Getting Started

Before welcoming your colony, you’ll need a few things.

Kits for beginners usually include an assembled wooden hive, leather gloves, a veil, a smoker and a hive tool for lifting out frames. Or you can build your own box and gather your own supplies.

Bee suits, starting at about $70, are sold separately. Inexpensive painter’s suits ward off most stings, although they may make you sweat. Many beekeepers simply wear a long-sleeved shirt with their veil and gloves, covering the main targets for stings.