Most people recommend joining a local beekeeper group, others recommend getting a hands-on mentor. I just read online info and then bought a few books and then just went for it. If you want bees in the spring, you HAVE to pre-order them now. Then you can pick them up in the spring. I suggest you buy a package which includes a queen and the workers. That’s what I got in the pictures above. It's a box with screens that you shake into your hive box. If only getting one package to start with, you only need to buy one hive box as they need to grow into a second box. Otherwise the bees won’t be able to protect the entire hive. After you research, you will choose which type of hive set up you want. I went with traditional. These days you can buy hives and supplies from local stores like some Tractor Supply stores or Atwoods. You can also order them online. Also buy a basic tool kit and a suit. It’s expensive to start up, but well worth it for me for my gardens, fruit trees, and of course the honey.
