The following equipment and tools are the basics that we think are needed to get started if using a Langstroth hive 
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:
Next, the bottom board goes on:
Foundations are assembled into frames:
For this size hive, 8 frames go into each “super”:
An entrance reducer is placed on the bottom board at the front of the hive:
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):
More “supers” are added (these are where the honey bees build out the wax honeycomb, lay their brood, and store honey):
An inner  cover is added to the top of the supers:
And finally, the top of the bee hive goes on:
There are also a few essential tools that every beekeeper should have shown in the photo below:
Maria fazio says
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.
Yolanda alonzo says
Would like info on getting free bee hive for a beginner
Lesa says
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!
Gloryann Dean says
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
Tami says
Thank you for the information. I hope to start bee keeping in the spring.
johnathon howes says
Hello, I was wondering how do you choose who you donate the starter kit to.
Lesa says
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.
glen roachford says
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
Lesa says
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/
Brooke says
Thank you for the information. I hope to start bee keeping soon!