About two months ago, I had the strangest conversation.
My cousin from Texas was explaining to me about a new hobby he was just getting into.
It involved animals, he told me.
He said that it was a bit different than other hobbies he had done in the past, but it was so much more rewarding - and he was having a blast! He suggested I give it a try too.
"Sure!" I said.
"How do I get started?" He replied that I first had to go online and find a bee hive.
"A bee hive?" I was floored that he was suggesting I get involved in beekeeping.
My first reaction was thinking to myself that I really didn't want to get stung all the time.
But the more I researched the idea, the more intrigued I became.
I went online as he had suggested and did a search on "bee hives for sale".
And what I found has put me on a path to really neat hobby of my own.
So I thought I'd take a few minutes out of my day to share with you my experiences of the various types of bee hive starter kits out there, and give you a few tips to help you along the way.
If you're thinking about getting started with beekeeping, the first thing I would suggest is that you do a little bit of research about bee hives online.
Typically I found that there are two main types of beehive: those made with wood, and those made with a styrofoam type material.
Of the wooden ones, you can get them either fully constructed from the manufacturer, or partially assembled.
My first piece of advice is that if you're not mechanically inclined, I would recommend that you get a hive in which the supers and frames are already constructed.
It will save you quite a bit of hassle.
A fully assembled hive will often even be painted for you.
However, if you're a do it yourself person (I'm not!) then I imagine that it would be a fun project putting together your own hive from scratch.
The other option which you're sure to find out there are hives made out of a styrofoam material, as mentioned above.
These are neat hives because the assembly is at a minimum and they are very self-contained.
The chief advantage however is that they fare better in extreme climates, due to the fact that their higher insulation evens out the ups and downs in temperature.
So another tip for you is to definitely consider this style of hive if you live in colder weather.
Another recommendation I can make for you is to find your hive first before you order your bees! It will take you a little time to get everything ready, even if you buy an assembled hive.
It also can take time for your hive to arrive, so I'd recommend at least a week to receive it and a couple days to make sure you have what you need.
Just make sure you leave ample time before your bees arrive (searching for bees is another subject which I won't address here.
) Anyway, I hope this starter article points you in the right direction! There are great reputable places online to find your hive, and it's a fun community.
Once I get a little more beekeeping under my belt, I want to post another article with more tips.