Harvest Time

It's harvest time at The Folly.  

My grapes are finally mature--the vines are five years old.  And my second annual batch of honey is ready to be extracted from the hive.

  🍇

 

Tumwater Winery has picked and is processing my grapes.  After crushing, the lots (by sections of property) are kept separate and tasted daily.  And per my friend, the winemaker and taster, mine are pretty good so far.  I have three types of chardonnay grapes on my property, and of course mine will eventually be blended with other batches.  After some time, it will go into stainless steel tanks for a while, then into oak barrels.  And this year's chardonnay harvest will be bottled about next August.

BILLIE'S FOLLY Chardonnay - WTR12+13

🐝

Right now I'm a by-stander for both wine and honey harvests.  My 'bee mentor' has the equipment to extract the honey from my hive, and so far is willing to do it.  But Paul, my gardener, wants to start another hive here next spring (by dividing my hive and creating another queen) and I think it would be practical to invest in the extraction equipment so we can harvest ourselves next year.

Me and fellow beekeeper, Paul, after we put a mite deterrent application in the hive

Harvest moon over the greenhouse

~ The End ~