honey honey

Autumn is sneaking up on us at the farm. After a dry February, the last 2 weeks have been cooler and the days are growing shorter. I have been hoping for a relaxing indian summer, but it doesn't look like that will be happening this year...
So we have swung into getting ready for winter mode. The grape harvest from the vineyard is a non-event this year, due to blackbirds raiding the crop and eating every last berry. Even before the grapes were ripe. The same birds have pillaged the eating grape, pecked holes in the apples and pears, and are now focussed on gobbling up my tomato crop. Since the magpies in the gum trees left 2 years ago, the blackbirds have taken over. A problem for future years. Looks like we will need to get the bird netting out very early.

The bees however have been very co-operative. We harvested our first super of honey on the weekend. 8 frames have provided us with 42 500g pots of honey - 21 kg altogether. And very nice honey it is too. Plenty to spread around family and friends, and also to have a crack at brewing some mead.