There is no question that bee keeping can be a rewarding hobby and career.
There is nothing like the buzz of the bees in springtime, the smell of the honey in the hive, or the feel of the wax in your hands.
However, it is sometimes a dangerous job when you are exposed every day to being stung over and over again.
Buying a beekeeping suit can be expensive.
For a fraction of the cost of buying a new suit, you can make your own.
It is simple.
Start with a white or light colored set of coveralls, as it has been shown that bees are less aggressive when faced with light colors.
These coveralls should extend from your neck to the middle of your hand and the middle of your foot.
They should fit loosely in order to provide as much space between the cloth and your body, however, do not make them so baggy as to pose problems with tripping, and getting tangled.
A bit of sewing at the wrists and ankles (with some elastic) will make it harder for bees to find their way to your skin.
Then make a Velcro "necklace" around your neckline on the coverall.
You need good strong boots for beekeeping.
Make sure that you always wear boots which go past your ankles and which can be tied tightly.
Do not go from your stables wearing rubber boots directly out to the bee hive.
This is a recipe for disaster.
Also, do not wear your every day gardening gloves for handling the hive.
You will need leather gloves which tie above the wrist to protect you from being stung.
You may want to wear thick leather for extra protection, however, it does make it harder to manipulate your tools and the hive.
A beekeeping hat is essential unless you want to wear a bee beard or get stung badly.
You can make your own bee hat by sewing netting (no-seeum, open or mosquito) to a hat that has a wide brim.
Before you cut it to length, make sure that the netting will extend past your Velcro necklace on your coverall by several inches.
Then stitch the netting to itself, making a complete circle, and then sew Velcro to the end of the netting.
Now, attach it to your coverall and you are ready to go.
Lots of companies produce beekeeping suit and products designed to keep you and your family safe while you work.
You may find beekeeping suit for children as young as three years old, and even for extra large sized adults.
The kind of cloth you choose, such as breathable nylon or polyester cotton, can affect your comfort in your suit.
As can other features, including throat zippers for your hood.
Being a beekeeper is a great job, its rewards can be sweet and plentiful.
Take the time to learn how best to protect yourself and you can reduce the number of times that you get stung this year.