Just been looking at your blog again catching up on hives progress & was wondering why only 7 frames in ‘B’? Really enjoy reading & your ref.s interesting
You’re missing a golden opportunity there. The Australians have found a gullible market here in the UK for their unpalatable honey. It would probably go down a storm too, with some clever marketing ;)…
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They did the same thing to us here in the US with Fosters Lager.
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It isn’t any worse than Budweiser, though! 
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I was asked the same question regarding the moisture content of my honey. Ordered a refractometer from Amazon as well. Will have the answer in a few days. Good post/thread for all to learn from.
thank you!
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No one, and I mean no one, in Australia drinks Fosters. It’s horrible stuff.
I’m pretty sure that it was exported to the rest of the planet as a practical joke that has got out of hand.
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Thanks for validating that 
I would say the same of Budweiser and Bud Light. Should be certified as gnats’ pee… 
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Manuka is originally from NZ, but am I really the only one that likes it?
I know. I nearly went back to correct the post. You can buy " Manuka Type" honey in Aldi and Lidl for about £2.00 a jar here. Heaven knows what’s in that? Maybe I can have a go at ivy honey. Now that is gross but some folk like it.
We are often accused (in many cases correctly) of taking the credit for NZ ‘success’ stories
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Wow I have learned that I need a refractor, that I am glad that I do not have to deal with winter, and I don;t like Fosters or Bud. I also learned that possibly I could sell some honey to help the girls pay for their house. Great discussion.
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Kind words, thank you. I’ll have to try some of that famous sourwood honey.
Hi all,
Just harvested one frame of honey from a “Die-out” hive. This is my first harvest in 55 years ! 
Because of varroa mites I guess I lost two solid colonies. I had tested the hive with a sugar roll check n found two were much high than the rest but strong n active. Because of bad Wx n other circumstances I had to wait two extra weeks. I’m guessing the put them both over the brink ! No use crying over lost bees. I started with three colonies this Spring n finishing this autumn with 3 colonies.
I’ve moved frames (after having my mentor check for bad bugs n diseases) into the three remaining hives. This transfer of honey frames has saved me feeding 2:1 ratio sugar for winter supplies max.
Yesterday Sunday (10/16/2016) I’d moved most but one of my due-outs still had partial capped honey frames remaining. My wife n I wanted to try our first honey so I pulled only one partial n took in the house to scrape the caps n drain since I don’t own an extractor. 
. Vera was very interested watch me a little as she had never seen honey harvested before. 
. We got a little over 1 1/2 pints from the partial deep frame. One side was weak n mostly a mix of pollen n 1/4 capped honey … We might try another partial later or keep them for Spring feeding. Not sure but nice to test our first ever Honey from my new apiary. 
. I enjoyed our very own honey on toast this morning … Yummy, smooth, light n delicate. It’s a mix of many local wild flowers n blackberries that grow nearby. Delicious ! 
I can hardly wait for next years first real harvest of full frames if the season is good to us n harvesting from my own Flow-hive …just wanted to share ! 
Happy beekeeping folks,
Gerald licking his sticky fingers here
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Looks wonderful Gerald! A well-deserved reward for all your hard work. Cheers to you & Vera 
Glad you got to share the excitement of extracting honey with your Honey! Are you going to test the water content of the honey, or just refrigerate it and eat it quickly?
Dawn, only harvested capped honey so it should be okay, right ? I had some full frames I added to the other three hives that were part honey n part nectar. I left that for my bees to scope out.
I need to purchase one of those special meters someday. If I harvest uncapped I’ll probably keep in the refrigerator. We go thru about a pint or more of honey in s week. I try to use in cooking too.
Not sure if I’ll try for the other two partial frames or not … But love the taste of this blend of local honey.
. My bees cleaning up the frame. . Few autumn pix’s.
Ta ta ,
Gerald
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Hello Kirsten,
Sorry, I just noticed your response to my August 6th post.
"Older frames in box B are wider than nominal, and I decide to let bees be bees — I remove B7 giving them some working room. This frame is frozen for winter feeding."
The undulating comb between these B box frames were connected with wonderful ventilation channels, etc. I found that I would do significant damage if I forced in the final frame, so I just kept it out.
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