One of the most confusing parts of starting beekeeping is knowing exactly what equipment you need. As shown in these photos, a single colony of bees requires up to four boxes.
Our Deluxe Beehive Kit includes all four boxes, along with frames, tools, a full bee suit and gloves, a top feeder, and a full hive of bees. Many kits sold on Amazon or in farm stores are missing essential components. By the time you purchase the missing pieces separately, you often spend more than you would on a complete kit from the start.
Another important difference: we sell live bees. That’s something you cannot get from Amazon and rarely from farm stores.
Just as valuable, when you purchase from us you also get support from an experienced beekeeper. We take great pride in the care, guidance, and ongoing help we provide our customers—and our reviews reflect that. 🐝
Getting Started in Beekeeping
EDUCATION
Taking care of bees is fun and rewarding! In order to be successful, you need to take classes. We have 3 different recorded classes over zoom.
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.
Beekeeping is a meaningful responsibility, and the health of the bees depends on starting with the right foundation. Because of that, I’m not able to teach beekeeping through phone calls or informal conversations. All beginner education is offered through my Introduction to Beekeeping class, which ensures new beekeepers receive clear, complete guidance before purchasing bees. My goal is to support both people and bees in the best way possible.
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!
Porch Pickup only at this time. If you’d like this book shipped, please purchase it directly from the author.
A Beekeeper’s Diary, Self-Guide to Beekeeping 2nd Edition is a beginning beekeeping guide and work book rolled up into one paperback (and ebook) publication. The 310-page 8.5x11 inch book includes information on key pollinators including honey bees; beginning beekeeping equipment; bee biology; key beekeeping techniques and how to manage pests and diseases and more. If you decide not to keep bees there’s a chapter on what you can do to help and plant for bees.
This diary is a great guide to start beekeeping. It also supports beginning beekeeping classes covering the first 3 years of beekeeping. The diary guides beginning beekeepers in the myriad of decisions they will have to make to start keeping honey bees.