This workshop will take you step by step through the honey extraction process on the working hives in the Make Hamilton community garden
The bees at Make Hamilton have been working hard over the summer months, gathering nectar and pollen and building up stores of honey in their hives. The honey will be harvested at the end of summer, and this workshop gives you the opportunity to experience the harvesting first-hand.
The workshop is split into two parts. First, they will introduce you to how a hive works, and how the bees store their honey. They will talk through the cycle of honey production, and the life of a colony through a typical year. They’ll pull on beekeeping veils and head outside where you’ll have the chance to look inside a hive to see the bees working on their honeycomb.
In the second part of the workshop we will return indoors to experience the process of extracting honey by spinning honeycomb frames. You will handle honeycombs, and experience the smells and stickiness that go with that! You’ll get to use the extractor, and watch the honey being spun out of the frames then collected for bottling.
The session is very interactive, and will respond to the questions and interests of participants. The session is led by John, who has kept bees for many years, and is the resident beekeeper at Make.
All equipment/ protective bee suits will be provided, but please come wearing long sleeved tops, full length trousers and closed shoes (i.e. no sandals).