Novice Honey Harvesting

Last year I took a class to learn about bees, at my mother's request. She was so interested in having hives, but there were no classes near her. So, I went to a local one, every Tuesday for six weeks. I enjoyed it thoroughly. At the end of the classes, we took a written test and were supposed to take a practical/field test to become a certified beekeeper. I still haven't taken my practical test. We ended up buying 3 hives from a commercial beekeeper who was going out of business, as many people in the class did. That "once-in-a-lifetime chance" to get hives already booming is still talked about today...not in a good way. We were actually one of the lucky ones who did not lose ALL of the hives they bought. We only lost one, one classmate bought twelve and had naught to show for it.

Mom did get a "package" of bees and a brand new hive last year and they are flourishing, whereas the two surviving hives are somewhat weak. We are really trying to keep them as "natural" as possible without chemicals and medicines. I figure they have been around for centuries without us, so...

Not really having any experience in harvesting honey, we just took a shot in the dark at it. We attended one beekeeper meeting where a long-time beekeeper showed us how to extract the honey. It was great to see. But we didn't have any of that fancy-schmancy equipment, nor the funds to just buy it. It can be a pricey venture. He had the extractor, the hot knife, so on and so forth. We just had a honey super (the smallest level on top of the hive)that was so full that we were afraid the bees would swarm. That means the queen and thousands of her closest friends will find a better place to work, usually in someone's yard who doesn't want them there. And that would be the end of our investment.

So, we suited up. We do have hats. I just don't want a bee flying up my nose or stinging me in the eye. After the bees and I get to know each other, then we will see what I wear. To be honest, I wanted a Hazmat suit to begin with, but I have calmed down now---a little. I have a hat and I use inside out latex kitchen gloves ( I figure the more white the better???) Mom has the real bee gloves since she is the only one who has really gotten in the supers. I stand back and hold the smoker, which is an important job. We wear our classic white T-shirt and light jeans, and mom has a long-sleeved jacket. It is great attire for June in the South.

Below you see mom pulling out a frame full of honey. We replaced that with a new frame.

We took out two frames full of honey. So...now what...

We had honey everywhere, in a pan, on the counter, on our fingers : ) Mom took a regular knive to uncap the cells and the honey oozed into a
pot we had them sitting in. She ended up doing "crush and strain." It is not the best way for the bees because it destroys the wax foundation they have built and they have to work 8 x as hard to rebuild it-that is what were told by another beekeeper. Unfortunately, that is what we will have to do until we can get the proper equipment.

From those two frames we got 3 quarts of beautiful honey.

I am, however, considering a new label. I don't know. What do you think?

Chickens

As a youngster, we had chickens. I remember throwing kitchen scraps over the fence I could barely reach over. I used to gather the eggs and play daredevil with the basket, testing if the force of gravity would really hold all the eggs in the basket if I swung it all the way around and upside down. (By the way, it did. Thank goodness.) I remember my great-grandparents, Mamaw and Papaw coming over to help us butcher/dress the chickens. Mamaw would take the chicken by the neck give it swing-not unlike my egg basket swinging-and in seconds it was over. I also remember the smell of wet feathers-not one of my favorite smells.


So there is some experience with raising chickens for eggs and meat. I haven't been ALL that involved until this year, however. This year we ordered 50 White Rocks per my request. A new breed for mom and the most she has ever had at one time. I do tend to be overzealous on new things (something I need to work on). I chose the White Rock because of the decent size for meat and the apparent good laying all wrapped in one. Not the best of both, but good in both.

The 50 White Rock and the 1 "rare" chicks arrived from McMurray Hatchery to our post office. The post office called us at 6:34 a.m. and off we went to pick them up.



We had their coop all cleaned with fresh straw, newspaper (so their food wouldn't get lost in the straw until they learned to scratch) and chick starter food in the feeders and two chicken waterers. We had the heat lamp hung and ready go.

As soon as we got home, we woke the kids up, as they are not yet accustomed to "farm hours," and we all went out there for the dipping ceremony. We took them one by one and put their little beaks in the water until they got a taste of it. It really did not take long, even with 75% novices, to get all 51 done. We watched them for a while and then let them be, checking on them every once in a while throughout the day.

So far so good. We have only lost 1, probably due to heat. We did make the decision to buy the chickens a little later in the year than traditionally. Even though mom says the chicken yard will be "boring" because they are all white, less the little black "rare" bird, I think everyone is pleased so far.

What We Are Starting With

We are actually a little bit ahead of the game since my mother has been on the land for a few years. We are very fortunate in the fact that we are starting out with 17 acres, mostly wooded at this point, a small pond with a broken dam that a couple of beavers are trying to repair for us, a commercial-size greenhouse (and a mother with a green thumb), a chicken house, some outbuildings/sheds and an outhouse.

Over the next few months,we will be spending a lot of time clearing out and cleaning up. Our side of the pond has the buildings and a few piles of trash that need to be dealt with. Okay, a lot of piles to be dealt with. I am an impatient person, so I keep reminding myself this is going to be a slow process. At this point, I am still working a full time job, albeit from home, it is nearly a 40-hour per week job. My husband works 10-hour days and has a two -hour commute. Yes, things will be slower than I would like, but that's okay. Persistence pays, right?

The land across from the pond is all woods for now. Our hope for the not-too-distant future is to make the furthest portion of it a pasture for larger livestock. That would include cows for meat and horses for fun. The rest of the land is pines, cedars, a few hardwoods and lots of poison ivy and thorny vines that need to be cleared little by little. And we have kudzu to contend with. If you are from the South, you know what we are dealing with. If you are not, it is a vine that grows a foot a day and can overrun land, trees, telephone poles and anything in its path. Yes, my mother feeds her rabbits with it, but...I should be expecting a call or e-mail from her after she reads this.

We are also starting with a few angora rabbits that mom has. Right now they are at home in the chicken yard. She will be taking those with her to her "secret garden" where her home is being planned as we speak. We also have dogs. Nell, mom's favorite child, Abby, her black chow and Hercules, our dog--Abby's offspring.

That is what we are starting with!

Ready or Not Here We Come!

Okay, I am scared, completely uncertain of everything right now. So, what to do? Pray...Follow your heart...'When in doubt, do nothing.' There are several directions I could be going. Yes, I have prayed and will continue to do so. Yes, I usually follow my heart, but I do think my head is better equipped for decision-making. And, of course, in the past, I have done nothing. But not this time. This time, I am going to DO.

What am I talking about. I am talking about beginning a homestead (at least my opinion of modern homesteading). I have a vision of self-sufficiency, of getting back to "basics," of...homesteading.

My family, consisting of my husband, my 16 year-old son, my 14 year-old daughter, my mother and myself, will be moving to my mother's 17-acre plot. All five of us are ready to start our new journey.

Let me clear the air first. I am not a writer, nor have any desire to be. So, I ask your forgiveness for any misspelled words, poor grammar, typos, etc. It is my primary goal to share our family's learning experience in striving for self sufficiency.