Honey Harvesting with Steve McDaniel
The Work of Bees Yields Sweet Rewards for Beekeepers
Jan 16, 2009
Steve McDaniel, president of the Maryland State Beekeepers Association and member of the Carroll County Beekeepers Association, has kept bees for about 30 years. He works throughout the year to maintain his hives in Manchester, Maryland. A professional nature photographer and writer, Steve is a master beekeeper and now teaches classes on the subject of beekeeping.
His passion for beekeeping can be traced back to his father's interest in bees. "My father planted some fruit trees and learned that they needed pollination, so he signed up for a weekend course in beekeeping and took me along," Steve says. "I read some books, went to beekeeper meetings and bought some beehives the following spring."
Steve describes how easy it is to retrieve honey from the hive with the right tools. Before collecting the honeycombs, he first places a smoker in front of the hive to pacify the bees. He brings the screens--on which the bees have built their honeycombs--indoors and scrapes the combs off them with a thermostatically controlled uncapping knife. (This melts the wax without burning the honey.) He places the screens in a cylinder where the honey is delicately extracted from the combs; then, he opens the tap at the bottom of the machine, releasing the honey into a large bucket. Finally, he pours the honey into small jars and sets them on a shelf where they can be stored for months.
Steve collects many types of honey, including black locust, basswood, soybean, honeysuckle and sometimes tulip poplar.
Steve encourages anyone interested to get started in beekeeping, because "it is fascinating, fun and endlessly entertaining." He notes, "Beekeepers are interesting people, too, concerned about the environment and working to make the world a better place. They are lifelong learners who share what they know with others who are less fortunate (non-beekeepers)."
Beekeeping is a lifelong learning process. Even beekeepers endeavor to stay current with the latest beekeeping procedures. "I still go to bee meetings because I am still learning about bees," he says.
Many communities have local clubs and organizations that focus on this rewarding pursuit. The Carroll County Beekeepers Association, located in Westminster, Maryland, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982. It provides its members with a forum for sharing knowledge and educating the public about the benefits of beekeeping. Look for similar organizations in your area by consulting your local chamber of commerce or community directories.
Special Thanks
Maryland State Beekeepers Association
More Information
American Beekeeping Federation
P.O. Box 1337
Jesup, GA 31598
912-427-4233
E-mail American Beekeeping Federation
Carroll County Beekeepers Association
Chris Gunther
President
Phone: 443-340-8159
Recommended Reading
- Eva Crane, "The Archaeology of Beekeeping, " (Cornell University, 1984; $52.50)
- Dadant & Sons (editors), "The Hive and the Honey Bee," (Dadant & Sons, 1992; $36)
- James L. Gould and Carol Grant Gould, "The Honey Bee," (W.H. Freeman, 1995; $19.95)
- Roger A. Morse, "ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture," (A.I. Root Company, 1990; $30)
- Edward A. Weiss, "The Queen and I," (E.A. Weiss and Company, 2001; $19.95) Available from E.A. Weiss and Company, 3 Whipstick Road, Wilton, CT 06897, 203-762-3538
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