Recently I was introduced to a new nature show called “Human Planet.” It’s amazing and in one episode a jungle-living badass climbs a 70-foot tree to retrieve honey from a wild bee hive. He climbs the tree with a piece of vine and a stone axe, cutting footsteps as he ascends. Then he gets stung about a million times while scooping honey out of a hole and dropping it down to his family waiting below. Watch the video if you don’t believe me.

It basically made me feel like I need to step things up. So here I am, sans smoker or any protection collecting honey from my hive. Turns out all those brood cells I saw in the early spring turn into honey cells later in the season. Just before leaving North Carolina I took 7 pints out of one super and am very happy with the flavor. Go bees!