Five minutes later...

The honeybees arrive to clean up the honey residue on the extractor.

Farmers market day

St. Stephens Farmers Market today.

Honey extraction equipment clean up is amazing...

The bottom of the barrel so to speak.

 This is inside the honey extractor when it is taken outside for the honeybees to enjoy.

Five minutes later...

Honey equipment

Honey covered filters and extractor are placed outside after the last hive frame is spun.

And the honeybees will come to dine on the honey residue a few minutes...

Honey Bees clean up

Honey Bees Clean Stacked "Super Frames"

Honey is extracted from the frames of honeycomb that are housed in a portion of the Hive called a Honey Super. The "Super" can be stored and used again next summer once the honey is extracted. After honey has been extracted from the frames in the "Supers" the frames of honeycomb are placed outside in a open stack for the honey bees to clean out any honey left on the comb and frame.

Honey extracting season in Virginia

Golden and Delicious Pure Virginia Honey from Hickory Green Farm.

The first of July in Virginia is an exciting and busy time of year for beekeepers. This is honey harvest time!
Beekeepers in Virginia typically extract their honey once a year, giving the honey bees the rest of the summer to build up a healthy food supply for the winter.
At Hickory Green Farm we plant a variety of nectar rich plants to provide our honey bees with  a bouquet of nutrition to make their honey. Each year the honey has a unique flavor depending on many natural variables such as the amount of rain fall, temperatures, and the variety of available blossoms.
We encourage you to visit your local farmer's markets and produce stands to purchase local honey and taste the unique and delicious differences.