Please scroll to the bottom for a list of FAQ about ordering bees!
What all do I really need and where do I get it?
One of the most confusing things about starting beekeeping is knowing what you need. As you can see in these photos, you need 4 boxes per 1 colony of bees. Our Deluxe Beehive Kit sells all 4 boxes, along with frames, tools, a full suit and gloves, a top feeder and a full hive of bees. Often times, the kits on Amazon or in farm stores, are missing a lot of essential parts. By the time you buy everything missed, you’re spending more than you would just purchasing our Deluxe Beehive Kit, that includes everything. And don’t forget, we sell you live bees. You can’t get those through Amazon or most farm stores. Something else you can’t get is help from an actual beekeeper. We take great pride in the care and concern we show our customers and our reviews reflect that.
EDUCATION
Taking care of bees is fun and rewarding! In order to be successful, you really need to take some classes. We have 3 different recorded classes over zoom. We also have a very informative Introduction to Beekeeping hands-on workshop in March.
Introduction to Beekeeping - thinking about starting and would like to get a general idea of what it takes to run a beehive.
First Year Beekeeping - picking up bees in May and need to know how to care for them. This class covers May - November care. After November, you will leave your hive closed until the following Spring.
Second Year Beekeeping - hive is closed up for Winter, so this is the perfect time to take this class to prepare for Spring splits and swarm prevention.
The way I learn best is with a combination of reading, researching online and hands-on activity. This is why we created the Hands-on Introduction to Beekeeping workshops. We offer several different dates to attend. Highly recommend attending one of these workshops.
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins is a master beekeeper and a master gardener. She is also a Missouri resident. We are honored to sell her books. Highly recommend if you are new to beekeeping!
You can purchase from me directly, using porch pickup, or have it shipped from Charlotte - using the link below. Please code: KC when ordering!
FAQ About Ordering Bees
Can I just arrive in the Spring and buy bees at that time?
We can’t create a nuc or hive on demand. This is why we start taking orders in October, for the following Spring pickup. Beekeepers need time to grow bees.
Why do I have to pay a deposit? Why can’t I just pay 100% at pickup?
The deposit secures your order. It also ensures that we’re able to dedicate the right resources and time to prepare your order. The deposit is, of course, credited toward your balance at pickup.
Why do I have to pay sales tax, I thought bees were agriculture and exempt?
Bees are exempt, if you provide us with Missouri Form 149, we will remove tax from your order and invoice you through square.
Why do I have to pay for credit card fees?
We strive each year to keep costs as low as possible. We pass on the credit card processing fee because that cost comes directly from the payment provider. Simply put, we cannot absorb credit card fees and still provide fair pricing. If you want to pay by check, we can provide you with a total that does not include credit card fees. Just understand that at pickup - it’s cash only. No checks are accepted at pickup.
What if I want to buy in larger quantities, will you reduce my price?
Absolutely! Reach out to us for a specialized quote.
You offer a payment plan?? What’s that all about?
We have offered a no-interest payment plan for a few years now. It’s typically done over Venmo, Cash app or I create invoices over square. You can pay weekly, monthly, every other month…whichever works for you. You must have at least 50% of the order covered by February 15th. The remaining 50% can be paid in payments leading up to pickup or at pickup.
When will you stop taking orders?
We stop taking orders by the end of March or until we sell out - whichever comes first. If you see bees for sale on the website, we are still taking orders.
When will I be able to pick up my bees?
While we’d love to be able to give you a date upon ordering, we must wait on the weather to determine the bee’s readiness.
Will you call me or email me with a specific pickup time for the bees I ordered?
We are a team of 2, with over 200 different customers each year. We cannot call or text everyone with individualized pickup dates/times. We used to email everyone, but too many times the emails when into spam folders and people missed pickups.
How will I know when the bees are ready?
Each year we create a new Facebook group page for our customers only. This page allows us to speak to everyone at once. It also gives us the opportunity to go over what to do when you get home.
What if I don’t have Facebook?
That’s perfectly fine. We understand not everyone has social media. Trust me, if I didn’t have a business to run, I probably wouldn’t have any social media myself, haha. We always post on the website the official bee pickup dates/times by April 1st. If you don’t have Facebook, just come back to the site and you’ll get all the information you need.
What if I can’t make it to pickups because I have something else planned?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate pickups outside the scheduled dates and times. This is not about our timing, or your timing, it’s about getting the bees home in the best possible way. Bees are finicky in the Spring. If they feel their space is too small, they will start the swarming process. Once that starts, it’s very hard to stop. Timing is essential in the Spring. We give people a month’s notice, so please find an alternative plan for your bee pickup.
What happens if I change my mind about beekeeping after I’ve placed my order?
We have no refund policy. We have put this policy in place to keep our operations sustainable and continue providing high-quality bees and products to all our customers. We start purchasing bees, equipment, tools and suits based on your order. There are exceptions to this policy, but those are handled on a case-by-case basis.