Harpenden
Honey
Hi, if you have just received some honey and would like to make a donation to Sense please click here.
This website is about Harpenden bees and honey and I want it to be fun and accessible to all age groups. Please email me with any comments or suggestions and I will try to incorporate your ideas. Over time, I intend to "link out" technical terms to sub-pages so, with your help, we can explore some things in more depth. I have a particular interest in insect flight and insect flight muscles and I will add a few pages on that "in due course" (ironic smiley face).
The beehive is located at the end of the garden, close to a small pond where the bees can take a drink when they get thirsty. However, they have to be quick in order to avoid being grabbed by a pond skater or water boatman! The hive consists of a lower "brood box" which contains honey and pollen stores and a central brood region where the Queen lays eggs that develop into larvae and then full grown bees. The upper boxes (4) are called "supers". They rest on the thin, wooden, "Queen Excluder" which prevents the Queen from going upstairs and laying eggs in the supers.
The beehive is located at the end of the garden, close to a small pond where the bees can take a drink when they get thirsty. However, they have to be quick in order to avoid being grabbed by a pond skater or water boatman! The hive consists of a lower "brood box" which contains honey and pollen stores and a central brood region where the Queen lays eggs that develop into larvae and then full grown bees. The upper boxes (4) are called "supers". They rest on the thin, wooden, "Queen Excluder" which prevents the Queen from going upstairs and laying eggs in the supers.
In early 2023, the bees swarmed into a neighbours' garden. So, I scooped the largest part of the swarm (with the queen in the middle of it) into a box which has a convenient hole in the bottom to allow the rest of the swarm to crawl in.
In early 2023, the bees swarmed into a neighbours' garden. So, I scooped the largest part of the swarm (with the queen in the middle of it) into a box which has a convenient hole in the bottom to allow the rest of the swarm to crawl in.
It took about 1.5 hours for all the bees to go inside, then I bunged up the entrance hole and took them home. In the video, notice that some of the bees sit close to the entrance hole, presumably fanning pheremones to encourage others to go inside.
It took about 1.5 hours for all the bees to go inside, then I bunged up the entrance hole and took them home. In the video, notice that some of the bees sit close to the entrance hole, presumably fanning pheremones to encourage others to go inside.
The bees store most of their honey in the frames held in the "supers". In order to harvest the honey the bees are encouraged to move out of the supers, down to the lower brood box using a "bee escape" (explained later). The supers can then be removed, with a minimal number of bees remaining on the frames. Any stragglers can be gently brushed off near the hive entrance.
The bees store most of their honey in the frames held in the "supers". In order to harvest the honey the bees are encouraged to move out of the supers, down to the lower brood box using a "bee escape" (explained later). The supers can then be removed, with a minimal number of bees remaining on the frames. Any stragglers can be gently brushed off near the hive entrance.
The nectar that bees collect (forage) from flowering plants contains between 5% ->70% sugar. Nectar is a mixture of the disaccharide, sucrose, and monosaccharides fructose and glucose. The bees working in the supers add an enzyme called invertase which converts nearly all the sucrose to fructose and glucose. Weight for weight they taste sweeter than sucrose. The bees also "blow-off" much of the water (i.e. evaporate it) by fanning their wings. The moisture content should reach about 18% water at which point the hexagonal storage cells (the comb) are "capped off" with a wax seal.
The nectar that bees collect (forage) from flowering plants contains between 5% ->70% sugar. Nectar is a mixture of the disaccharide, sucrose, and monosaccharides fructose and glucose. The bees working in the supers add an enzyme called invertase which converts nearly all the sucrose to fructose and glucose. Weight for weight they taste sweeter than sucrose. The bees also "blow-off" much of the water (i.e. evaporate it) by fanning their wings. The moisture content should reach about 18% water at which point the hexagonal storage cells (the comb) are "capped off" with a wax seal.
Each frame is "uncapped" using a bread knife (or something similar).
Each frame is "uncapped" using a bread knife (or something similar).
The frame is then placed in the honey extractor, which is basically a centrifuge.
The frame is then placed in the honey extractor, which is basically a centrifuge.
The frames (4 at a time) are inserted in to the cage in the centre of the extractor. The cage is then rotated by cranking a handle. This must be done quite slowly so the weight of the honey doesn't break the comb and the frames should be reversed a couple of times so that both sides (which are separated by a thin central layer of wax) are cleared of honey.
The frames (4 at a time) are inserted in to the cage in the centre of the extractor. The cage is then rotated by cranking a handle. This must be done quite slowly so the weight of the honey doesn't break the comb and the frames should be reversed a couple of times so that both sides (which are separated by a thin central layer of wax) are cleared of honey.
In this particular device, one turn of the crank handle is geared up to give 3 full rotations of the cage. If the handle is turned once per second you get about 5 times gravity (called "5g"). Once the comb has been nearly cleared on both sides you can crank up the speed to clear out the last of the honey without fear of breaking the comb.
In this particular device, one turn of the crank handle is geared up to give 3 full rotations of the cage. If the handle is turned once per second you get about 5 times gravity (called "5g"). Once the comb has been nearly cleared on both sides you can crank up the speed to clear out the last of the honey without fear of breaking the comb.
Once the honey from a few frames has been extracted, the centrifuge "bin" is drained through two metal strainers (coarse and fine) to remove any lumps of wax. Pollen grains and very small pieces of wax will pass through the strainers - this adds to the flavour!
Once the honey from a few frames has been extracted, the centrifuge "bin" is drained through two metal strainers (coarse and fine) to remove any lumps of wax. Pollen grains and very small pieces of wax will pass through the strainers - this adds to the flavour!
The honey is collected in a clean plastic container with a "gate" (just like the one seen on the centrifuge, above) so that it can later be dispensed into individual jars.
The honey is collected in a clean plastic container with a "gate" (just like the one seen on the centrifuge, above) so that it can later be dispensed into individual jars.
