Sunday, May 13, 2012

Sugar, Sugar, Ahhh, Honey Honey, Ahh, Bunny Bunny, Ahh, Berry Berry

We're going into our third year of beekeeping.  The first year was a total failure for several reasons.  We didn't even make it to winter with the two hives.  Last spring we started over with one hive and while we had some honey at the end of summer, we left it for the bees to help them through the winter.  I am pleased to say that over the last two weekends we have extracted our first honey.  We've processed one full super consisting of ten frames and four frames from another super.  We still have six frames in the 2nd super that are almost capped so we expect to harvest them in the near future.  Additionally we have another 10 frame super that is full of honey but yet to be capped.  I cannot express how utterly excited and pleased I am about this.  All of our frustration, disappointment, sweat, bee stings and tears have come to fruition in the form of 28 pints of honey so far.  We are averaging two pints per frame, so if we harvest the six frames that are almost capped, we should get another 10-12 pints of honey.

All of the angora babies have new homes.  I'm always sad to see them go, but I'm happy with the people who bought them so that makes the letting go easier.  Both of the does went to the same home, so they get to be sisters together.  The new owner emailed me a few days ago with photos and told me they have personalities plus.  She has named them Lucy and Ethel because of their craziness.  She said they have already been to show and tell for three different classes at school. 

the blue tort doe

   












the blue-pointed white doe (She was our absolute favorite, and I almost kept her.  I mean, look at that pose.  She knows she's cute.)














the blue-pointed white buck















This mess of bunnies is my first meat rabbit litter.  They just hit six weeks old and are growing well.  It's time to wean them from mama. 


Yesterday, I was given a huge bucket of organic strawberries, so canning season started early this year.  I put up (12) 12 oz. and (7) 8 oz. jars of Strawberry Ginger Jam today.  It is so freakin' delicious!  It has been ages since we had strawberry jam mainly because my strawberry growing skills are less than ideal, and I don't buy strawberries because I worry about the chemicals that have been used on them. 

That's it for now, folks!

Happy homesteading,


Candace

10 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your fantastic honey harvest! I have a feeling raising and keeping bees might be a bit easier in your climate than ours. Sigh. But we keep trying.

    Your rabbits all look so very healthy. And the strawberries and preserves you've made . . . well, our plants haven't even blossomed out yet but we're hoping for another good harvest this year from them.

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    1. Thank you! We are quite proud of our honey harvest. We've definitely worked hard for it. I can't lay claim to growing the strawberries though. I'm pretty bad at strawberry growing.

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  2. Right on, congratulations on your bee keeping and honey harvest! I have been wanting to keep bees for a few years now but havent jumped in, your post has me thinking it may be time. So excited and happy for you, what an adventure.

    My strawberries don't seem to be doing well again this year and i live in a place where i can grow them almost year around. I keep trying but so far i have to find a local organic stand to buy enough to make my annual batch of jam. Strawberry ginger sounds really good, may have to try that this time around.

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    1. Thank you! It has definitely been an adventure and a lesson on perseverance. I don't know if I will continue with strawberries next year, but we'll see.

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  3. Cute! Cute! Cute! I have such a soft spot for bunnies. :)

    Wonderful about your honey harvest. That's excellent! I can't wait until we finally get to the point that we can have bees too.

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    1. Finally having a payoff has helped temper the sting (no pun intended) of our failures in beekeeping. Hopefully we are on the right track now.

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  4. I'm such a fool for bunnies...all I keep saying is...Oh, my God...OH, My GOD...after every picture. They are so adorable...

    We kept bees when we lived in North Carolina and have not set them up here still. The Irishman just keeps saying how much work it is..tho I remember him loving having them before...in time,....

    I love your blog....

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    1. Thanks so much and thanks for reading! The angoras are even better in person, super soft and equally sweet. And the personalities they have. I could just squeeze them to death! Beekeeping is alot of work, but now that we've finally harvested honey, it all seems worth it.

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  5. I just discovered your blog and I love it! Would you mind sharing your strawberry ginger jam recipe? I looked for it on your site but couldn't find it. Thanks!

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    1. Welcome, and thanks for reading! I'll share it in a post.

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