Well keeping bees certainly can be a pain.
Crush and strain is messy but the good news is that honey doesn't spoil. If you have any wax moths or hive beetles a couple days in the freezer will kill any eggs. If you forget the honey frames in the freezer for a couple months that's fine too because it doesn't go bad. If you then bring them to the kitchen and forget them again for a couple weeks they'll be just fine when you get around to messing with them. I am very fortunate my lovely wife hasn't kicked me to the curb for the big bin of honey that was sitting on the kitchen counter for weeks (ok, months).
If you have access to a radial extractor that's a great way to go too unless you specifically want the extra wax to render for candles. Just make sure you leave enough honey for the bees so they don't starve out.
Thanks Erikk,
I have a radial extractor and all the gadgets, that is what so silly about it all. I bought a bee biz for a great price. I have read articles about people finding honey in the tombs of the pyramids, so yep I believe it does save very well. So does mustard I hear. he he
I agree with the messy part. We have not built a little honey house to do al this in either, and your wife lets you do this in the kitchen! She must love you lots. I keep the bees on the bottom portion of the property for the water nearby. They followed us up all the way to the top of the property driving the cart up a hill. We had to leave everything in the back of cart,if we had come inside so would they. Mine have never been aggressive in anyway so far, it has been a healthy hive on its own. Wish all my adventures in husbandry were so easy. They are my excuse as to why I must plant so many flowers in the garden. It's all for the bees ya know!
Besides......... Monsanto pisses me off and I want to help, even in a very small way.
