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I've been keeping this blog for all of my beekeeping years and I am beginning my 19th year of beekeeping in April 2024. Now there are more than 1300 posts on this blog. Please use the search bar below to search the blog for other posts on a subject in which you are interested. You can also click on the "label" at the end of a post and all posts with that label will show up. At the very bottom of this page is a list of all the labels I've used.

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I began this blog to chronicle my beekeeping experiences. I have read lots of beekeeping books, but nothing takes the place of either hands-on experience with an experienced beekeeper or good pictures of the process. I want people to have a clearer picture of what to expect in their beekeeping so I post pictures and write about my beekeeping saga here.Master Beekeeper Enjoy with me as I learn and grow as a beekeeper.

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Monday, June 22, 2009

What to do with Dripping Honey Frames after Harvest

After the harvest, I let the bees clean up the mess. When I've done crush and strain, the frames are all drippy with the remains of the honey. I harvested six frames, so I took them out to the bee yard in the five frame nuc that I used to carry them into the house. (See the sixth frame riding on the top of the box!)

I had an empty 8 frame box waiting for me. I had left two frames on the hive because they were not fully capped.


Here's a closer view of the honey comb left after cutting the comb off of the frame. First the bees will clean up the dripping honey, storing it in comb they are currently filling. Then the bees will use this remnant of comb as a starter strip to build new wax in the frame, if they are so inclined.

Here the box is filled with six drippy frames and there is space for the two frames left on the hive. I put those two back in their spots and put the super back on the hive. Because I sometimes get a super of honey around the Fourth of July (who knows where they get the nectar??), I put the box under the inner cover and will check it again when I'm back from vacation.


Below is my harvest from these six frames. I also bottled four queenline jars for potential honey contest entries and gave my daughter and grandson who helped with the harvest each a queenline jar. Those six jars are not in this picture. So from six frames of honey I harvested 18.3 pounds of honey.



Ordinarily I don't use such a variety of jars for harvest, but this year the harvest looks meager. From a "bird in the hand" point of view, I wanted to make the most of this super, so I bottled some large bottles for family, some smaller bottles for gifts and those two cute "Muth" bottles just for fun.

They are topped with a cork and have embossed in the glass: "8 ounces pure honey" with a bee skep and bees flying all around. My friend, Julia, told me about these so I ordered a box to see how I'd like them.
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8 comments:

  1. Linda I always enjoy your posts! I've got my first hive this year and I have a super that's almost ready for harvest. I'm looking forward to harvesting it and using your posts as a guide!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I enjoy your posts too Linda. They're very informative. I suppose you probably kept some comb honey as well to eat.

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  3. I didn't do any comb honey from this super. I will from the next one I take, but I only did liquid honey from these six frames.

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  4. Anonymous3:52 PM

    Linda

    Where do you purchase those Muth jars?? Those are unique.

    Annette from Placerville California

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Annette, I got them from Brushy Mountain Bee. Aren't they cute!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:04 PM

    I'm going to order them also. I just did a crush and strain on 1 frame and got such unusual honey this year. I believe it is the blackberry honey as they have been on these flowers for weeks. Can't wait to use these beautiful jars and I thank you so much for sharing.

    Sincerely
    Annette from Placerville, California (103 today)

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  7. Anonymous12:01 PM

    Hi Linda...I have signed up for your newsletter but haven't been receiving them. Are you still sending them out?
    David

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi David, I haven't ever put out a newsletter. I am co-editor of Spilling the Honey which is the monthly newsletter of the Georgia Beekeepers Association. It's emailed to the members of the association, but you can also read it online at spillingthehoney.blogspot.com

    Hope you can find it and enjoy!

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