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10 Comments

Beekeeping Starter Kit

The following equipment and tools are the basics that we think are needed to get started if using a Langstroth hive Bee Keepers Starter Kit for keeping honey bees. We like the 8-frame size of this set-up because it’s not as heavy as the 10-frame set-up that’s also commonly used when getting started. This set-up consists of:

  • A-Frame Copper Top
  • 4 Medium Supers
  • Inner Cover
  • Hive Stand
  • 32 Top & Bottom Grooved Medium Frames
  • 32 Sheets of Wire Foundation
  • 1 Entrance Reducer
  • Entrance Feeder
  • Smoker w/Fuel
  • Bee Brush
  • 10″ Hive Tool
  • The Backyard Beekeeper
  • Instructional DVD
  • Gloves
  • Hatless Veil

You can order this set-up in one convenient package HERE. Following are photos of the individual parts that make up a Langstroth hive and how they are meant to be assembled together. Here’s the very bottom of the hive:

Bee Hive Base

Next, the bottom board goes on:

Beekeeping Starter Package 2

Foundations are assembled into frames:

Assembling Foundation Into Frames

For this size hive, 8 frames go into each “super”:

Beekeeping Starter Package 4

An entrance reducer is placed on the bottom board at the front of the hive:

Entrance Reducer

Then the “supers” are stacked on the bottom board and each other (the photo below also has a feeder added at the front of the hive):

Super and Feeder on Bottom Board

More “supers” are added (these are where the honey bees build out the wax honeycomb, lay their brood, and store honey):

Beekeeping Starter Package 8

An inner  cover is added to the top of the supers:

Inner Cover on Supers

And finally, the top of the bee hive goes on:

Copper Bee Hive Top

There are also a few essential tools that every beekeeper should have shown in the photo below:

Additional Beekeeping Essentials

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Related posts:

Help Honey Bees - They're Important!
Beekeeper Associations - Beekeepers Best Resource
7 Important Questions To Ask Before Getting Honey Bees
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Filed Under: Getting Started

About Lesa

Lesa Wilke is a homesteader and freelance writer who loves to inspire others on their journey to more sustainable lifestyles. She accomplishes this by sharing the skills she’s learned (plus support, advice & tips) while farming goats, chickens, honeybees, and produce.

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Comments

  1. Maria fazio says

    January 3, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    Hi, my husband and I have just signed up for a certified bee keeping class. We haven’t ever kept bees and have just purchased a small farm which we plan to do aquaponic farming. As well as bee keeping. If you haven’t donated your hive yet for 2019, we would be honored to be considered for it.

    Reply
  2. Yolanda alonzo says

    August 5, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Would like info on getting free bee hive for a beginner

    Reply
    • Lesa says

      August 5, 2017 at 10:01 am

      Hi Yolanda, we’ve already donated a starter hive, but I’ve added the link where it can be purchased in the post above. Thanks for your interest!

      Reply
  3. Gloryann Dean says

    March 5, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    We’ve had less and less bees in our area,,in St Joe county..outside south bend would live to attract and save the bees

    Reply
  4. Tami says

    October 17, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    Thank you for the information. I hope to start bee keeping in the spring.

    Reply
  5. johnathon howes says

    August 12, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    Hello, I was wondering how do you choose who you donate the starter kit to.

    Reply
    • Lesa says

      August 12, 2016 at 9:36 pm

      Hi Johnathon, We try to pick a good cause to donate the beekeeper starter kit to each year, this year we donated to Crown Point Ecology Centers “Taste of Earth” event: http://crownpt.org. They will auction it off to the highest bidder as one of their oral auction items on August 20, 2016 and it will help support keeping this great ecology center going.

      Reply
  6. glen roachford says

    July 25, 2016 at 7:49 am

    morning I love what you are doing and would love to buy 2 of the starter kits for my children please send a price thank you

    Reply
    • Lesa says

      July 25, 2016 at 9:48 am

      Good Morning Glen, we don’t sell the bee starter kits, we just donate one each year to help a new beekeeper. You can find the starter kits here to buy: http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/8-Frame-English-Garden-Hive-BeeGinners-Kit/productinfo/252CG/

      Reply
  7. Brooke says

    July 19, 2016 at 12:00 am

    Thank you for the information. I hope to start bee keeping soon!

    Reply

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