A scale hive (or hive scale) is a beehive set on a weighing scales so you can observe the daily change in weight.
Usually this means constructing a special stand which will accommodate the scales upside-down over a series of mirrors set like a periscope so the daily change of weight can be read from above. If you are manually inept or technologically minded or both, it is possible to buy a special solar-powered, digital scale hive which will allow you to monitor your bees from a distance – probably via a satellite – the mind boggles! Continue reading Bees and Honey with a Scale Hive→
Mead flavoured with fruit is known as Melomel. I’ve got 6 blackcurrant bushes in my garden; I planted them in 2004 as cuttings. Each year now, in July I make between 10 and 30 gallons of wine from the currants they give me. Instead of sugar I use some horrible honey I bought in haste – I’m drinking my mistake. If you’re out there Frank – you know who you are – cheers!
If you have a wine hydrometer, you won’t need me to tell you how to use it and you can be more precise about how much honey you want to add.
Here is the recipe:
Ingredients
3lb blackcurrants
3.5lb honey
1 gallon water
Red wine yeast and nutrient
Pectic enzyme
Method
Mash the fruit in food grade plastic bucket. Do not use metal – I use a plastic bottle full of water as a pestle;
Boil honey and water in a large pan, remove scum and pour still boiling over the fruit;
Cover with a cloth;
When cooled to blood heat add pectic enzyme as per instructions on container and leave for a day;
Next day add the wine yeast and yeast nutrient, stir and cover;
Keep covered in a warm place, stirring once per day, for 5 days;
Strain into a demi-john, fit airlock and leave till it stops fermenting and wine clears;