My first apiary harvest
This is the first year for my first hive of bees.
During their first year, the bees spend most of their energy and output into building the interior of the hive, and getting their population up. Honey production is secondary. So, if you want a first year hive to survive the winter, it is best not to harvest all of their honey.
This harvest represents 4 of the 9 honey frames which the bees had filled by early August. I will monitor their progress a few more times before the winter. If they have filled most of their 18 honey frames by then, I might take 4 more.
This harvest produced 138 ounces of filtered honey, enough wax to make a candle (the bright canning jar at the right of the picture), and enough snitching treats through the whole bottling process to keep my wife and I very happy.
If you're looking for a productive hobby, definitely consider beekeeping.
During their first year, the bees spend most of their energy and output into building the interior of the hive, and getting their population up. Honey production is secondary. So, if you want a first year hive to survive the winter, it is best not to harvest all of their honey.
This harvest represents 4 of the 9 honey frames which the bees had filled by early August. I will monitor their progress a few more times before the winter. If they have filled most of their 18 honey frames by then, I might take 4 more.
This harvest produced 138 ounces of filtered honey, enough wax to make a candle (the bright canning jar at the right of the picture), and enough snitching treats through the whole bottling process to keep my wife and I very happy.
If you're looking for a productive hobby, definitely consider beekeeping.
