Honey!

Thank you to Masterson's Garden Center in East Aurora for its beekeeping apprenticeship program. I've learned so much and have started applying my lessons.

We got honey!

I was careful not to take all the honey. I took just what was capped. There is plenty more for the bees for the winter. (In two weeks, I learn how to winterize my hive.)

I've already shared some honey with friends and have used some myself. It tastes divine with blue cheese on a cracker and is wonderful in a honey vinaigrette salad dressing. It's also great to lick right off the spoon or your finger. I have no shame.

I also used some in my facial polish. It's nice to be able to use my own raw materials when I can in my company's products. If you click Wild Mountain Organics it will take you to my site - directly to the page to buy, interestingly.......

I told too many people that I have honey so now they want to buy some but I don't have enough to sell. I asked my brother if he had any to sell. He's going to check on this. He told me that since I had his extractor, he hadn't been in his hives to get honey. See - it comes back to me.

The solution? Order more bees for the spring! I ordered three more hives to be delivered in spring. My plan is to extract honey in July (spring honey) and October (summer/fall honey). Now that I know what I'm doing I can take better care of the hives and share my harvest with interested customers.

I never thought I would be farming anything other than herbs grown in pots on the kitchen windowsill. Now I have chickens, a massive garden, and bees.

Who knew?

And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.