Author Topic: What to do? It looks like my entire crop of honey is gone! (Read 11435 times)

Beeracuda · « **on:** July 22, 2014, 11:17:50 pm »

And by gone, I mean sold!

I sure wasn't expecting to sell out in a day!!! There may be a jar or two that isn't sold, but WOW. It looks like the extractor is paid off before I even got the credit card bill. I guess I should have opted for the motor.

The question is, what do I do until we can harvest again?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2014, 11:24:03 pm »

Quote from: Beeracuda on July 22, 2014, 11:17:50 pm

The question is, what do I do until we can harvest again?

Oh the PAIN of beekeeping!!! The only worst time is www... is during Winnnnn When its snowing! Don't get in a slump, you can keep the depression at bay by spending time with us!!!

Slowmodem · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2014, 11:48:48 pm »

It's a bad feeling to be out of honey. That's why I'm anxious to spin mine.

Year before last, I extracted my honey and put the supers back on for the bees to clean out. Those stupid bees filled the supers up with honey again! So maybe you could try that? You might get a fall flow.

Jen · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2014, 12:15:47 am »

Scott- "The only worst time is www... is during Winnnnn When its snowing!

Good thing you didn't say the W word! I would have to send you a bloody nose in the mail

Slow- "Those stupid bees filled the supers up with honey again!

Drat! Don'tcha hate it when that happens!

pistolpete · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2014, 12:29:47 am »

Sold out in a day? That's nothing, all my honey is sold and I won't be extracting till the end of August. The first 5 or 6 hundred pounds are easy to sell, after that it reportedly gets hard. Not that I'd know, I get around 200 pounds a year, hoping for 300 this year. I'm sure you'll be blessed with another super or two. As for what to do in the mean time: go down to the hive with a spoon and help yourself, I'm sure the ladies won't mind a bit.

apisbees · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2014, 05:02:35 am »

Congrats, Raise your price! Hope for an extended flow all the way into fall. If not buy honey cause you sold to much.

blueblood · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2014, 06:57:00 am »

Excellent! I reserve nearly 16-18 pounds for the family to make it through winter. But, the balance of honey is gone in seconds and those same folks beg for more, and more, and more.

As for what to do? Well, firewood is what I am working on right now

. Okay, that's not fun I know. So, I did take up the hobby of metal detecting to bide the time. I am addicted to that too! Have Garrett AT Pro.

Perry · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2014, 07:17:46 am »

Quote from: apisbees on July 23, 2014, 05:02:35 am

Congrats, Raise your price! Hope for an extended flow all the way into fall. If not buy honey cause you sold to much.

Words of wisdom here. Get that motor you're going to need.

efmesch · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2014, 11:16:34 am »

Congratulations Beerecuda!
You're suffering from mixed emotions. Your customers are all overjoyed----I take that back----they're probably disappointed that they didn't stock up on more and won't be able to get more till you next extract.
I hope you set aside an adequate amount for your family. It's never pleasant to be in the position of the shoemaker whose family goes barefoot.

Beeracuda · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2014, 12:17:04 pm »

I have one super that isn't capped yet, so I have that to look forward to.

I also put the extracted supers back on for them to clean up. I'll be darned if they hadn't put more back in there. This is July, in Texas! Don't the girls know we are supposed to be in a dearth?

There is lots of green around, but not a whole lot of flowers. We have some sunflowers around the edges of the fields, but I wouldn't think that would be enough to sustain them. Maybe they are venturing into town and finding nectar there...

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2014, 12:20:03 pm »

Good to hear from you efmesch, everyone is worried about your safety. As for Beeracuda all i can say is, GET MORE HIVES.

Jack

efmesch · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2014, 12:25:08 pm »

Quote from: Beeracuda on July 23, 2014, 12:17:04 pm

.....Don't the girls know we are supposed to be in a dearth?

There is lots of green around, but not a whole lot of flowers.

Bees are specialists in finding the flowers we often aren't aware of.

Jen · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2014, 01:03:32 pm »

Efmesch! Is That You?! Does my heart good to see you respond today my friend.

Maybe start a new subject and show everyone that you're okay? So many worried about you and your family ~ Hugs

riverbee · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2014, 01:19:16 pm »

what jack said.....

"GET MORE HIVES. Jack"

...........

ps congrats beer!

Jen · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2014, 01:21:47 pm »

That's what I'm thinkin' ~

Beeracuda · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2014, 06:02:10 pm »

Quote from: apisbees on July 23, 2014, 05:02:35 am

Congrats, Raise your price! Hope for an extended flow all the way into fall. If not buy honey cause you sold to much.

I got everyone to thinking about that last night at the bee club meeting. I also only bottled in 1/2 and 1 lb bottles so there would be more bottles.

My prices were:

1 lb Muth-$13.00
1/2 lb Muth-$7.00
1 lb Classic Glass-$11.00
1/2 lb Classic Glass-$6.00

Did I charge too little? I really didn't have anyone balk at the prices.

tecumseh · « **Reply #16 on:** July 23, 2014, 08:39:21 pm »

Things could be worse?

?

Where are you selling?

Prices sounds about right for what I have heard reported (gossip really) from the Waco Farmer's Market. I have also heard the Waco Farmer's Market is especially active?

? Your price is a good bit higher than what I charge here and I did raise my price just a bit this year. If I ever get to the placing my stuff in stores I will likely need to raise the price again. This year is about as different from the last several years as one could image. I have still not pulled all my honey and I likely will run out of 5 gallon pails before I do.

pistolpete · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2014, 09:06:05 pm »

blueblood: really? only 18 pounds for your family? We go through 100 Lbs in a year (much of it in baking)

Beeracuda: prices seem to be regional. I charge $6/lb and that's higher than most around here. The thing is I sell primarily to friends and I don't really worry about maximising my profits.

Perry · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2014, 09:14:58 pm »

Supply and demand will tell you all you need to know. If you sold out, you didn't charge enough.

I'm like tec this year. I have put out every honey super I have, including all the new ones I built. There has to be over 120 supers out there. I have for the first time ever put a fourth super on a hive or two. Not moving into pollination has paid off, even after losing plenty of swarms.
I will soon have to start extracting, whether I want to or not, just to have empty supers to put on.

Slowmodem · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2014, 09:16:10 pm »

Quote from: pistolpete on July 23, 2014, 09:06:05 pm

blueblood: really? only 18 pounds for your family? We go through 100 Lbs in a year (much of it in baking)

Beeracuda: prices seem to be regional. I charge $6/lb and that's higher than most around here. The thing is I sell primarily to friends and I don't really worry about maximising my profits.

My price this year is going to be $20/qt (if I decide to sell any).