Harvesting honey is one of the most rewarding aspects of beekeeping. However, it must be done with care to ensure both the health of the hive and the quality of the honey. In addition to honey, bees also produce beeswax, propolis, and pollen, all of which can be harvested and used in various products. This chapter will guide you through the best practices for harvesting honey and other bee products, ensuring sustainable beekeeping while maximising your yield.
1. When to Harvest Honey
The timing of honey harvesting is crucial. Bees need a sufficient amount of honey to survive the winter, so you should only take surplus honey that the bees won’t need. In Ireland, the honey flow typically peaks in late summer, and this is the best time to harvest honey. The right moment to harvest is when the honeycomb frames are filled with capped honey—wax seals over the cells indicate the honey is ripe and ready.
- Check for Ripeness: You should only harvest honey from frames where at least 80% of the cells are capped. Capped honey has a low moisture content, which prevents fermentation and ensures long-term storage. If the honey is uncapped, it may contain too much moisture and could ferment, ruining the product.
- Steps for Harvesting Honey:
- Removing Bees from Frames: Before taking the frames, gently remove the bees using a bee escape board, a fume board, or a soft brush. Bee escape boards allow the bees to exit the honey super but not return, while a fume board uses non-toxic fumes to encourage bees to leave the area.
- Uncapping the Frames: Once you’ve removed the bees, use an uncapping knife or fork to remove the wax cappings from the honeycomb cells. Heated knives can make this process easier, especially for large quantities of honey.
- Extracting Honey: Place the uncapped frames in a honey extractor. This device spins the frames, using centrifugal force to extract the honey without damaging the comb. Extractors come in manual or electric versions, and the honey flows out from the extractor’s spout into a collection container. Make sure you extract honey in a clean, sterile environment to prevent contamination.
- Filtering and Bottling: After extraction, strain the honey through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove any bits of wax, pollen, or other impurities. Once filtered, the honey can be bottled and sealed for long-term storage. Be sure to label your honey with the date of harvest and the type of honey (if known), especially if you plan to sell it.
Harvesting honey responsibly ensures that the bees have enough to sustain themselves through the winter, while also providing you with a delicious, natural product.
2. Beeswax
Beeswax is a valuable byproduct of honey production. Bees secrete wax to build the honeycomb, and it can be harvested and used to make a variety of products, from candles to cosmetics. Beeswax has a long history of use in traditional crafts and natural remedies, making it a versatile resource for beekeepers.
- Collecting the Cappings: When you uncap the honey frames during honey extraction, the removed wax is the primary source of beeswax. These cappings can be collected, melted, and purified for reuse.
- Rendering Wax: To process the beeswax, melt the cappings using a double boiler or a solar wax melter. The double boiler prevents the wax from burning and ensures even heating. Once the wax has melted, strain it through a fine cloth to remove impurities like propolis or debris. After straining, pour the clean wax into moulds to cool and solidify. The resulting blocks of wax can be stored for later use in candle-making, cosmetics, or other beeswax products.
3. Propolis
Propolis is a sticky resin that bees collect from tree sap and use to seal cracks in the hive. It has strong antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, which makes it a valuable ingredient in natural health products such as tinctures, ointments, and salves.
- How to Collect Propolis: To harvest propolis, use a propolis trap. This is a flexible plastic grid that you place on top of the frames inside the hive. The bees will naturally fill the gaps in the trap with propolis. Once the trap is full, remove it and place it in the freezer for a few hours. The cold will harden the propolis, making it easy to scrape off and collect.
- Uses of Propolis: Once collected, propolis can be used in a variety of ways. Many beekeepers sell propolis raw, while others process it into tinctures by dissolving it in alcohol. Propolis can also be used to create ointments or added to creams for its healing properties.
4. Pollen
Bee pollen is collected by bees as they forage on flowers and is a rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is often harvested and sold as a dietary supplement due to its nutritional value. However, when harvesting pollen, it’s important to be mindful of the bees’ needs, as they rely on pollen to feed the brood.
- How to Collect Pollen: Pollen traps are the most common method for collecting pollen. These traps fit over the hive entrance and have a grid that brushes pollen from the bees’ legs as they return to the hive. The collected pollen falls into a tray, which you can remove and clean regularly.
- Ethical Considerations: Be cautious when using pollen traps, as over-harvesting can deprive the bees of essential food. It’s best to use pollen traps for only a few days at a time and to ensure the colony has ample pollen reserves. Fresh pollen can be stored in the freezer to maintain its nutritional content.
- Processing Pollen: Once collected, pollen should be dried carefully to prevent spoilage. You can dry it in a food dehydrator set to a low temperature or spread it in a single layer in a warm, dry room. Once dried, pollen can be stored in airtight containers or sold as a health supplement. Pollen is often used in smoothies, cereals, or as a dietary supplement in capsules.
Harvesting honey and other products such as beeswax, propolis, and pollen is one of the most fulfilling parts of beekeeping. By timing your harvests carefully and using the right techniques, you can ensure that you get the most out of your hive without compromising the health of your bees. Additionally, these products can be used in a variety of ways, adding value to your beekeeping operation and allowing you to explore new avenues for creativity and income.
