Gerard Family Farm

07/22/2026

🍯 IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR 🍯
We’re jumping into honey harvest full speed ahead. If you’re lucky you may get to snag a fresh jar at the West Bend Farmers Market in Claremore on Saturday. Our lighter/early season honey goes fast! See you at the market!

07/11/2026

Join us this Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Claremore Expo Center for the West Bend Farmers Market, the outdoor extension of the Rooted Harmony Market Farm Hub.

Spend the morning exploring thoughtfully curated producers offering premium meats, artisan baked goods, fresh produce, handcrafted specialties, flowers, local honey, preserves, and so much more. Enjoy delicious food, discover something new, and connect with the people whose passion and craftsmanship make every product unique.

The West Bend Farmers Market is more than a place to shop—it's a place to gather, share conversations, and celebrate a community built on quality, relationships, and exceptional local businesses.

Come say hello, enjoy a wonderful meal, and experience a Saturday morning worth slowing down for.

Claremore Expo Center
Saturday
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

07/11/2026

07/11/2026

All set up at the in Claremore. We have that liquid gold you’ve been asking for and a whole lot of pollen for those who like a more concentrated form of allergy management. See you at the market!

06/20/2026

06/20/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁?

Sometimes yes.

Sometimes no.

And that difference can be the difference between great honey and fermented honey.

One of the most expensive mistakes a beekeeper can make is extracting honey without checking the moisture content first.

🍯 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Most beekeepers know that capped honey is usually a good sign.

The bees have dehydrated the nectar and sealed it beneath a wax cap.

But "usually" and "always" are not the same thing.

Honey can still absorb moisture from the environment, especially during humid weather.

That's why experienced beekeepers test before they extract.

🍯 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
Honey starts out as nectar containing:

• 60% to 80%+ water
• Sugars
• Plant compounds
• Trace minerals

The bees spend countless hours removing that moisture.

If moisture gets too high:

• Honey can ferment
• Flavor can change
• Shelf life decreases
• Your harvest can be ruined

🍯 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹?
Most beekeepers aim for:

• 17% to 18.5% moisture

Many prefer:

• Under 18%

The lower the moisture, the more stable the honey becomes.

🍯 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁
Use a honey refractometer.

A refractometer measures how light passes through a small honey sample and tells you the moisture content.

It's quick.

It's easy.

And it removes the guesswork.

One small sample can save an entire honey crop.

🍯 𝗡𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿?
Try the shake test.

Hold the frame horizontally and give it a firm shake.

If nectar or honey splatters from open cells:

• It's probably too wet

If nothing comes out:

• That's a good sign

The shake test isn't perfect, but it's better than guessing.

🐝 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁
Honey loves water.

Beeswax doesn't.

Honey is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture.

Beeswax is hydrophobic, meaning it repels moisture.

That's one reason bees cap their honey in the first place.

🍯 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻
The bees already did the hard work.

Don't let a few extra percentage points of moisture undo thousands of flights to flowers.

When in doubt, test it.

A refractometer is a lot cheaper than a barrel of fermented honey.

FROM OUR HIVES TO YOUR TABLE!

06/20/2026

Good morning Claremore! You can find us today at Westbend Farmers Market near Rooted Harmony Market. We have all your favorite local honey goods.

06/18/2026

Blueberry season is in full swing and we have only a few jars of our honey fermented berries left. You guys have loved this gut-healthy sweet treat. Don’t miss your last chance to snag a jar before the spring fruit season shifts gears to pitted fruits (hint hint for what’s to come 😉). Message our farm page to schedule your pick up or come see us at farmers market in Claremore!