Beekeeping, Just Starting Out Checklist

Hey everyone, welcome, welcome, welcome. Today I am all excited because it is almost time for BEE SEASON!!! Didn't y'all know? Winter, Bee Season, More Bee Season, Fall. Now you know, let's move on. I have a bunch of friends that come to me and say....." How do I get started keeping bees?" If you have ever had bees then inevitably you receive TONS of questions by people just baffled and completely in awe. SO I am here to tell you exactly what you absolutely need to get started. **Note this is not for a top bar hive set-up**

1. Before you even get started I recommend sourcing a local beekeepers association and attending meetings and maybe even find a mentor :) Normally, you can find them at your local university extension office, or Google. 
2. Source a bee supplier. These folks do not have bees for sale year round and a lot of them won't ship them to you..... also asking at the beekeepers association meetings on their sources is good.
3. Supplies:               

• bee suit 
• veil and hat (IF you do not have a full body bee suit) ((not a veil you get married in, this one is much less fashion and much more function. ))
• hive tool
• brood boxes (2) these are the large boxes that the bees will use all winter long
• honey supers (2) these are the boxes that will be added for the collection of honey
• bottom board this is the bottom of the hive  
• inner cover is on top of the hive before the top cover ...so the hive has essentially two lids, but both are needed so don't skip out
• top cover is the very top lid and the one you will see when the hive is all closed up
• frames for the brood boxes (10 per box) so 20 for both brood boxes
• frames for the honey supers (10 per box) so 20 for both honey supers.....**note: most people only use 9 frames in the honey supers HOWEVER... having two extra frames on hand is not space consuming or a bad idea.**
• hive brush
• plastic caddy to carry your tools to the hive with you
• sweat headband, bandana or hanky ( that suit in the middle of summer (aka More Bee Season) gets HOT!!!!!
• queen excluder this keeps the queen from going up into your honey supply and laying eggs in it (Sorry your Majesty I like my eggs from a chicken)
• smoker and cool smoke materials
• matches or lighter to light above listed smoke
• foundation (some people like beeswax, some like plasticell...... I personally don't use any)
• entrance reducer to leave a smaller opening when the bees are in for the winter, it discourages mice and other small vermin.

     4. I prefer to order the hive boxes and frames not assembled. There are a few reasons for this 1.) It gives my husband a task ..... that honey do list is never finished :) 2.) It helps you check the boxes and frames for any mis-cuts or issues with the wood.... you can never be too observant.

     5. You will need to get some paint. I always scour the mistint section at the local depot for some cheap latex paint. However, if you are super fickle I recommend a color coding system to not only keep your pieces straight but, to fulfill the need to have order :)

     6. Once you have assembled your hives, you need to paint the outsides of the boxes. DO NOT PAINT THE INSIDES OF THE BOXES!!!!!  Why, Kay? Because I freaking said so ... the bees like a natural wood and the only reason you are painting is because you are protecting the outsides from the elements.... nobody wants flecks of paint in their honey. So, just don't do it.

      7.  Once everything is dried you can assemble and enjoy a job well done ... that is until your bees are ready to go in the hive..... that is a whole other post.

You will find that there are so many ways to keep bees. Some prefer one method and others swear that is the most absolute wrong way. As with anything you have to find your own rhythm and learn practices that you are comfortable with. Do research, try and find a mentor, attend meetings and enjoy the journey.


Happy Keeping and Bee Safe!


For all of my hive bodies and tools I have used:

Mann Lake