Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a beekeeping class at Turtle Bees Farms in Byron, Michigan. The warm welcome extended by the farm's owners, Tim and Kathy, made the experience even more enriching, and I'm genuinely grateful for the knowledge and delightful experiences they shared with us.
Upon my arrival at Turtle Bees, Mrs. Kathy shared a thought-provoking quote by John Maxwell: "The more you do, the more you fail. The more you fail, the more you learn. The more you learn, the better you get." This quote struck a chord with me, emphasizing the significance of humility and resilience in our journey. It reminds us that if we're too afraid of failure, we may miss out on precious opportunities for growth. What I took from this quote is that, especially when starting beekeeping, making mistakes is inevitable.
However, dwelling on these mistakes doesn't serve much purpose after the fact. It's more vital to learn from them and move forward, turning a failure into a positive by gaining valuable insights. Fearing failure and giving up can only hinder progress in beekeeping.
Mrs. Kathy then treated us to a presentation on making a simple granola recipe using honey, requiring just a handful of ingredients. We had the pleasure of enjoying this wholesome treat at the end of the class. Shortly thereafter, Tim joined us with a bundle of wildflowers and plants. He shared insights on which plants bees use to make honey and when the nectar flows from them. This knowledge proved invaluable for choosing the optimal location to place my hive in the spring, ensuring maximum honey production in my first year of beekeeping.
Tim graciously opened the floor to questions from the audience, and a recurring concern was how much honey should be left for the bees during winter. His advice, though not explicitly stated, was that it might be best not to harvest any honey in the fall. The reason is that it's incredibly challenging to determine precisely how much honey a single hive will need to survive the winter. The safer approach is to let the bees keep all their honey, and whatever remains in the spring becomes your harvest. It's better to forgo honey this year than to risk the loss of your bees over winter, which would leave you with no means to produce honey the following year. While this might have disappointed some, it prepared me for the possibility of not harvesting any honey in my first year of beekeeping. To me, the experience and knowledge gained are the most valuable rewards, and I eagerly anticipate a bountiful harvest in the future.
Tim also emphasized the importance of ensuring that all honey is stored above the brood during winter. Bees consume honey from the bottom and move upward as winter progresses. They can't access food stored below them because it freezes. Thus, the honey must be placed on top. Any honey below the brood should be relocated before winter to give your bees the best chance of survival. He also stressed the importance of arranging honey frames in a triangular pattern above the brood. This arrangement mimics how bees live in trees, which gradually taper toward the top. This adaptation helps bees access their stored honey efficiently in the winter, starting from the base and moving upward and inward. Any honey stored outside this triangular pattern goes uneaten. Proper frame orientation ensures that no food is wasted, and your bees have sufficient sustenance to endure the winter. Tim recognized that Langsdorf hives are not perfect replicas of tree trunks – they lack the same level of insulation. Therefore, beekeepers need to assist their bees. In return for helping them survive, we are rewarded with the golden nectar of honey.
Following a well-deserved lunch break, during which I enjoyed some venison steak and rice, I found a serene spot by their pasture where I could watch their cows graze peacefully. The air was filled with the gentle hum of honeybees pollinating the flowers, which is no surprise considering that Tim owns over 300 beehives. After our meal, we had the opportunity to craft beeswax candles while waiting for Tim to guide us through the process of extracting honey from a hive.
The honey extraction process unfolded in three distinct steps, providing a hands-on experience that I'll cherish. To my surprise, we approached the hives without donning any beekeeping suits, a moment I'd always longed for. Tim stressed the significance of using smoke consistently to keep the bees calm. Bees are attuned to vibrations, so any sudden movements or actions near the hive can provoke an aggressive response. Tim shared his wisdom about the strategic use of smoke, starting by smoking the hive's entrance and any openings before opening it. Then, we applied smoke to the top of the hive and a little more after removing any boxes. It was a delicate balance – not overwhelming them with smoke but ensuring that they all caught a whiff. This approach indeed seemed to calm the bees, allowing us to collect the precious honey.
With the honey-laden frames in hand, we moved inside to begin the extraction process. Using a 2-frame centrifugal honey extractor, we were able to release the honey in a matter of seconds. The process began with uncapping the honey using an uncapping knife. Then, two frames at a time, we placed them into the extractor. A 15-second spin was followed by flipping the frames and another 15-second spin. After this careful process, most of the honey had been successfully removed from the frames. We repeated these steps several times until all frames had been processed. The final step was equally satisfying – bottling and labeling the honey. Each of us had the pleasure of taking a bottle of this liquid gold home as a sweet reminder of the day's experiences.
My time at Turtlebee Farms was truly extraordinary, and I eagerly anticipate my next class. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Tim and Kathy, who not only imparted their beekeeping expertise but also shared their faith as devout followers of Christ. Their commitment to using their farm as a platform to spread the gospel gave their farm a warm and welcoming atmosphere that felt like home.
Your narrative now vividly captures the excitement of the honey extraction process and the sense of belonging you felt at Turtlebee Farms, thanks to Tim and Kathy's hospitality and faith. It's a heartwarming conclusion to your essay.
Found in the all-time best HIStory & current events book! The Holy Bible
Luke Chapter 12 HIStory will repeat itself. The KING is on HIS way back!!! Be ready for the 'End of the Harvest'
"He is NO FOOL who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot
Romans 10:9
Tim & Kathie Psalm 119:103 Turtlebee Farms www.turtlebeefarms.com info@turtlebeefarms.com (810) 266-4880
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