How to Create a Beekeeper's Kit

Bees may travel as far as 55,000 miles and visit more than 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey. A good, basic kit will get a novice beekeeper started on the right foot.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bee Brushes
• Bee Smokers
• Beekeeper Gloves
• Hive Tools
• Athletic Headbands
• Address Books
• Honey Cookbooks
• Journals
• Bee Veils
• Bee-sting Creams
• Catalogs
• Blank Address Labels
• Ink Pen
• 5-gallon Plastic Food Grade Buckets
• Butane Lighters
• Canvas Tool Caddies (for A 5-gallon Bucket)
• Catalogs

1. Order catalogs from companies that sell bees, equipment and jars. Some catalogs also provide little tidbits of information.

2. Choose a good, beginning beekeeping book.

3. Include a journal for keeping records of bee activities, the plants blooming in the area, and important dates such as when hives are medicated and honey is harvested.

4. Add a phone/address book in which to list local beekeeper associations and other beekeepers' names and numbers.

5. Include basic equipment: a hive tool, bee brush, smoker, gloves and a veil.

6. Pick a few little extras, if your budget allows, such as bee-sting cream, butane lighter for the smoker, 5-gallon bucket with a cloth caddy to hold tools, sweatband, blank labels for jars, and a honey recipe book.

Tips & Warnings

• Starting with the basics and talking with other beekeepers will help prepare a beginner before the bees arrive.

on 11/22/2005 Call a local museum or City Hall. They maintain lists of local beekeepers and bee clubs. A bee club is a great way to learn as well as a great way to get inexpensive equipment - either used or at group discounts.