u
u
Dartford Beekeepers are a branch of the Kent Beekeepers Association
Registered Charity—222946
Site updated Tuesday, August 3, 2010— Revision157
To contact Dartford beekeepers webmaster click here
Copyright 2010 Dartford Beekeepers
u
Chairman's Chat
Dear Reader
August is the main harvest time for farmers and also for beekeepers. It was a traditional activity to remove the honey from the hives on August Bank Holiday Monday, being a non-working day when a six day working week was the norm.
Of course, in the days when bees were kept in a skep this would mean killing the bees, until the practice changed and they were driven from the skep. Now with a moveable frame hive this becomes a less arduous task.
We shall be dealing with various methods for achieving this at our August meeting, so if you need advice on procedures leave the honey in the hives until after the meeting.
The bees are still collecting nectar and will store it in the brood combs, in cells no longer required for rearing brood, as the queen is beginning to reduce her egg laying.
If you were planning to take bees to the moors for heather, then not only would you be removing your honey, but you would be amalgamating weaker stocks, so as to take good strong colonies. However, this is not a practice carried out by beekeepers in this locality as far as I am aware, although we did have a member many years ago who used to take two hives by train to get heather honey. This would be an expensive pastime with the present costs of travel.
The general practice within this area is to allow the bees to retain honey which they produce from now on; it saves winter feed in most cases.
I hope that when you do remove your surplus, you find the bees have done you proud.
Finally a word about selling honey:
August is the main harvest time for farmers and also for beekeepers. It was a traditional activity to remove the honey from the hives on August Bank Holiday Monday, being a non-working day when a six day working week was the norm.
Of course, in the days when bees were kept in a skep this would mean killing the bees, until the practice changed and they were driven from the skep. Now with a moveable frame hive this becomes a less arduous task.
We shall be dealing with various methods for achieving this at our August meeting, so if you need advice on procedures leave the honey in the hives until after the meeting.
The bees are still collecting nectar and will store it in the brood combs, in cells no longer required for rearing brood, as the queen is beginning to reduce her egg laying.
If you were planning to take bees to the moors for heather, then not only would you be removing your honey, but you would be amalgamating weaker stocks, so as to take good strong colonies. However, this is not a practice carried out by beekeepers in this locality as far as I am aware, although we did have a member many years ago who used to take two hives by train to get heather honey. This would be an expensive pastime with the present costs of travel.
The general practice within this area is to allow the bees to retain honey which they produce from now on; it saves winter feed in most cases.
I hope that when you do remove your surplus, you find the bees have done you proud.
Finally a word about selling honey:
· Use proper honey jars – the use of jam jars and other similar containers give the craft a bad market
· There are labelling requirements including a reference to the fact that this is a ‘Product of UK’, a best before date ie 2013 and that the contents are not suitable for a child under 12 months
· Please include the weight of honey using the metric system, followed by the imperial weight as desired
· Also include your name and address (A house number and post code is acceptable)
The price to charge varies in different locations. Last year’s prices were as low as £3 per lb jar, but this price needs to be increased to reflect the rising costs that beekeepers face. Keep your ear to the ground
Until next month I wish you well.
William.