A golden harvest for 2013

Before June 22, Yvonne reminded me of the upcoming harvest the next weekend (yes, I'm way behind on this blog). I was excited to say the least. My big brother and sister-in-law, who actually is the sister I never had until she came along, hosted me for one of several summers.

Were it not for that one hot, beautiful summer and Tim introducing me to the bees he kept for his science classes at Northwood High School in Pittsboro, NC, I doubt I'd ever have been introduced to this amazing part of Mother Nature. When he introduced me to bees, I was instantly hooked on the Zen of the bees. The smells, the sounds of the buzzing and the rush of air when you open 'em up, everything else melts away.

Tim and I suited up. I now opt for rolled sleeves and simple pants, and Tim isn't that fond of stings so he went for the full coat of armor.

Also, he suited up in the same nylon jump suit he put me in 30 years ago. Needless to say, the suit didn't fit nearly as good as it did three decades ago. ;-)

My best hive, a small boomer from a spring split this year from Hive Boris, gave us frame after frame of honey in two medium supers. I used my turkey feather our brother Dan had given me from his farm, to brush off the bees frame by frame. I made sure to leave them 5 frames for the summer dearth, in addition to the end frames in the brood box below. Beetles were everywhere, but Tim, always the scientist (I love that about him), calmly observed the hive with the least beetles was farthest off the ground. That was noted!

I beat myself up for not being a better beekeeper this year and keeping the beetles at bay. But weather was so different and abnormal. Sometimes you take it on the chin, I learned, and graduate from the School of Hard Knocks. Tim reminded me to be thankful for a harvest in such a tough year. Well said, brother! Soon we were uncapping and spinning out the honey in the extractor Tim gave me, and having a wonderful time while Carol and Yvonne joined us for the good time on the back porch in summer.

Of course, Tim opted for most fun job, using a hot knife to take the wax cappings off, exposing the golden honey underneath.

Big brother relegated me to cranking the extractor. Guess you can tell who the smarter one is by that score, aye?

Before long, we were harvesting golden Spring 2013 honey. Into the triple filter of 600, 400 and 200 microns the honey poured and drained. All foreign particles except pollen are filtered out for the purest raw honey you can get. Before they left, I sent a couple pounds of T's Bees honey with them for their help, support, love and encouragement on becoming a beekeeper. It was one of the most special times I've had in my apiary, and I hope it's a family tradition. In all we spent 4 hours going through each and every frame the old fashioned way.

Yvonne treated us to a dinner of fresh vegetables from the garden, and I pulled out some mead we'd gotten on a trip to Columbus, OH, this year. During the harvest, I tried using a spray on a board to send the bees down and out of the super. It just pissed them off and they came at us. I quickly put that junk away and did as I like to do, pull out and inspect each frame, and shake and brush off the bees by hand. For me and my bees it's the best way. Not the fastest, but I get to inspect and care for the bees while harvesting at the same time. I hope I get faster at this as I mature as a beekeeper. Not a single sting was had. On the first shake I did hear my older brother mutter, "Oh, Lord," as a cloud of bees surrounded us. Soon enough, though, we were both immersed in bees, fun and the love that comes with a harvest of honey and time together.