Honey has been used for ages in medicine and food. Few people invested in a beekeeping business in the past. It is, however, now among the fastest selling products thanks to the increased knowledge of its benefits. It has high antioxidant levels, is safe than sugar for sweetening for diabetics, reduces bad cholesterol, and lowers blood pressure. On the cosmetic side, honey is used for acne treatment. It slows down aging, helps make skin glow, and opens up your skin pores.
A reputable shop where you can buy beekeeping supplies should be your first stop when venturing into bee farming to reap some of the profits from selling honey. This is because the quality of the honey you harvest and the bees you attract to your hive depends on the supplies you will get.
The following are the must-have equipment for harvesting honey.
Honey Extractor
This device employs centrifugal force for the squeezing of honey out of the comb. Honey extractors come in varying styles and sizes to meet all budgets and needs. For optimal efficiency during harvesting, however, settle for an extractor that can accommodate not less than four frames at once.
Uncapping Knife
This is slid inside your hives and will clean out the wax cappings from the honeycomb. These cappings will generally create an impermeable seal around the honey cells and make it hard to extract honey. Your ideal pick for large-scale honey harvesting is an electrically heated uncapping knife. This is heated to melt off the seal around the honey and dry to avoid diluting the honey you will harvest. Manual uncapping knives are dipped into hot water then wiped dry before use but will only suffice for harvesting honey from one or two hives.
Honey Strainer
The honey you will harvest needs to be strained before it is packaged for sale to a potential consumer. Straining will get rid of sticky bees, tiny wax bits and wood among other small particles. Though a few beekeepers assume a regular kitchen strainer can handle this task, this will not give you quality honey. Your ideal option is a stainless steel strainer bought from a beekeeping supply shop.
Bee Brush
You should ideally turn your hive’s frames upside down before brushing off the bees in it. This way, the bees will easily drop off when brushed, and you can harvest the honey with minimal losses. Alternatively, you can brush the hive’s frames upwards since the honeycomb’s sides will angle from its center. The ideal bee brush should have a strong handle and soft bristles typically made of horsehair or nylon.
Honey Bottling Bucket
It is challenging and sometimes impossible to harvest honey straight from the comb into the package it will be sold in. Bottling buckets are the ideal choice for the storage and bottling of honey before packaging. These are made of food-grade plastic and have a honey gate.
Beekeeping for most potential farmers sounds like an easy venture involving protective clothing and hives. It is, however, far from this. Whether you are starting or are a seasoned farmer, ensure that you have the above harvesting supplies sourced from a trusted supplier to guarantee the success of your venture.
