Pollen Drying and Processing

[@deblayne1791]

Merry Christmas to you and your family 👪.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you so much Deb and same to you!!

[@richardkuhn4358]

Merry Christmas and am looking forward to next year😊🤡 BEE safe😷

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Richard!! You BEE 🐝 safe as well, and Marry Christmas!!

[@massachusettsprepper]

It looks like some good pollen for sure brother. And hopefully, you will have a market for it. I invested in 24 pollen traps this year because I've had a bunch of people asked me about natural pollen and said they would purchase it if I would produce it. And there's no one else selling it in my area. Unfortunately, I went into last fall with 81 hives and I came out of the winter with 18. So we were pretty devastated with the varroa mites and just a hard winter this year. I have 29 packages of bees coming in on May 7, which will replace some of what I lost. Good luck with the pollen my friend I hope it does well for both of us LOL thanks for sharing brother.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, I’m glad to hear from you again but sure hate to hear about the losses... man, that is tough. The pollen sold out fast, so depending how honey flow goes, I’ll try to get the traps back on in summer. We’ll see. Wish you the very best on the packages and a great year Mass Prepper.

[@Lsmith-ly2cm]

Back at you Merry Christmas

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks!!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Merry Christmas Mike! Love your videos.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks again Duck River and Merry Christmas to you all as well!!

[@johnshumate9713]

Merry Christmas To you and yours May god bless you into the New Year

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you John and same to you with God’s blessing!!

[@brucesbees]

Interesting video Mike and Merry Christmas! Things will be ramping up like crazy before we know it!

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re right Bruce. Two months and I’ll be evaluating for who will get split in March!! I saw you out there buying all those pallets. Looks like you’re getting ready for some hard work!! Merry Christmas to you as well!!

[@russellkoopman3004]

Mike, if you get honey to warm the honey loses its nutritional value. Is pollen affected the same way? Maybe drying it at a lower temp maybe better for the pollen??? Here in MN we have had a great winter so far. Never below 0 F yet and many days in the low 30's with no snow on the ground. Have a blessed Christmas - the reason for the season.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Russell and Merry Christmas to you!! As far as the heat, I wondered that too. I just needed to rotate the dishes more and not do it overnight. I do believe the raw has got to be better and more nutritious and if I used it, I’d keep some frozen. And if I had a regular, solid customer that would want it raw, I’d keep some frozen for them too. But other than that, it has to be dried to be practical in any way for the markets. When thawed it will mold up fast. So I agree and I need to try to dry it more controlled. If I do a lot, I will purchase a quality dehydrator where I can control the temp and heat contact better.

[@stevehoffman9875]

Merry Christmas Mike.Thanks again for sharing.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Steve and same to you!!

[@grantgalloway833]

love your practical approach to beekeeping.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Grant!!

[@maryjanebeatty6030]

Merry Christmas to you and your family. You are a good man with a kind soul. I enjoy watching your bees :)

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you so much Mary!! Merry Christmas!!

[@SmokyMountainLashBees]

Thanks for sharing gives me an idea what to do with the little bit I’ll be getting for myself. Trying out just two traps this year.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Two traps will yield quite a bit. You just have to figure out the drying and cleaning. That’s what slows me down. I thought about you the other day when I had a small colony that made emergency cells and then a few days later while making a video, they threw a tiny swarm. We just talked about that!! Here I tell you it’s rare and I’ve seen it only once, and then it happens in a video😮😮. Should be in my next one.

[@SmokyMountainLashBees]

@@MikeBarryBees it’s been a crazy swarmy season here with the other beekeepers around me that I talk with! My last two that took me too long to get into had swarmed no queens and a lot of cells. I ended up splitting each three ways. The original location with a frame of cells and two more nucs! So much for honey off that side by side nuc tower lol. Oh and I asked for an assortment of lids/doors for my pro nucs they even highlighted the request on the packaging slip and I still got all one color 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@matthewmccormick2417]

As always Mike Sir all looks good. Have a safe week and Merry Christmas

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Matthew!! Merry Christmas and stay safe yourself!!

[@timgoodin42053]

Thanks for the video, we may try a pollen trap next year for personal use. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Oh yes, one trap, one hive and you’ll have plenty for personal use. Thanks for watching and Merry Christmas!!

[@marcusmontoya8352]

Interested to see how your pollen sales turn out. New to keeping myself but the wife has learned more about pollen benefits than I.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Went to the market a couple days ago and 4 sold. That was not bad and the folks that bought were happy to see it there. I was happy about that.

[@marcusmontoya8352]

@@MikeBarryBees thanks for the update. I think I’ll start this for the wife initially

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Interesting. Looks good. Thanks

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for watching Gary!! Merry Christmas!!

[@randalpowers9785]

Merry Christmas!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Same to you and thanks!!

[@hockinghillshoneyfarm9273]

Another great video Mike, Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your family and God Bless.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Dave. Many blessing to you!!

[@kenjordan5164]

Another great video Mike. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much and same to you!!

[@markmurphy8303]

Hi Mike, still keeping busy thats the way to go mate I’ve never ever thought of collecting pollen I know they say it’s good for you and can be very expensive but with only having usually between 8 and 10 hives it’s never crossed my mind. Been busy myself lately with making some nuc boxes and a load more supers for the coming season, last check on all my colonies they was doing well all still strong and eating me out of house and home on the fondant I gave them, still wet and cold here over the pond in little old Liverpool. Thank you for sharing your vlog with us and a merry Christmas and a happy new year Mike my friend godbless mate.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Mark, Merry Christmas to you as well!! Yes, I think to do pollen in any quantity, I would need to dedicate a few hives and just not count them in my production numbers. Of course I'd get honey, but they would need to be dedicated to pollen. The work only stops for the first couple weeks after the last inspection, and then for the holidays, and that's it for me. Sound like the same for you. Good to hear from you from across the pond. Stay dry and warm, spring will be here before we know it!!

[@BlanchardsBees]

Thanks for sharing Mike. I had some people asking me for pollen this year.

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome. We had some people here and there in the past asking, so it is just good business to have some on hand I believe. Thanks for stopping in.

[@CajonLiving]

I no nothing about bee pollen but I do know about cat tail pollen. I collect the cat tail and put the pollen in all in a large pot of water on the stove. I boil pollen to kill off the thing that was in the pollen. When collecting cat tail pollen I get all the flower part because I collect it in a paper bag by stripping the flowers into the bag. After boiling the pollen I strain it through woman's nylon leg hose. The last step is to boil the strained pollen until all the water is evaporated. This made for very clean pollen and this wasn't a how to, it's just the way I do it.

[@MikeBarryBees]

That’s very interesting. I did know there were pollens collected other than through the bees, but never cattail. Thanks for the enlightenment and information!!

[@scrappinbig2239]

Have been watching your videos for quite some time now , and your videos are very informative of what all it takes to achieve the final results. Wishing you and your family a merry Christmas and a happy new year !

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well!!

[@henryrogers8173]

AMEN !!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Merry Christmas Henry!!

[@CastleHives]

I need to maybe try this. Maybe if I eat it I’d be like the horse ready for a race? Is there a specific pollen trap that has worked best for you? Interesting how to clean it, sketchy, nope. Worked it seems. Hope you have a Merry Christmas my friend and a Happy New Year.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Brian and y’all have a Merry Christmas as well. I like the Sundance the best. The little front end trap is the easiest and I do like it, but rain and get in very easily. The Sundance is my favorite. I do not like the Mann Lake trap with the tunes. It works, but it has to be worked differently than they intend.

[@BugFarmerBees]

How much pollen do you get in an entire season? Also, because you take the pollen do you supplement the bees with pollen sub/patties?

[@MikeBarryBees]

I only trapped for a little while, about three weeks off an on, so I didn’t get much, maybe a half gallon. You can’t trap constantly or they’ll be pollen starved. I don’t use patties much at all (people over use them or don’t use them correctly in my opinion), so I would not bother mixing them. Easier to buy the pollen sub, even if I were making patties. Patties create an SHB magnet too, so if the bees can gather their own, I just don’t use them. I think hobby beekeepers over feed and over sub their hives for nothing. My opinion, but they’re not dogs or cats that need constant sources of feed. Not only that, research I read shows patties put on for winter do nothing for the nest for next spring as the patties trigger summer bee production and not until they run out of it do they know to make winter bees.(ABJ December issue).

[@pnwRC.]

I recognize that yellow cup. That reminds me it's been a bit since I've ate at Dickies BBQ!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Me too!! That cup is old. Been at least 4 years since I’ve been. Thanks for watching!!

[@BeekeeperUK]

Hi How long will the pollen keep in the teddy Bears ? 😊

[@MikeBarryBees]

Once it’s dry like that in the little bear, it won’t spoil. But as it ages, it can lose some potency. Most people should have it used up in that small of a bear container well before that though. It should remain effective for at least a year, if not more, from everything I have read. Not that a year later it’s as good and nutritious as when it was first dried, but it won’t spoil as long as it’s dry. Cool, dry storage will keep it fresher longer.

[@BeekeeperUK]

@@MikeBarryBees Thank you. Enjoyed your video. I like that you fully explain.

[@johnward257]

Awesome video, would love to know how much sell the honeybee jars for!?

[@johnward257]

Just curious how much per ounce you can get for bee pollen, lots of my friends, honey customers are wanting me to sell pollen. Loved the video! Merry Christmas Christmas 🎄!

[@MikeBarryBees]

I looked at what Mann Lake was charging and broke it down for 3 oz. In turn, I charged $5 per jar. Sold 4 the first day out.

[@BlanchardsBees]

If you dont mind me asking how much do you sell it for per once?

[@russellkoopman3004]

Look on Amazon. They sell it.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I charged $5 per jar, 3 oz. and we sold 4 the other day. That was based on what I saw on Mann Lake.

[@agirlandhercows501]

super cool

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks!!

[@timfitzmaurice2370]

Which pollen trap do you use?

[@MikeBarryBees]

I use a Sundance, a front entrance yellow and brown trap, and then one I got from Mann Lake. The Sundance is my favorite and the entrance trap runs second I am not a fan of the Mann Lake trap. Here is a link to the video I did about the traps I use. Thanks for watching and commenting!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnzUineKdsqep5I

[@donbearden1953]

Mike, I’ve never collected any pollen. Does it give you energy if you eat it?

[@russellkoopman3004]

Don, I've read that it is like a superfood. If it has everything needed to develop a new bee it must be good stuff. I bought a jar last year and it wasn't cheap. But if you are allergic to certain pollens it could be harmful if you ingest to much so you start out eating just a nibble and see if it effects you, then try a little bigger nibble.

[@donbearden1953]

@@russellkoopman3004 , thanks for the info. The only thing that I’ve found so far that I’m allergic to is manual labor. lol I’ve been thinking about buying some and trying it and now I know to start off with small amounts and increasing gradually thanks to you. I know Bob Binnie sales it on his website. If I try it with no issues and I can tell it has beneficial factors then I will get a few pollen traps and harvest my own this next season. Again, thanks for the info and I hope you have a great Holiday Season.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Don, well, we’ve talked, but to answer the initial question, I am glad Russell answered. I just don’t know and I only know the part of what he said, and that it’s a superfood. Obviously a source of protien, but there are other benefits I am sure.

[@benjamindejonge3624]

It’s very marketable, you will find it here locally in the supermarket frozen department

[@MikeBarryBees]

I agree after trying it. It sold very fast. I am drying some more this week to get to the market. Thanks for the comment!!

[@Hawkins_Family]

Hey Mike, I collected around a gallon of pollen this past year and it’s in my freezer. I also was thinking of drying it in my dehydrator. Is there a certain temperature you used and about how long did you keep it in there for. I have been researching this and watching KZbin videos, ever bit of information I can obtain is helpful. Thank you for your information, Merry Christmas and God Bess you and your family.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, that dehydrator is just on or off with no fan. So I am not sure of the temp. Here’s what I can say from observation on this run. I did it overnight and that was probably not the best. I needed to rotate the trays so they dried evenly. A cookie sheet in the sun is good, but in my case it can cook down here. So I would recommend a very low temp and just feel it out after about 3 hours and see where it’s at. I would think 5 hours very low would do it. If I do a lot, I will purchase a better dehydrator so I can control it. The freezer is just not a practical way to keep it if it’s going to and from markets to sell because the it’s Thaw and freeze over and over. It will mold if thawed too long. I did mine for about 8 hours and I think that was a bit long. As far as internet info, I found very little on pollen processing for human consumption. Yet I see it I health food stores and bee supply stores, as well as plenty of tips for eating it. Well, wishing you a Merry Christmas and let us know what you come up with on that pollen.

[@KodiakFarmBeesLee]

What part of Louisiana. I'm from Denham Springs, La. Loving the videos.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for watching. I’m over near Hammond. Kept some hives in Livingston for a stint.

[@marihasites7706]

Do u live close to Indiana I need some pollen I got leaky gut syndrome from a antibiotic and I did so much research and found that can help heal me I tried buying it from stores but I think it’s fake if u can help me plz let me know thank u much

[@3Beehivesto300]

I have a friend that sells 200# of pollen a year. He collects it and puts it in trays in the freezer open to the air. This well dry it out. He also sends it through a fan separator. He sells it in zip lock sandwich 🥪 baggies. The bag is only 2” full of pollen. Not sure what the weight is.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I thought about freeze drying the pollen, but I don't have the freezer space for too much. I think a better dehydrator would be the ticket, but I just need to see what demand is. We sold 4 at the market, so that was good. Thanks for the comment Justin, he's one of the few I've heard about doing the freeze dry method.

[@dandybounddandybound1064]

We have a few companies selling Pollen and Proplis type health supplements here if you put them into capsules you can sell them 4 time's the price! (I would consume most of the products on shelfs as source countries have known to be unethical in selling health Products in past)

[@MikeBarryBees]

Interesting. I sold four right off the bat, so I was happy with that. You mentioned propolis and I’d like to find a market for that too.

[@628DirtRooster]

That’s interesting that someone was feeding it to race horses. I’ve never heard of that.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea, I thought so to.

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

New Sub

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks! Glad to have you along!

[@Sticky1]

I didn't know about this stuff.