The First Harvest — Spinning Liquid Gold 🍯🐝 

🍯 A Sweet Surprise
What a season it’s been! Our bees have been working at lightning speed, and before we knew it, the supers were heavy, glistening, and ready for harvest. We could hardly believe how quickly they’d filled up — a sure sign that Halstead Garden Centre is a paradise of nectar.

🔧 Borrowing the Magic Machine
To turn frames of capped honeycomb into jars of golden treasure, we borrowed an electric extractor from the ever-supportive Braintree Beekeepers Association.

We set it up in our kitchen, floor protectors down (because sticky honey and tiles don’t mix!), slotted in the frames, and pressed the button. With a steady hum, centrifugal force did its work — spinning out the honey and sending that unmistakable sweet aroma swirling through the room.

💡 Did you know?
Bees fan nectar with their wings to reduce its water content, turning it into honey. Once it’s thick enough to keep for winter, they seal it with a wax cap. That’s how beekeepers know when honey is ready to extract — when the cells are neatly capped.

✨ Filtering the Gold
Fresh from the extractor, the honey still carried little flecks of wax and comb. To make it perfectly clear, we double-sieved it through fine mesh, leaving behind only pure, glistening liquid.

After that, the honey was left to settle, allowing tiny air bubbles to rise. This step makes it crystal clear and smooth, ready for jarring.

And yes… we dipped a spoon in for the very first taste. Verdict: absolutely heavenly.

🌼 What’s Next?
Next stop: filling jars! We’ll be making sure the bees keep plenty for themselves too — after all, they earned it. This first harvest marks a huge milestone in our journey, and we can’t wait to share jars of Hollow and Hive’s very first honey.

Sweet success has never tasted so good. 💛🐝