I keep three or four hives of bees in the back garden. We started keeping bees about four years ago with two hives, back when we lived in the Yarra Ranges (and it was still the drought here). Since we moved to a flatter region with better vegetation, and the rains are back, the bees are doing much better and we have masses of honey. We collected about 150kg of honey last season despite some disasters with swarms and embarrassing mismanagement of our hives.
Checking the hives
During the spring and summer we check each hive once a week or so and hopefully catch any imminent swarming activity. Doesn't always go according to plan, though.
This hive has two brood boxes (bottom) and I'm checking the first "super" or honey frame box. By midsummer there's usually two supers, and when they are full that's about 30kg of honey. Each hive will fill up the supers a couple of times through the summer.
This hive has two brood boxes (bottom) and I'm checking the first "super" or honey frame box. By midsummer there's usually two supers, and when they are full that's about 30kg of honey. Each hive will fill up the supers a couple of times through the summer.
Bee carpet
Whilst messing about with the hive, the bees decided to hang around on the ground and front of the boxes- an impressive sight! After I stopped annoying them they all went back inside.
The product
Here is a lovely sight- a full frame of freshly capped honey, ready to extract (or even eat as it is, wax and all). Before extracting the honey we cut off the top layer of "capping" wax, and then spin out the honey in a centrifugal extractor.