Wavell Heights Pure Gold

Happy Spring everyone! I am letting you all know that I am currently out of honey (first time ever!) as I had a shoulder reconstruction in January and could not rob my hives leading up to Winter. I will let you all know, via this page, when I am back in stock.
Thanks all for choosing healthy and local honey.

Just reflecting on the past season being hampered by a shoulder reconstruction back in January. Productivity went down as I could not tend to my hives as I should have and honey output was halved compared to the previous season. In the mean time, I have studied and prepared to hit this season ready to tackle Varroa mite and get my hives working. I will hopefully be able to offer a few different products as well if it goes to plan!

Last of the Autumn Gold.

When relocating swarms of bees, we wait until after sunset to move the hive; that way, all bees will be inside, and we won’t leave any behind. In addition, I often use a box with a one-way entry, a mesh cone that allows the bees to enter but cannot figure out how to exit; this hastens the process and potentially allows us to relocate the hive during daylight hours without leaving bees behind. This is the extended version of a video you might have seen before. Take a closer look at the large entry hole; this is the one-way entry, a reversed version of the trap-out cone. — © @hinterlandbees

Recent work with some mates working the hives recently placed at SMEAC Inc. Veteran Camp off Steve Irwin Way. The hives will be used for training/teaching interested Veterans beekeeping and the processes around maintaining bees and harvesting honey.

Bee vomit!!

Did you know?🧐 A honey bee’s body is specially designed to make honey!

Honey bees ingest nectar from flowers and store it in their “honey crop,” or “honey stomach,” an organ containing enzymes that change the pH balance and chemical makeup of the nectar.

When the foraging bees return to the hive, they pass the nectar to younger house bees, who keep passing the nectar from bee to bee. This process continues to break down the nectar into more simple sugars and reduces the water content.

After the nectar is placed in the comb, the bees dehydrate it further by fanning their wings.

Once the water content reaches 20% or less, it’s ready to be sealed with wax caps!

This is a basic overview of the process, not an extensive dive. The fact that honey bees just inherently know all the ins and outs is one of the coolest things about them!