We weren’t planning to take any honey for a couple more weeks.
But…
Possibly somewhat driven by an irrational fear that a bear is going to get our honey, Jonny and I took three frames over the weekend. Bears are uncommon in our neck of the woods, but we’ve both been uneasy ever since our friends down the road mentioned bear tracks next to their creek. A few years ago, our neighbor across the street had a bear peeking in his windows. Uncommon, but not unheard of.
We are in our third year of beekeeping, and this is the first honey we’ve taken. It’s floral and light and pretty amazing.
There should be six more frames ready in a couple of weeks.
KC says
That picture of your little one eating honey comb made my mouth water. I want to eat fresh honey too! 🙂
Alison's Wonderland Recipes says
My husband is talking about keeping our own bees when we open a winery, so we can make mead. He’s a bit of a schemer, but I like that about him. 🙂
By the way, I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! More details are available here: http://wonderlandrecipes.com/2014/06/25/awr-receives-the-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Jennifer Miller says
Exciting! Bears are very common where I live. I don’t have bees, although I would love to have them.
Jacq says
Nice Honey!
(and an equally impressive black eye? Someones been having fun!)
Barbara Taylor says
Wow I am soooo impressed. I always thought it grew in Sainsbury
Resting Roost says
SO awesome! Your first honey harvest looks like a total success. I can’t wait to have bees…reading, researching, apprenticing this year in preparation for next year. This post was so inspiring!
Sarah says
That is incredible and beautiful! You made my mouth water! I have always wanted bees but haven’t quite felt up to the additional work they would add to my life just yet. Following your bee posts has shown me I’m probably right about that at the moment but also shown me that it’s worth it. Maybe someday we’ll have the resources to devote to it, but for now I’ll have to live vicariously through your blog!
Anne Weber-Falk says
This is so cool! Wow!
kristy says
That looks like the perfect reward for all of your hard work. I think it’s a great lesson for the kids too. I hope it wasn’t too sticky….I can only imagine how many sticky fingerprints I would find at my house.
Emily says
Oh, how exciting!!! I’ve so enjoyed watching the story of your bees…now finally honey! We have been wanting bees for a long time too…this post has motivated me even more to get the process going. I’m going to show this post to my husband as proof that an expensive extractor is NOT necessary. 😉
Gilly says
Oooh, that honey looks just too delicious! xx
Kate says
That looks so yummy.
Dana says
literally…. SWEET! There’s nothing like honey that hasn’t been processed! Liquid gold!
Nahuatl Vargas says
Amazing!
chtisty says
Fantastic!
amey says
Do you heat can the honey, or do you just store it in jars? I find your beekeeping fascinating.
Nichole says
Beatiful! I just became a beekeeper this past May and I have to say, I still feel pretty awkward calling myself that. But, holy moly, when I checked on the bees last week, I had a few frames that looked like the ones you harvested from. Now, I am thinking, “is it time?”
Here’s some of my photos if you are interested in taking a peek.
http://livefree.typepad.com/living_free/2014/06/postcards-from-summer-1.html
Ginny says
Beautiful photos! We have not been able to take honey from a first year hive before! The hive we took the frames from overwintered, and they have a full super of capped honey that we are leaving for them, beneath the one we took from.
An Cailin says
Honey from your own bees! How amazing. You must be so proud.
karen says
congrats! It’s official, you are a bee keeper 🙂 We have bears ALL the time walking through the property, so I won’t be bee keeping any time soon.
Sarah o says
How cool!!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!
Cheryl A. says
Awesome!! Looks delicious!
Cheryl Salisbury says
Beautiful!
MotherOwl says
These’s just nothing that compares to the first honey. Love your pictures. Also how the children are snatching bees’ wax with honey – just like mine. I also just harvested the first honey of the year 😉 !0 years ago I bought a very old extractor second hand. It’s still working and totallly worth it.
Teresa says
Oh I would take it to! Mr Bear can go find some wild bees. Your honey is beautiful!
alexa says
Wonderful news! I can just imagine how you and your family are enjoying that first honey harvest…
Olivia says
Beautiful!
steph says
what a journey!!!! i’ve loved following the whole process…..and very very jealous when i see all those jars full!!! yum.
Linda says
Wow, what patience! It’s beautiful!
Mary says
So fun! I’m am just so intrigued by the process!
Beth says
I LOVE that first photo of all the honey jars sitting in the sunlight!
Keeping bees is first on my list when we get a house (chickens are second).
Thanks for sharing your bee adventures.
Gretchen R says
I bet that is so sweet in so many ways!
Linda says
A bear peeking in the window! Me faint!!!!
Andee says
Yay honey!!!!
sarah says
beautiful! That’s a good amount of honey! Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Leslie H says
Congratulations on your first honey harvest! I can only imagine how pleased you are, and how delicious it will taste. Will you also be making beeswax candles?
Rachel Marie says
that is so beautiful and sounds yummy. makes me think of the scripture about the Word being sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. and you know what that tastes like 🙂
a bear? oh, my!! and i’m worried about the stray pit bull that has been seen in our neighborhood (and jumped on my 8 year old on our last walk down the road!)
Holly Nelson says
Just looks delicious! One day…
Annie says
Lucky,lucky, you! I love honey, my mouth is watering over those pics. You and your bees do a great job
tara says
Yay!! That’s so exciting! I can’t believe how much honey is in there.
Glad you got the honey before a bear did 🙂
Trista says
Wow, I’m so excited! It’s amazing- the only food that never goes bad, you knew that, right?
Is there anything you can do to keep a bear away? Maybe motion detector lights?
Tracey says
Our Uncle in Front Royal lost all his honey to a bear, so disappointing.
Enjoy your honey, I bet it taste amazing.
Melanie King says
Yay for honey! I am excited for you! The pics are great!
kirsten says
Oh interesting, I didn’t realize you could harvest honey without an extractor! Did you pretty much just take a sieve and mash up the comb until all the honey came out? Those extractors are so pricey; we want a couple hives soon but the price of the extractor was deterring us. Your method seems much simpler and cheaper.
Ginny says
Yes, that’s what we did! It’s called “crush and strain.” We bought that bucket with a valve and a stainless strainer from our local bee supply shop. We can’t justify the expense of an extractor yet.
Here’s a link with more info: http://www.bushfarms.com/beesharvest.htm Go ahead and get bees!!!
Heather says
That is so beautiful. What a treat, I am sure.
Penny says
Your sun drenched honey is jaw droppingly glorious. yum 🙂
Penny says
You know, that sounds kind of odd. What I mean is… wow. And enjoy!
Ginny says
Not odd at all, Penny!!! Thank you!!
Leanne New Zealand. says
HUGE buzz to harvest your own honey. ENJOY!!!
Erika says
Oh how lovely!!!! I’m sure the honey is absolutely delicious!
Ines says
I can almost taste it…great pics…thanks for sharing
Kelli Mayhorn says
I think this is just amazing. I grew up visiting my uncle in the country and he kept bees. I adored going and playing in the creek (crick), fishing for minnows (minners) and partaking in the glorious honey.
We are tea lovers in our home now and go through mass quantities of honey…however I do not live in the country and I don’t think my HOA would take kindly to me having bees.
Silly rules :).
Your honey looks beautiful and I’m sure it tastes divine.
Kelli
Elizabeth says
oh how wonderful and beautiful! they are full of light! Bees are surely a beloved creature of God!!!