ
jamesb Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 If you do decide to sell it, let me know about bulk prices. I've been trying to source quite a lot of honey to make mead but there really aren't that many places to get it nearby.
mattx Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 If you do decide to sell it, let me know about bulk prices. I've been trying to source quite a lot of honey to make mead but there really aren't that many places to get it nearby. I certainly will - may have a go myself at making some too !! 1
jamesb Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 I certainly will - may have a go myself at making some too !! Easy to do, but does take some time. The last batch I made was with cheap Tescos honey, and a few cups of pomegranate juice (for flavour, not essential). Other than that it's pretty much like making any fruit wine. I recommend using high-strength turbo yeast, and feeding the brew as you feel necessary. I fed mine twice over eight months but I like a rather sweet mead. I do know people who brew it more as an ale than a wine as well. Just be warned if you haven't had mead beforeand you're brewing to a high strength - you only ever get one mead hangover, and it's an absolute killer.
mjs_mjs Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 how much have you spent so far on the bee's, hive and kit used with them?
Greenbeast Posted August 3, 2010 Posted August 3, 2010 how much have you spent so far on the bee's, hive and kit used with them? just thought i'd pop in to give my own answer to that one. I built a hive last month for £45, i got given a bee suit but that's the only other specific piece of bee equipment i use and they can be had for £40 It doesn't have to be an expensive hobby How to Start Beekeeping...
fafster Posted August 3, 2010 Posted August 3, 2010 I have to be honest, I'd love to keep bees. I'm in the process of purchasing my first house which has a nice long garden. I already plan on growing veg and salads, and having a beehive there would be pretty awesome. The top bar hives look easy enough to knock together.
mattx Posted August 3, 2010 Author Posted August 3, 2010 Just spent the afternoon getting our second batch off - another 30 or so Jars. I've stored the honey in a large honey container - this should get the air bubbles out in a day or so - then when my jars arrive [ just ordered another 144 ] - I'll fill em up !! As an experiment I've taken the super containing the frames and the remains of the wax down to the hives and plonked them just outside - with a bit of luck the bees [ and flipping wasps ] - should clean it all up for me. So far in total we have got around 60 pounds off - and I think there is at least another 40 pounds to get.........
Greenbeast Posted August 3, 2010 Posted August 3, 2010 I have to be honest, I'd love to keep bees. I'm in the process of purchasing my first house which has a nice long garden. I already plan on growing veg and salads, and having a beehive there would be pretty awesome. The top bar hives look easy enough to knock together. go for it, that's all i've got, a long garden. I'm probably going to put a second hive in next year (it's easier to guard against disasters like losing a queen that way, but not essential)
ZeroHour Posted August 3, 2010 Posted August 3, 2010 Quick question, where abouts did you keep your hive? Was it far away from people at all? It all looks very cool tbh. Oh you wouldnt happen to have a pic of the hive as well?
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