Collecting Honey 2010

We didn't use a fancy extractor when we collected the honey. Basically, we scraped the frames, wax and all, into a strainer and then we used a bottling bucket to get the honey into jars. I can't imagine the amount of honey produced from more than a few good colonies. The honey shown was really only from about 1.5 shallow supers. There were also four smaller jars not photographed. Afterwards, someone at Bee Well Honey Farm told me to leave the scraped supers out to let the bees come clean them off of any left over honey. It was really neat watching them swarm around the supers, taking the honey back to the hive. The picture doesn't quite do it justice.

Painting Supers

Olivia and Liam helped paint the supers as I bought them. I purchased three extra supers per colony for a total of six. I'll start making them myself now (at least the super but not the frames). You are supposed to paint the supers to protect the wood.

The Bees 2010

I would say the first year was a semi-success although I think I might have had better luck brewing beer! We did order two nuc colonies each with a queen and 10,000 workers. I set them up in the back yard. The one on the right began looking more active pretty much from the first month or so, and it just went gang busters while the one on the left stayed fairly inactive. At some point the bees just disappeared. The bees on the right did great, though. They produced a decent amount of honey from just a few shallow supers. I think I might have stacked too many shallow supers, but I just didn't know how quickly to stack them and I didn't want the bees to get over crowded. As of right now, the bees are still alive through the winter, so I'm hoping they will hang in there until spring. I have also ordered two more colonies for a total of three.

Bees Ordered!

Yesterday I ordered not one but TWO bee colonies. Each package is $70 and includes a queen and 10,000 bees. Apparently, I will drive to the farm and pick up the bees and then drive home with about 20,000 bees in my car.

I bought the bees at the Honey Well Bee farm which is located here in the Upstate of South Carolina. Here is their website: http://www.beewellhoneyfarm.com/. I am a total beginner, so I'll also be purchasing the bee "buildings" as other sundry equipment with Honey Well. Total cost not including the $140 for the bees is approximately $300. The bees will be ready for pickup April 3. The question is will I be ready?

I need to find a south-east facing site on my 1 acre which is in full sun and which is relatively apart from the main play area of my kids. Apparently, I'll also want to include for the bees some water which is close by or else they will end up in my pool! A bird bath or metal bucket full of rocks and/or wood will do nicely and will be something the bees like.

I'm excited about doing this, but I'm teaching myself most of this!