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Honey Collecting & a Honey Recipe Round Up

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

I was so excited to share my experience collecting honey with my friend Kerri, I skipped including one of my own recipes featuring honey. Instead, I relied on some other fabulous Canadian Food Bloggers. Collecting honey was simple enough and did not take long at all. I’m fortunate to have been given the opportunity as not everyone gets a chance. I know I was very excited to tag along for the experience. I may have even invited myself along when I found out what she was doing.

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

I’ve been hearing for years that the honeybee population is decreasing which alarms and saddens me. I try to do my best each year to plant purple and red flowers (which I’m told are their favorite colors), and place rocks in my birdbath to help prevent the bees from drowning. I believe the bees are so important to our natural environment; I try to do every little thing I can to help out those busy little bees.

Of course I had to document the entire event. I learned later on that it was the first time Kerri had collected honey from her pretty beehives. I thought she had collected many time before as Kerri handled it like a pro!

The hives were located on the edge of a large field. Kerri came well equipped with all the protective gear we needed to stay safe from getting stung. We sure were a sexy pair, all dressed up in our white suits with the big mesh hats. I didn’t even think twice. I was dressed in record time.

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Kerri had a smoker ready to help calm the bees. I had to relinquish my camera to Kerri’s husband so I could get in close with the smoker while Kerri worked her magic.

You could hear the bees buzzing in their hive as we got close. Kerri was careful not to disturb the inside panels as that is where the baby bees are located I’m told. You are only supposed to collect honey from the outside panels.

We used the smoker to calm the bees and gently brushed the bees off. Kerri replaced the panels with new ones and we brought the honey filled panels back home.

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipesHoney collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

I was offered a chunk of honeycomb and told to chew the waxy honeycomb like gum. Chewing the wax released all the honey. The flavor was out of this world. I didn’t think anything could taste so pure.

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

You wouldn’t think there was much honey in those little honeycombs, but once you started breaking open the wax, the honey poured out!

I would have never dreamed in a million years I would ever get to experience collecting my own honey. One day I hope to own my own beehive(s). To go with my apple trees I’d love to own. 😉 A person can dream.

Now the important question is how are we going to enjoy all that fresh honey?!?

Honey collecting in Northern Ontario and a round up for honey recipes

 

Pear, Walnut & Honey Crostini from The Nomadic Wife

Honey Glazed Fresh Fig and Date Breakfast Cake from Sweet Revelations

Honey Ginger Pea Tips from Diversivore

Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojitos from Justine Celina

Pear and Honey Pie Recipe from Hello Creative Family

Spelt Flour Banana Bread With Walnuts And Honey from SugarLoveSpices

Honey, Thyme Roasted Chicken Thighs & Carrots from Farm Girl City Chef

Banana Orange Honey Muffins from Bakers Beans

Raspberry Rhubarb Jam with Honey from Swirls and Spices

Honey Pie from Cocoa Bean, The Vegetable

Gluten-Free Granola from From our Hideaway

Sticky Honey Drumsticks with Green Italian Peppers from Julia’s Cuisine

Honey Sweetened Thai Lemon Iced Tea from Leelalicious

Baked Brie with Honey and Walnuts from Marana’s Kitchen

Honey & Rosemary Blackberry Jam from Satori Design for Living

Honey Roasted Chickpeas from Allergy Girl Eats

Honey Whole Wheat Bread from My Organic Diary

Quick Whole Wheat Honey Bread from She Loves Biscotti

Chocolate Dipped Honeycomb from My Kitchen Love

 

Diana L.

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