In 2025 we established a Honey Kitchen in partnership with Philly Foodworks that we are operating on Saturdays or Sundays through September. The new operation requires paid staff so we have to charge for use. We have surveyed the membership and other local options for extracting and the fee structure below is what we’ve come up with. This may be a shock to some of us who are used to extracting for free but it’s the only way to provide a reliable service that will meet the needs of our community.

Guild Honey Extraction

Here’s how it works:

1. Join! Honey extraction is available to Hobbyist and Beekeeper Members. You can join here.
2. Purchase a ticket. We charge by the super for extraction and by the hour for bottling. To reserve your place you will purchase a ticket for one super or one hour.
   • We’re offering Full Service and Self Service extraction.
   • Pricing is based on ‘boxes’. A box is a 9 or 10 frame medium super. We will count your supers and round up.
3. Ticket sales end one week BEFORE the extraction event.
   • We will contact you after sales close and arrange the exact time of your extraction. Please read the rules of the road below.
   • There are no refunds after sales close but we will work with you on timing.
4. Show up and get your work done! You can extract and bottle in one session and that’s what we recommend if possible.

The Guild provides everything you need to extract except jars or buckets for the final product.

• Purchase food grade buckets at one of the big box stores. We will have a limited number on hand for $15 each if you let us know in advance.
• Purchase jars from Fillmore Container, Gamber, BeeWorks LLC, or Forest Hill. You can even get them from the mail order suppliers and Amazon. If there is demand for group purchasing we will consider organizing that.

You will be able to pay for additional supers or hours of bottling at the honey kitchen, debit or credit card only. No Cash.

How to Sign up

Look for Honey Kitchen events on the calendar or see a list here. This list will be updated as we add new dates.

Pick your date and then purchase a ticket for the type of service you want. You will pay the equivalent of the first super or hour of the service you choose as your deposit.

No refunds on deposits after ticket sales end one week in advance of the event. If you finish bottling in less than an hour your deposit will be refunded.

• You can drive!
  • Entrance to the space is at 20th and Butler. See maps on event pages.
  • You can drive into the facility.
• If you choose self service bring help!
  • We are there to help, but you should expect to do the work. You’ll probably want a helper. This is a great couples activity!
  • You can come early or stay after your scheduled time to help others if you’d like.
• Bring Buckets!
  • You will need buckets we will supply filters. The food grade 5 gallon buckets and lids that you can get at Home Depot or Lowes work great. Buy both.
  • 5 gallons of honey is 60 lbs or about what you get from 15 – 20 well drawn medium frames. Plan your buckets accordingly. You will need one bucket with and lid for cappings and one bucket with filter and lid for each 60 lbs.
  • If you can’t bring buckets the Guild will have them for $15/each with lids & filters.
• Don’t bring problems!
  • The new facility is much bigger and has better vehicle access so you can bring your unextracted honey in supers or in bins, whatever works best for you.
    • Honey must be almost completely free of bees (a few stragglers will be tolerated)
    • No brood, beetle larvae or other parasites.
    • We will reject your frames/supers or have you clear them out if they have any of the above.
• Think Food Grade!
  • Hand washing upon arrival will be required.
  • Masks and/or gloves may be required depending on conditions.
  • Please help clean up the area after you use it.