Spring Honey Extracted

Continued on from my last post, which had no photos, here is the process with photos!

Steph tending the smoker

Lots of full frames of honey

All capped and ready to go

Using a sharp knife I sliced the cappings off

My brand new extractor - the plastic protective layer has since been removed

More cappings sliced off

The extractor takes 4 frames at a time

Honey and bits of wax going into a 2 stage strainer

A part bucket of honey 2 days after extraction, it has set solid!

The full bucket of honey - again set solid. There's approximately 15 kg in there!

After vigorously beating and stirring the set part bucket of honey I was able to get it soft enough to put some in jars.

Getting Ready For Spring

In the last few weeks I have been busy getting ready for the new Beekeeping year. Firstly I have purchased plenty of jars in anticipation of a good honey crop. Even if I don't fill all the jars next year, which I don't expect to do, then I will have spare for the following year or some nice jars to use for jam making! I bought my jars from a glass company in Leeds called Spinkscompak. They have a wide range and as a member of Yorkshire Beekeepers I received a discount.

A full box of 108 hexagonal jars

These will look great with my honey in and labels!

A larger 1lb jar. I have 72 of these.

...and of course the lids for the jars!

I have also been making frames ready to go into my second hive that I hope to get occupied with Bees in the spring. I have made enough to fill 2 supers and just need to make the frames to go into the brood box now. Below is some pictures of me making frames.

All the pieces of a frame before assembly.

This piece gets cut out and nailed back in on top of the foundation.

The frame made up without being nailed together yet.

A nail in each corner, both sides, keeps the top bar in place.

Remember the bit cut out earlier, it is now nailed over the foundation securing it in place

The finished frame ready to be "drawn out" by the Bees ready for honey storage!