Honey Harvest
Pure local honey is a treasure worth waiting for.
Perhaps you remember that David and Meg delayed their honey harvest until spring so the bees would have enough to last through the winter. A couple of weeks ago, they finally opened the hives and we held our breath. How much honey would there be? Would there be enough to share?
A fun way to answer those questions is to take you on a quick tour of Honey Harvest 2022.
Harvesting the Honey
You have probably driven past bee hives like these. In West Michigan, farmers actually “rent” bees to pollinate their blueberries in the spring so you might notice these boxes at the edge of their fields.
Every few months, while the rest of us watch from a respectful distance, David and Meg suit up to check on their hives. When they sense that enough honey has been produced, it’s time to harvest.
These boxes, called supers, contain frames, in which the bees have created hundreds of honey-filled cells. The first step of harvest is to pry each frame out to examine it more closely.
The bees seal each cell with wax. This special heated knife scrapes open the seal, releasing the golden nectar.
The frames are loaded into brackets in an extractor. Ours holds 4 frames at a time. Think of it like the inside of your dryer turned upright. As someone turns the handle, the frames spin, releasing the honey.
Of course we ask our taste testers to check the honey for quality assurance. He (Wilder) heartily approved.
At the bottom of the extractor is a spout which through which the honey flows. A double filter system catches wax, bits of pollen, and other impurities. Filtering can actually take several days to finish.
Finally, the honey is bottled and labeled. And you know the answer to our questions.
Yes, We Have Honey!
The picture above is only a tiny view of my dining room table, filled with jars and bottles of honey. We have a wide range of sizes–something for everyone. Let me know what you need and I’ll make sure you get exactly the size you would like. Or, stop by our farm where you will find a few containers that you can choose from.
Payment is easy. We gladly accept cash, checks made out to Robin Tucker, and we now take Venmo.
Are you just too busy to think about buying honey during these summer months? Don’t worry. Our friends, the bees, have blessed us with plenty for months to come.
Local, raw Love Led Farm Honey is only one of the fine products we offer for your health and enjoyment. How can we serve your family today?
See you soon…on Love Led Farm.
Warmly,
