We think its darker and richer than last year. Its a little hard to tell here - we're getting the weather from TS Lee and we are rainy and drizzly - and so the light isn't the best for a happy snap. But the honey is delicious and we are thrilled.
Unfortunately we didn't get as much as we hoped, only about 20 lbs. But at least all the hives survived and, aside from the swarm that just flew away, we didn't have any losses. We hoped we'd have some to sell but looks like we'll be keeping it all for ourselves. We are also thinking we might have to feed the beez this fall because of the small harvest. Is anyone else doing this?
In other news, we said goodbye to Sunny and took her back to her home herd for the winter. We were so glad to have her this summer and have a fridge full of cheese to prove it. Her herdmaster was thrilled to get her back and was very pleased with her condition. We were glad we met his approval. She'll be bred soon and hopefully will produce another Grand Champ, like she did last year. So now we are one goat short but I have to say I am a little glad to see the milking season winding down.
We started milking really early this year so it seems like we've been at it forever. But don't get me wrong, we love the "free" milk and wow we use every drop. However, I'm starting to look forward to the shorter, less work, fall-evening chores. Right now I'm only milking Nibbles in the morning as her milk production is starting to taper off. I get at least a pint if not more from her daily. I get about a gallon for Debbie as long as I keep Dahlia separated down in the new yard. But, like today with the rain, we'll keep the goaties all together in the main goat/henyard then I really don't have to milk Debbie tonight.
Our tentative plan is to keep milking Nibs and Deb until late October or November and then breed them. This way we'll have milk until November at least - and then start again in April. The ladies are already starting to be in heat and are just nuts so we might not be able to wait that long. Gosh can you believe its fall already?
Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope you had a great holiday weekend - oh yes, we had ribs and they were spectacular.
Posts
7 comments:
20 pounds of Honey sounds pretty large to me! I've got one store bought jar :o( and I ain't got no chickens :o(
We are drying up our goat too. Like you, it's kind of nice to have shorter chores. Although I'm already missing the fresh milk.
Your blog is so great and I don't read it enough! I went back and read about Sunny... what a good thing that you were able to keep her for the summer!
That's gorgeous honey!
How many hives do you have to get 20 lbs of honey? My mom kept bees for a year when I was in elementary school but we never got to harvest any honey because the hives got wax worms (does that sound right?) and the bees left!
We are thinking of leaving all our honey on the hive instead of feeding them this year. But it is our first year with the hive and our goals are just survival right now. But we are really tempted we have a super full of honey currently sitting on the hive.
I'm so envious of the honey. If I weren't allergic to bees I'd have hives here....Maybe the boys could do the bee thing!
Post a Comment