Amma Canada 2026 Honey Harvest

Collecting the bees' liquid gold

On Sunday, September 20, Amma Canada volunteers and Bees Are Life staff gathered at the Amma Canada Centre in Georgetown to assist with the annual harvest of honey produced by the bees on the property. The Amma Centre was buzzing with activity as volunteers gathered to learn the art of honey harvesting. From uncapping wax-sealed frames to spinning them in the extractor, participants eagerly discovered the many steps involved in efficiently collecting nature's golden treasure, guided by our dedicated and experienced beekeepers, Pauline and Cathy. Even a few curious bees and wandering wasps seemed interested in the process, hovering nearby as volunteers carefully collected the bees' delicious honey.

The transformation of flowers' nectar to honey is truly remarkable. Worker bees spend countless hours gathering nectar, and carrying it back to the hive. Once there, the nectar is passed from bee to bee, with each exchange adding enzymes that help break down the complex sugars. This process continues until the nectar is stored in the honeycomb, where it gradually transforms into honey. The bees then fan their wings to reduce the moisture content before sealing each cell with wax. This extraordinary teamwork not only distributes the workload throughout the colony, but also ensures the production of high-quality honey. It is a beautiful example of the cooperation, organization, and communication that make bee colonies so remarkable.

The honey harvest offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the incredible dedication of these tiny pollinators, whose efforts support both our ecosystems and our communities. There is still plenty of work to be done, as we harvested approximately 168 pounds of liquid honey, which now needs to be bottled. If you would like to lend a hand with the bottling process, please contact Pauline or email ammatoronto@ammagroups.org. Your support would be greatly appreciated as we complete this final stage of bringing this delicious local honey to our community. Once bottled, the honey will be available for purchase, with a significant portion of the honey donated to local food banks in the Georgetown area.

A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who came out and worked tirelessly to support this year’s honey harvest. Your enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to lend a hand made the day both productive and enjoyable. The day was filled with learning, service, and teamwork, as volunteers came together to support both our community and those in need. From uncapping frames and operating the extractor, to helping with the many tasks involved in the harvesting process, your efforts were truly invaluable. Thanks to your hard work, we were able to successfully harvest a bountiful supply of honey while learning more about the incredible work of our bees. As we celebrate Vishwa Seva Dinam on September 27, let us reflect on our contributions and the many ways we help fulfill Amma’s dream of selfless service. Together, we become Amma’s hands, offering compassion, love, and support to those in need.

Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu