AABA Newsletter July 2026, Volume 32

Jul 31
4 min read

Honey Harvest Time: The Sweetest Day of the Year

by Elissa Sexton, President of AABA

For many of us, this is the month we've been waiting for. After months of checking brood patterns, watching nectar flows, adding supers, and hoping the weather cooperates, it's finally time to ask the big question: "Is the honey ready?"

The bees have done all the hard work—now it's our turn not to mess it up!

A good rule of thumb is to harvest only honey that is mostly capped. Those little white wax caps are the bees' way of saying, "We've finished drying this honey and it's ready for storage." If you extract uncapped honey, it may contain too much moisture and could ferment later. Nobody wants sparkling honey...unless you were accidentally trying to make mead!

Before pulling supers, take a moment to make sure you're leaving enough honey for your bees. Every colony is different, and what they need depends on your local climate, forage, and how long until the next nectar flow. The goal is to enjoy some of the harvest while making sure your bees have plenty of food to thrive.

Harvest day can be exciting—and just a little sticky. Wear clothes you don't mind decorating with honey, have plenty of buckets and towels nearby, and expect curious bees to investigate every drop. It's amazing how quickly a clean honey house can become a delicious disaster zone.

Once the frames are extracted, strain the honey, let it settle, and then bottle up your liquid gold. There's nothing quite like tasting that first spoonful of honey produced by your own bees. Every jar tells the story of the flowers, weather, and hard work of both the colony and the beekeeper.

Don't forget to return the wet supers to the bees so they can clean up the remaining honey. They'll have those frames polished in no time, making storage much easier for you.

Most importantly, take a moment to appreciate what your bees have accomplished. Honey harvest is more than collecting a sweet reward—it's celebrating another season of learning, caring for our colonies, and being part of the remarkable world of honey bees.

Happy harvesting, and may your extractor spin smoothly, your jars fill quickly, and your kitchen stay only slightly sticky!

Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs
The ultimate 20-minute dinner! Juicy chicken thighs coated in a sweet, sticky honey garlic glaze that's perfectly caramelized. No marinating, just pure, mouth-watering flavor.

Classic Honey Baked Beans

The natural sweetness of honey cuts through the rich, savory, and charred flavors of burgers, hot dogs, ribs, and chicken fresh off the grill.

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F I N A N C I A L S J U L Y
Account	Starting Balance	Debits	Credits	Ending Balance
Checking	2,386.27	200	143.22	2,329.49
Savings	5,020.03	0	0	5020.03
Square	0	0	167.009	167.09
Grand Total	7,406.30	200	310.31	7,516.61

CALENDAR

Events for July

Honey Harvest Party

• Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026

• Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Location: Two Hives Honey Ranch, 7617 Nez Perce Trace, Manor, TX

Virtual Gardening for Wildlife Series

• Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026

• Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

• Location: Online / Live Streamed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Summer Film Series: Disneynature Wings of Life (A documentary spotlighting the critical roles of bees, butterflies, and bats)

• Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

• Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

• Location: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX

Intro to Beekeeping Class

• Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026

• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Location: Two Hives Honey Ranch, 7617 Nez Perce Trace, Manor, TX

National Honey Bee Day Celebration

• Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026

• Time: Varying morning tour times

• Location: Bee Friendly Austin apiary network, stretching from Dripping Springs to Georgetown, TX

Austin Farmers Markets for Local Honey

Texas Farmers' Market at Mueller

• The Buzz: Features the Austin Honey Company, which sells hyper-local raw honey harvested straight from hives across Austin neighborhoods.

• Schedule: Every Sunday from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

• Location: 2006 Philomena St, Austin, TX 78723

Beekeeping Associations in Central Texas

Austin Area Beekeepers Association: Monthly Meeting: July

AABA Monthly Meeting July 20 · 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Lamar Senior Activity Center, Austin. Honey Extraction Workshop. All are welcome. Bring snacks to share!

Bastrop County Beekeepers Association — Monthly Meeting July

Basic 101 class starts at 6 PM | Bastrop area. Beginner learning and local beekeeper networking.

Texas Natural Beekeepers Association monthly meeting and Hive Happenings — Monthly Meeting July

5:30 - 8:30pm | Vespa Rossa Restaurant, 3799 US 290, Dripping Springs | Free and open to the public. Topic listed by TNBA: capturing swarms, removals from structures, and relocating bees.

Hays County Beekeepers Bee Social — Monthly Meeting July

4 -7 pm | Bee Mindful Bee School and Farm, Driftwood | Public Q&A, networking, or hive demos. This comes from a Facebook search snippet, so I’d confirm before driving.

Williamson County Area Beekeepers — Monthly Meeting July

7:00 – 9:00 PM | Georgetown Public Library, 402 W 8th St, Georgetown | Local beekeeping association meeting.

Hays County Beekeepers Bee Social — Monthly Meeting: July

Bee Mindful Bee School and Farm, Driftwood | Recurring Friday public Q&A, networking, or hive demos. Confirm first.