Reddit mentions: The best beekeeping supplies

The average homeowner can help support wildlife diversity and pollinators, plus help with CO2 emissions by doing two simple things. 1) Plants a range of flowers/shrubs/trees native and suited to your area and 2) Limit insecticide use as much as possible. All these suburban lawns with Bermuda grass and arborvitae are part of the problem. We still need large scale conservation, but this is something anyone with a yard can help with. Ideally, you want a range of plants that bloom at different times.

Spring

Redbuds are ornamental trees that bloom early in the spring. Eastern Redbud- native to parts of the eastern and midwest US. Western Redbud- native to mountainous parts of the western US. Texas/Oklahoma Redbud- a cultivar of Eastern Redbud meant for the less arid parts of TX/AR, pink flowers

Pussy Willow is a small tree or shrub with cottony, non-colorful blooms in April/May. Cool architectural look for people who don't love colorful flowers. Native to parts of the northern US, prefers wetter soil. Try not to laugh at the name. Article from a beekeeper on planting Pussy Willow.

Violets are massively important to Fritillary butterflies and they bloom in the spring/summer. They lay their eggs on violets and the larvae feed on the leaves. Without violets, there are no Fritillary butterflies. Violets have a tendency to spread, so unless you need groundcover, you may want to put them in a planter rather than straight in the ground. The common blue violet is found in the Eastern and Central US and can be grown in a lot of different conditions. It is also the traditional flower of lesbians (not a joke). The prairie violet is common in parts of the Great Plains and Southwest. It does well in drier soil and does not spread aggressively. The cream violet is an aggressive spreader that thrives in drier ground from New York to Arkansas. The marsh violet needs very wet soil and lives in parts of the Eastern US.

American Tulip Trees grow very large and may not be suited to most yards, but studies have found they are one of the best trees for socking away CO2. Native from CT to AL.

California lilac- lots of different types native to CA. Non-native lilacs are also very popular with native insects. Miss Kim is a popular small variety More info. Betsy Ross is a bigger lilac suited to warmer US climates More info pdf. Declaration is a bigger lilac suited to cooler US climates More info pdf.

Summer

Black eyed Susans are native in the Eastern US into parts of the Mountain US.

Virginia Sweetspire- small deciduous bush with loads of long white flowers in the summer and great fall color, native NJ to TX.

Butterfly Weed looks a bit like a weed, but it attracts both bees and butterflies. It grows from parts of New England into parts of the Southwest US.

Parsley is a host plant for several types of butterflies and will grow almost anywhere in North America, but it will die with the frost. Let the caterpillars eat it so they can grow into butterflies. Plant after the frost (aka probably right now). Same goes for Dill.

Shrubby St. John's Wort is a hardy shrub with yellow flowers native to parts of the Eastern and Central US.

Bees tend to like hydrangea, although most are not native to the US. Popular non-natives include Limelight hydrangea, [Annabelle Hydrangea](http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=s9400, and Bigleaf Hydrangea. Oakleaf hydrangea is native from North Carolina west to Tennessee, and south to Florida and Louisiana. Popular varieties include Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea, Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea.

Penstemon/Beardtongue is a favorite of both bees and hummingbirds. It prefers drier soil with full sun. Foxglove Beardtongue is native to parts of the Central US, Pineleaf Penstemon is native to AZ and NM, and Davidson's Beardtongue native in parts of CA, NV, and OR.

Flame acanthus- red blooms, attracts hummingbirds, native to Texas

Fall

Asters are great fall blooming flowers, but they tend to look better at the back of a flower bed. Examples- New England Aster (native from New England into the Great Lakes and parts of the South), Aromatic Aster (native to parts of the Midwest and Texas), Smooth Blue Aster (native to much of the Northern US), California Aster (native BC to CA).

Sneezeweed can bloom into October, is native to much of the US and despite it's name, it doesn't bother allergy suffers.

Turtlehead is the only host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars. It grows in wet ground from Newfoundland and Manitoba to GA and MS. There are pink and white varieties.

Pink Muhly Grass is native from MA to FL and TX to KS. It prefers sandy or rocky dry ground. Link

American Witch Hazel- small tree, yellow blooms, flowers super early in the year, native to most of the eastern and parts of the midwestern US. Better photo

Winter

Winterberry is green in the summer and full of red berries for birds in the winter. It grows from eastern Canada to Minnesota to northern Alabama. It is a little tricky to grow as you need a mix of male and female plants, but a local nursery can get you the right plants.

If you want evergreen bushes, it is worth considering native options like Inkberry native from Atlantic Canada into the US South, Northern Bayberry native to coastal areas from Canada into Virginia, Southern Bayberry/Wax Myrtle native to the US South, California Bayberry native to Vancouver Island to Long Beach, CA, Eastern Red Cedar native from New England to parts of the Great Plains and Texas, Sweetbay Magnolia native Long Island to Alabama, and Yaupon Holly native to the US South.

Homes for Native Bees

Lots of people are suggesting more people try beekeeping, but beekeeping is an intensive hobby. Adding a shelter for a native bee to your yard is far easier (but no honey). Put a Mason Bee house like this in a sunny part of your yard. Or build one yourself.

You use the smoker when you go into the hive to check it out. What the smoke does is it tells the bees that there's a fire (forest fire for example) and that they are in need of danger. Therefore, their goal is not to defend the hive (sting you, therefore they die) but to eat their honey and salvage what they can before the fire gets there. Don't worry - they won't actually run away from your hive ha! It's a distraction tool

​

I'm a first year beekeeper so I feel like I can give you any advice you may have since sometimes veteran's advice is good but they can use words and processes that confuse a newbie like you and me. So, ask anything you need and keep in touch.

​

The bee group/company you called should have everything you need. Definitely go to them for advice. Idk if they're into sales (most aren't) but you really don't need anything than this below FOR NOW:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BHKH29B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- the little plastic bottle thing is your feeder. make a 1:1 sugar (granulated pure cane) to water mix and boil it until it dissolves. Cool it down (time + ice) and then give it to your bees in a beer bottle flipped upside down into the plastic bottle feeder - it goes in the bottom of your hive area; the entrance. It will all make sense when you get your stuff and see it. Gloves, head gear, scraper, and feeder. You're good to start!

of course make sure you get frames and wax foundation - did that come in your kit? I assume so.

Idk what that yellow thing is but you don't need it for now.

​

​

This is a good book. I LIKED it but didn't love it. It's informative but it didn't really get me ready for beekeeping honestly. I think it would be better if I read it 4 months in now than starting out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1631593323/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

​

youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=basics+of+beekeeping+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIoaJFMUu4Q

1. Would a typical mail-order queen+squad survive on its own if released into a midwest backyard in early spring?
   
   Releasing a package of bees is kind of chaos. One, they might not have accepted the queen yet as she is still in her cage and they need to chew through the candy. Second, they can swarm and go miles away. They need a nook to live in and may end up in somebody's wall. Third, they need a hive if you want to harvest honey.
   
   
2. A Langstroth. I recommend purchase first and always recommend two hives. The reason why is you can tell something is wrong when one hive acts differently and you can interchange things to save the other colony. For example, if you have a honey surplus in one and a honey deficit in the other you can give them some of the honey frames so they survive winter. If one hive loses a queen you can add a frame a brood from the other hive to keep the brood cycle from being interrupted as it may take 25 days until you have a living queen again.
   
   
3. I do a weekly inspection at the most busy time of year that takes half an hour at best. I refill the sugar jar daily, but that all depends on the feeder you choose. You need to feed them much of the first year as it takes a lot of resources to build the comb they need for brood, honey, and pollen.
   
   
4. Most common bee in the US - Italian Honeybees. They do pretty well and are prolific honey produces.
   
   
5. Depends on your region. Ask your local beekeeping association what your nectar flow(s) are/is. This tells you when harvest time will be every year. Regions also have different types of honey due to different types of nectar sources. Bees love everything from clover to tulip poplar.
   
   I recommend this guy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016YJ9A1A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=29VJ8PUPFOP20&coliid=I2ACZZ7RHI1RVJ
   
   Also, watch this series. Walks you through an entire season and then some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjrdwXXEtLo&list=PLF3090CE32602616C
   
   
   What's an easy beehouse to assemble for first time honey collectors?
   How much daily maintenance is required for healthy bees?
   What's an easy species to raise in the American midwest?
   What kind of nearby plants could the bees feed themselves with?

Was it the question about searching on Amazon? It looks like Welliver Bees makes a lot of good choices, and though I don't see them on Amazon, Crown Bees has quite a few as well. This one is pretty cool, though they could have gotten a bit more nesting space compared to the total space that the house takes up, I think. Here's a good, basic choice -- they key is that the tubes can be removed to allow harvesting of the cocoons. (The bees will have a much better chance of surviving if you harvest the cocoons and protect them over the winter.) And another good one.

Thanks for calling in. I hope you're not driving right now. If you are, I'd hope that you pull over and enjoy the scenery.

Of course we'll need fun suits! We'll have two full bee suits which will make you impervious to stings, and we'll need to wear them until we really get to know the hive's personality. I'll also be buying a veil, which I think is all that I'm going to use. BEE FACT ALERT: The less like a bear (a bee's sworn enemy) you look like, the less likely you are to freak them out. That's why all bee suits are white and non-descript. So don't wear a frilly black sweatshirt when you're opening the hive. Or don't be a bear.

Smoke cannons are also needed, although we also want to make sure we're perceptive of how much we use the smoker. Here's the play:
To bees, smoke = death. They naturally retreat into the hive and start eating honey reserves because, hey, it's the end of the world. So if we smoke and smoke and smoke them too much, then they'll come to associate the beekepeer with death. So we'll need to strike the balance. A smoker is a needed and essential tool and it'll be awesome.

Thanks for listening to Hot 97. Blows Airhorn.

Yo!

So I asked a question about finding affordable minis earlier. I'm still looking for a pack/set of them, but I did find these and think they are cute AF, I kinda wish the Druid came by itself but the bee keeper looks friendly enough. They are unpainted but I would prefer some color on them.

My question is can anyone recommend a reputable place to commission mini painting? I did stumble across paintedfigs.com and local peeps on Facebook this morning. I sent out several messages requesting a quote (following the site and various Facebook page directions). I know it's only been a day but I'm used to getting a response from companies within the same day (I might just be a little impatient). Any other sites I should be looking at that you had a good experience with?

Thank I saw that earlier and plan on making some calls tomorrow (Monday). I’ve thought about catching one but I think that starting out id rather spend the money initially and have more of a complete setup while I’m learning.

I’m thinking of buying something like this to start. Basic Beekeeping Starter Kit, Completely Assembled, Painted, Made In The USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8L5ZJG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BEzPAbF6WQTJT

I’m mostly wanting a little honey and wax. Not looking to sell any or anything like that just personal use and maybe give some to friends and family.

Nope. Old fashioned ones like these are best
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bee-Proof-Suits-Keepers-Stainless/dp/B008AW56M2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345485046&sr=8-1

You could always get her something fancy like this for her honey
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Le-Creuset-Stoneware-Silicone-Dipper/dp/B002JKMSZY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345485106&sr=8-2

What's your price range? There's this one for under $400 on Amazon
VIVO Electric 4 Frame Stainless Steel Honey Extractor | Honeycomb Drum Spinner (BEE-V004E) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SNEZVVI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1eIlDbVGAJ1WY

Or something like this on eBay for $260 maybe less with best offer.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F302445079054

We are receiving our first two hives next Saturday, and had a question regarding plastic foundations. We are located in Evergreen Colorado.


We have our deeps and mediums ready to go, but the frames we selected were unassembled black plastic with no wax. We want to be ready to install the colonies, and were wondering if we need to apply wax with a crockpot or similar method. Is this necessary? Here are the frames we purchased. Thanks in advance, we want to do this right.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EYZWJVO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I use these too with good success. You can get them on Amazon Escape Board.

Does he have a propane torch?


How about frame grabbers? These are cheap but very well made.


If you have a few bucks to spare, how about a spare veil/bee suit so you can join him at the hive?

You can probably get by with just one super per hive for your first year. That would save you >$100.

Skip the expensive sieve.

Here is a jacket/veil/glove combo for $27.95 on amazon.

That saves you $113.

I have considered calling a local beekeeper to come get them, but then I realized I could be a local beekeeper if I didn't. I've always been interested in beekeeping, but have no experience. Amazon has a starter kit but I'm not sure if it's actually worth buying. Any input is appreciated.

Thats where I'm at. I'm frugal and once I actually SEE the hive and parts I have the tools on hand to build anything else I may need, more boxes etc. I just want to know what is the bare minimum I'd need for 2 new hives to get through a season. I don't want to cut myself short and need more boxes and frames all the sudden and have to scramble either.

I do like this though and its not a horrible price. http://smile.amazon.com/Valley-Bee-Supply-Beginners-Hive/dp/B00NU9I2I0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422128641&sr=8-1&keywords=bee+hives

Well, if he's spraying them during the day that's likely not going to help much.

Get a bee suit

I used that one to nuke a bald hornet's nest.

Then get some foaming insect killer

I used that stuff.. worked well. I wouldn't use it in combination with any other non-foam spray as it might wash away the foam and the bees might be able to attack you for a few minutes.

The idea is to spray into the nest when they are all there. This way they can't get out... and you get them all.

Do it at night. I hit them at like 3 in the morning.. sprayed 2 cans (probably excessive) and had great success.

Certainly a PIA, but you can get it.

Do you mean the one from here? IMHO, while the writing wasn't great and needed some proofreading, their arguments were well thought out and were as follows:

1. The plastic of this device just isn't a good substitute for the bees natural wax, which can resonate with them to send messages and holds history like our books and forums. As well, plastic off-gasses, which doesn't help the bees either.
   
2. That beekeeping is supposed to be about the beekeeper caring for the bees, not as a tap for honey at home. The beekeeper is supposed to understand what the bees like, what time of year, the humidity;not just use the bees as a fish of honey factory. While this is an emotional argument, it is also the opinion of the author and they never claimed to be coming from a pure facts based approach.
   
3. It's more expensive than a Langstroth hive, which looked to be true at the time of the article. The flow hive was at least $600 while a Langstroth is ~$200, at least when I'm writing this.
   
   TL;DR arguments were that the flow hive is bad for bees, bad for human-bee communication, and is more expensive.
   
   I would say these are clear, if a little hard to parse; her first argument actually has good scientific backing, the last is pure economics, and the second is more of a emotional plea than anything scientific.

I have one of these. It is a double strainer with a coarse and fine mesh.

https://www.amazon.com/Fasmov-Stainless-Strainer-Beekeeping-Equipment/dp/B0761K9YYH

I do crush and strain to extract from a top bar hive and the honey comes out pretty clean despite the input being a mashed up pile of comb.

I do not recommend moving them at night. Believe it or not at night while they are clustered they are more aggressive. Right now is a good time to reorient them to a new hive. on Amazon you can buy a Langstroth hive this is my personal recommendation. You will want a veil and probably a smoker. Use pinestraw for the smoker. Youtube before you do anything. Bees are easy to manage in the summer. Finding the queen and shaking her into the box is the only hurdle between you and an established colony (though note in general don't shake the queen into the box, but as a beginner shaking all the bees into the hive is probably the easiest way to transfer them).

I recently ordered a few of these... Been happy so far.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8L5ZJ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for your help :) I'm pretty new to this, so you'll have to forgive me on my lack of knowledge and experience. This is the apiary I purchased https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YJ9A1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 What are your thoughts on this? I fully assembled it and painted it white. I haven't thought about purchasing more hives until I've got the hang of it, but would like a few more hives sometime in the future. My pre-order states 3 pounds of bees will be delivered. I've been posting on Craigslist for a couple of months now, but to no prevail, which is odd cause I know beekeepers are in my area. Maybe I'll stumble upon someone here.

If you want to help you can put up something like this in your backyard.

That's specifically for Mason bees but the blog I saw it on and the product description says they're the hardest working pollinators, visiting 20 times as many flowers as honeybees in a day.

By solitary bee hive, do you mean something like this mason bee house?

If so, put it somewhere it'll get morning sun and about 5 feet high.

I didn't build mine. You can buy them.

Something like this, though I don't know how much you'd need to space them out if it's a lot of land.

https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A

looks like the sort of hive they make for mason bees.

https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1497532336&sr=8-2&keywords=mason+bee

It's a bee house for mason bees https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A

Those are for mason bees! I’ve read mixed reviews online—some of them can be good, but some are made with pipes that are too narrow, and the bees get trapped in them trying to turn around. Get ones that look like this instead of this. I don’t have one, but my parents do, and they love it. They have lots of those little guys buzzing around.

Clay is the worst. That is all.

Any neighbors who do use pesticides? We really need to save the bees, including native bees & making pesticides that hurt them illegal should be step 1... but with our current President I can't imagine they will do so.

I keep several mason bee houses in my yard to help the native species. Im terrified of wasps and killer bees (Ive been attacked once), but native bees never harass me.

For those interested, I have something similar to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A/