Two hives will keep a backyard pollinated and a pantry stocked, and they ask for an hour every ten days. A Langstroth hive with frames, a full bee suit and veil, a smoker to calm the colony, a hive tool to pry apart the propolis-glued boxes, and a feeder for the first season. Start with a package of bees in April and let them draw comb.
Plans
Choose a plan that fits your needs and budget
Item List
7First Season
2 items
The Hive
2 items
Gear
3 itemsPlan Totals$527
FAQ
Common questions about this kit
Do I need a big yard?
No — a sunny corner with a water source is enough. Face the entrance away from foot traffic so the bees fly up and out, not across your patio. Two hives fit in a suburban backyard.
How often do I open the hive?
Every 7 to 10 days during the active season to check the queen, brood, and stores. Open less in poor weather and never in rain. A calm, quick inspection beats a long, agitated one.
Will they swarm?
Maybe — swarming is how colonies reproduce. Queen cells in spring are the warning. Split the hive or give them more room and you keep your bees (and your neighbors calm).
Do I need to register?
Most states require you to register hives with the agriculture department, often free. It tracks disease and protects the local bee population. Check your local rules before you buy bees.
User Reviews
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Bees and my hens share the most-useful-backyard-animal gospel — feed and shelter, and they pay in breakfast (eggs or honey or pollination). The lock-them-at-dusk is the smoker-before-the-inspection: the boring safety, every time, agreed.
Backyard bees and my raised beds share the same pollinator gospel — two hives will set every tomato and squash on the block, and a sunny corner is all it takes. The inspect-every-ten-days rhythm matches my garden walk, agreed.
First Hive