The Leelanau peninsula is known for its beauty, from the waters that surround it and the orchards that produce fruit, to the farms that grow vegetables and flowers that so many people enjoy. Harvests for these homegrown crops are made possible by so many variables, including pollinators like bees.
Scot Wack is a beekeeper in Northport, and has been harvesting local honey for the past five years. During a good season, Wack said he can harvest around 60-80 pounds of honey per hive, noting that the process is a meticulous one that has to be monitored. As the weather cools and the queen bee stops laying eggs, Wack plans to harvest honey in late September after the last bloom.
Besides liking honey, Wack said he began beekeeping because he understands the importance of bees and why they’re necessary for things to grow and thrive.
“It’s very helpful in this climate up here because we have so many fruit trees and so many things that need pollinating to keep those bees coming around and to keep them alive and keep the queens (bees) going,” Wack said. “If we lose the bees, we lose a lot of fruit, and we lose a lot of different things that bees are responsible for pollinating. So I’m just assisting them in surviving and keeping the pollination going.”
Depending on how big the hive is, it can hold anywhere from 40,000 to 50,000 bees, Wack explained. Usually, keepers tend to start with one queen bee and about 500 bees, with the queen laying eggs at an enormous rate and growing the hive. Honey production is also dependent on the weather and what the bees are doing, but Wack said he can get anywhere from 60-80 pounds total of honey per hive.
Since Wack is only in his fifth year as an active beekeeper, he’s always learning more about the harvesting process. In his first couple of years, Wack learned from a mentor, Julius Kolarik, who harvests honey on a larger scale, which in turns helps pollinate his orchards on his farm. Finding a mentor is very important when first starting out, Wack added, as there’s more to beekeeping than just setting the bees outside and letting them go.
“There’s a lot more to it — a lot more health-wise for the bees — you got mice, moths, and things that can invade the hives and contaminate it, or other bees robbing the hive,” he said. “There’s a lot of things you need to prepare for in order to have a successful year, and it takes time. You have to pay attention to your bees and what the bees are telling you with what they do.”
When Wack does a harvest, he utilizes a bee smoker that blows smoke into the hive, calming the bees and making the process to retrieve honey easier. In addition, a full bee suit that Wack puts on keeps him safe from any aggravated bees as he pulls boxes off the hive and starts scraping the honeycomb. Next, raw honey on frames is put into a centrifuge that spins and drips into the main bucket. Finally, honey goes through a 400 micron filter to help capture things like large pieces of wax before being stored in bottles.
“My honey comes straight out of the comb. I don’t heat it up over 109-110 degrees,” he said. “When we harvest it and it’s coming straight from the comb and its raw honey, it retains all of the natural and helpful benefits. A lot of big producers, due to storage and their regulations, have to pasteurize that honey, which removes most of the health benefi ts…” The honey gathered in a season usually lasts Wack into the next summer since it is only sold at his store, Northport Trading Post, in downtown Northport. If interested in purchasing some local honey, people can stop by the store, or contact Wack via his website northporttradingpost.com.
