"Slice of Sweetness"

Now that you have spent all this time raising and managing the bees it is finally time to claim your reward. Here we will show you the first step to get the honey from the hive to the jar.

UNCAPPING THE COMB

Honey extraction is the central process in beekeeping of removing honey from honeycomb so that it is isolated in a pure liquid form.

Normally, the honey is stored by the bees on a very regular honeycomb they build on a frame. The frames are typically harvested late summer, when they will be most filled with honey. On a completely filled frame, the cells will be capped by the bees for storage – that is, each cell containing honey will be sealed with a cap made of wax.

UNCAPPING WITH AN ELECTRIC HOT KNIFE OVER AN UNCAPPING TUB

The first step in the Extraction process is to break or remove all of the caps, this may be accomplished with an automated uncapper or with a manually operated knife (typically they must be used together); the knife is often heated to facilitate cutting action. The removed bits of wax, called uncappings, are rich in honey which can be slowly drained off with the help of some heating. Automated uncapping machines normally work by abrading the surface of the wax with moving chains or bristles and are a little messier then manual uncapping, but much less laborious.

Before uncapping, some beekeepers (especially noncommercial) will remove and store any propolis, normally through scraping action.

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Father God,  help us to speak words that bring life and encouragement.  Forgive us for speaking death upon the very things that you desire to live.  May the words we speak, and the meditation of our hearts, bring glory to your name.

Faith Jaudon

Pic:  Tiffany