Extracting the honey!



First you take out each individual frame of honey from the hive. You cover it each time so sneaky bees don't get in there.



Carry the hive box inside with help. It is awkward and about 65 lbs

I was told this was my job- to cut the wax cappings off

This knife plugs in and gets very hot and melts off the wax and honey oozes out.

"My helpers"

Then each frame is put into this extractor, 2 at a time.

And it is spun until the honey has all come off

All of the wax cappings are set aside...this is the official taste tester:)

The extractor is lifted up and the honey is let out into a clean bucket with a mesh strainer to keep out any impurities

Our busy beekeeper during all of this:)

Those wax cappings are also put into the mesh and drained into a seperate bucket. Most beekeepere keep this honey for themselves since it is the best:)

Then to the honey bear. He is awesome at this job--he knows exactly when to turn the valve so it fills up perfectly. I think he did about 40 bears himself:)

Ta-Da!