An old man helped me catch a swarm this spring. With help of this forum and him the bee's built up to two full deeps. I added a super. They ended up drawing out all ten frames of the super but only had 4 and a half capped. I took four frames. I pulled the super and fed the rest back to them. The old man used to keep 30 hives but has been out of it for almost fifteen years. He had an old four frame extractor and hot knife. He told me to come over and he would show me how to extract the honey. When I did it was to cold so he told me to take the extractor and hot knife home. Warm up the honey a little and give it a spin he said. I put the extractor in my basement along with the four frames of which we had already uncapped. Later that night I gave it a spin and was amazed at all the honey. I ended up with four quarts. A quart a frame. It is light colored and very good. I cleaned the extractor and hot knife then took it back over to him along with a quart of honey for his trouble and help. He was tickled that it had worked so good and he said he was really happy to see someone young getting into bees. We talked about me expanding next year. Only a couple more hives I said. He just smiled and then asked If I had a twenty dollar bill in my pocket? I said yup. He then told me If I thought twenty bucks was fair he would be happy to sell me the extractor and hot knife! I kinda felt guilty cause I have seen what they cost. But he insisted and told me again he was just happy to see it go to someone who was going to use it. Pretty cool huh!
Very nice, I understand his desire to see it used.
When I first got started, my neighbor who does not keep bees, gave me some wooden ware, a hot knife, a smoker, and a helmet w/veil that he acquired from an uncle that was a beekeeper many years ago. He wanted it to be used.
My neighbor never has to worry about having honey for his table.
Steve
Harvey, if you see to it that the quart never gets empty, it was a good deal for you both. Keep the man in honey and he will be glad he gave you the stuff. Also, when talking about it, always say he let you have it, or he gave it to you. Never say you bought it or he sold it.
That's the way of the oldtimers. Learn it and you will go far.
Quote from: iddee on October 11, 2009, 09:34:16 PM
Harvey, if you see to it that the quart never gets empty, it was a good deal for you both. Keep the man in honey and he will be glad he gave you the stuff. Also, when talking about it, always say he let you have it, or he gave it to you. Never say you bought it or he sold it.
That's the way of the oldtimers. Learn it and you will go far.
I will remember that thanks
I love this story and iddee's wise advice! Highland--That must have been quite a rush to see a freebie swarm (your first year?) build up so well!
Heck, he did give it to you! Wonderful story Harvey, thanks for sharing it.
...JP
Just be sure to invite him over to play in the bees come spring time and really tap his knowledge.
An old timer to give hands on is invaluable, let alone all of the stories he has to tell.
Sounds like you have a good neighbor there.
May his honey jar never be empty.
G3
Quote from: iddee on October 11, 2009, 09:34:16 PM
Harvey, if you see to it that the quart never gets empty, it was a good deal for you both. Keep the man in honey and he will be glad he gave you the stuff. Also, when talking about it, always say he let you have it, or he gave it to you. Never say you bought it or he sold it.
That's the way of the oldtimers. Learn it and you will go far.
Ditto to the above.
Quote from: luvin honey on October 11, 2009, 11:40:12 PM
I love this story and iddee's wise advice! Highland--That must have been quite a rush to see a freebie swarm (your first year?) build up so well!
Yes their first year!!! We got 6 swarms and 12 cut out hives this year I was giving them away as fast as I could get them but I saved 4 colonies for my fun. :-D
Quote from: JP on October 12, 2009, 12:32:50 AM
Heck, he did give it to you! Wonderful story Harvey, thanks for sharing it.
...JP
I couldn't have said it better.
Harvey, wonderful story, and you have made a new friend, and someone that will no doubt come along for the ride, to help you out with questions, and more than likely show you some wonderful tricks of the trade. His hands have many, many years of experience, he will be so grateful for the quart jar that will never empty, lovely. Have that most wonderful and awesomely great day, health. Cindi