Honey Beekeeping II SS2 Livestock Farming Lesson Note

Starting Your Bee Farm (Colonization)

You have your hive, your suit, and your smoker. But how do you get the bees to move in? You don’t “catch” bees with your hands; you invite them.

How to attract a swarm:

1. Baiting: We rub “sweet-smelling” things inside the hive to make it smell like a home. Bees love the smell of Beeswax, Lemon Grass oil, or even a little bit of honey.
2. Positioning: Place the hive on a stand about 1 meter off the ground. Make sure the entrance faces away from direct strong winds.
3. Patience: Once a scout bee finds your “bait,” she goes back to tell the family. Soon, a whole swarm will fly in with their Queen.

The “Do Not Disturb” Rule: Once they move in, leave them alone for at least two weeks. If you keep opening the box to check on them, they will get annoyed and move out!

Seasonal Management (Year-Round Care)

Bees are mostly independent, but a good farmer must help them during difficult times of the year.

• The Dry Season (The Hungry Time): Between December and March, there are fewer flowers. If the bees have no food, they might leave (abscond). Smart farmers provide “Sugar Syrup” (sugar mixed with water) in a small shallow dish near the hive to keep them fed.
• The Rainy Season: Make sure the hive roof doesn’t leak. If the inside of the hive gets wet, the bees can get sick or the honey can ferment (spoil).
• Pest Control: Check the legs of your hive stands. If the grease or oil has dried up, Soldier Ants will climb up and kill the bees to eat the honey. Always keep the grass around the hive short so snakes and toads don’t hide there.

Harvesting the Liquid Gold

How do you know it is time to take the honey? You shouldn’t just guess.

Signs of Maturity:

• Capped Cells: When the bees have finished making the honey, they seal the little holes (cells) with a thin layer of white wax. If at least 80% of the comb is “capped,” it means the honey is ripe and won’t spoil.
• Weight: The hive bars will feel very heavy when you lift them.

The Harvesting Process:

1. Smoke them: Use your smoker to calm the bees.
2. Brush them: Gently use a soft bee brush (or a large feather) to push the bees off the comb back into the hive.
3. Cut the comb: Use a clean hive tool or knife to cut the wax comb, leaving about 1 inch of wax on the bar so the bees can start building again easily.

Honey Extraction and Processing

Now you have a bucket full of wax combs dripping with honey. How do you get the pure honey out?

Method 1: The Squeeze Method (Traditional)

• Wash your hands thoroughly.
• Break the combs into small pieces and squeeze them through a clean white cloth (muslin bag).
• The honey drips into a bucket, and the wax stays in the cloth.

Method 2: The Extractor (Modern)

• You put the whole comb into a machine called a Centrifugal Extractor.
• You spin it fast, and the honey flies out against the walls of the machine.
• Benefit: This method doesn’t destroy the wax combs, so you can give them back to the bees to refill!

Processing: Never boil honey on a fire! High heat destroys the medicinal value of honey. If you must warm it to make it flow better, place the honey jar in a bowl of warm water (like a “water bath”).

Storage, Marketing, and Safety

Honey is one of the few foods that never spoils if kept properly. Archaeologists once found honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that was still edible!

Storage Rules:

• Use glass or food-grade plastic jars. Avoid metal containers because the honey can react with the metal over time.
• Ensure the lid is tight. Honey is like a sponge; it sucks moisture out of the air. If it gets too much water, it will start to bubble and turn into alcohol (ferment).

Marketing Tips:

• Pure Honey: Many people in the market sell “fake” honey (sugar water). If you can prove yours is 100% pure, you can charge a higher price.
• Small Packs: Sell in different sizes—small bottles for medicine and big jars for families.
• Labeling: Put a nice sticker on your bottle with your farm name. It builds trust!

Student Practical Project

The “Water Test” for Purity: Take a glass of clear water. Drop one tablespoon of honey into it.

• If the honey stays together and sinks to the bottom like a rock, it is Pure.
• If it starts dissolving and mixing with the water immediately, it has been mixed with sugar or water (Fake). Try this at home and report back!

Farmer’s Wisdom: > “Take only what you need.” Always leave some honey for the bees to eat during the rainy season. If you take everything, the colony will die or leave you.