Sweetening the Season with a Successful Honey Harvest

In an exciting and educational endeavour, our students gained hands-on experience harvesting honey this week with Mr. Hart. Our honey production project, which has been ongoing for several years, not only supports the local bee population but also provides a hands-on learning experience for students interested in environmental conservation and sustainability.

The school boasts a total of 11 hives, split between our main campus and Northcote campus, each housing an impressive 50,000 bees. Last week, students took on the crucial task of removing honey frames from the hives. These frames were carefully transported to the Outdoor Education kitchen, where students diligently uncapped the honey before using an extractor to gently pull honey out of the cells.

This year's harvest has yielded approximately 60 litres of honey, contributing to a total annual production of around 100 litres. Our students' involvement in the beekeeping project doesn't end with the harvest. In the coming weeks, students will carefully bottle the honey in jars, making it available at school stores. It will also continue to sweeten the school community's experience throughout the year as it's shared with special guests and visitors.

Once the honey is bottled, our students will also prepare our bees for the winter season by wrapping the hives to provide insulation and protection. This winterization process is essential to ensure the bees survive the colder months, maintaining the health and sustainability of LCS's bee population.

This ongoing project not only teaches our students about the vital role bees play in our ecosystem but it also fosters a sense of responsibility and sustainability. It serves as a testament to Lakefield’s commitment to hands-on, experiential learning that prepares students for a future focussed on environmental stewardship and community engagement.