This summer has been a whirlwind. With a rainy May and June, the bees worked extra hard to produce our coveted honey. We extracted honey four times this season, so we didn’t stress the bees too much and it was a much easier process each time. Our total amount of Sweet Mercy Honey was 170 pounds!!
The last extraction on September 10th came with some special visitors to our Apiary.
The walker line to St Christophers stopped by a few minutes before 7 am to take a peek at our Honey Hut and were shown how we extract honey. They were then treated to a tour of Cranaleith and all it has to offer. At 9 am we hosted 32 first grade students, their teacher Mrs. Marshal and some parents as chaperones. The students split in half taking turns touring our garden with Jess learning about pollinator plants and visiting the Honey Hut. Each student learned about the process of uncapping the frames of honey, actively cranked the extractor, watched as the honey flowed into the filters and were able to taste the honey by dipping their fingers into a frame of honey. They were also able to feel and play with the honeycomb built by the bees. Their interest in the bees and their questions was inspiring. The students left with a better understanding of how important our bees are, and the importance of pollinator plants and the role bees play in pollinating our food source. I’ll bet most of them could tell you my favorite fact about bees!!! Bees are the only insect on earth that make food that humans can eat!
The day was a success not only for our neighbors and students but also for all our volunteers who made it a welcoming and safe place to learn and grow.
Jersey the dog was a big hit with the kids as he soaked up the attention of the children.
Fred Trainer, Mark Reilly, and Ruben Joseph made sure no bees were harmed, and no children were stung.
Mark was also the tour guide for the walkers and their parents, introducing them to the grounds that are Cranaleith.
Jess Wszolek gave the children a tour of our beautiful garden, stressing the importance of our pollinators and how we grow some of our food source.
Donna Marley and I pulled most of the honey frames the day before, so the bees were calm during the visit on the 10th.
Without John Marley we would not have had a working extractor! Our motor was uncooperative, so John quickly hooked up the manual spinner. It was meant to be as each child got to operate it.
Kathie Ulinski kept the day flowing and organized and was the clean-up crew after the bees slurped up the honey on all the equipment.
It was a team effort from suggestions to inspiration and planning, to implementation.
(Editor’s Note:) Helene was the heart and soul of this day. She is a natural teacher and made this whole learning experience for the kids so much FUN!
We go into the fall with a new look to the apiary. Still wild with plants and high grass but new rustic pathways winding around to the backs of our hives. A volunteer group put down cardboard and wood chips from the property after Ruben and Fred cut the paths out. This makes it easier to work in the apiary but keeps our natural look and does not disturb the bees! Coming soon will be a rustic post and rail fence to encourage onlookers while gently reminding them to respect the Apiary as home to our bees. More on the “new” look of the Apiary in the next edition.
Our last inspection showed a loss of a few hive colonies. This is an unfortunate but a natural event that happens for seemingly no reason. We continue to be good stewards for the bees and do our best to provide a good and healthy environment for them. We have left them honey to help get through the winter and have plans in place to see as many bees overwinter as possible. See you in the spring!
