Best beekeeping supplies according to redditors

If you really want to support bees, the ideal arrangement is a couple of flowers native to your area and suited to your sun/soil/water that will bloom over the course of the spring-fall. Honeybees aren't native to North America, but they share many food sources with native bees and butterflies. Eliminate or limit spray and weed killer so pollinators can feast.

Spring

Redbuds are ornamental trees that bloom early in the spring. Eastern Redbud- native to parts of the eastern and midwest US. Western Redbud- native to mountainous parts of the western US. Texas/Oklahoma Redbud- a cultivar of Eastern Redbud meant for the less arid parts of TX/AR, pink flowers

Pussy Willow is a small tree or shrub with cottony, non-colorful blooms in April/May. Cool architectural look for people who don't love colorful flowers. Native to parts of the northern US, prefers wetter soil. Try not to laugh at the name. Article from a beekeeper on planting Pussy Willow.

Spicebush is a big deciduous bush with yellow flowers in the spring and green leaves in the summer, butterfly host plant (so let bugs eat it), native to eastern US and parts of the Central US and Ontario.

Violets are massively important to Fritillary butterflies and they bloom in the spring/summer. They lay their eggs on violets and the larvae feed on the leaves. Without violets, there are no Fritillary butterflies. Violets have a tendency to spread, so unless you need groundcover, you may want to put them in a planter rather than straight in the ground. The common blue violet is found in the Eastern and Central US and can be grown in a lot of different conditions. It is also the traditional flower of lesbians (not a joke). The prairie violet is common in parts of the Great Plains and Southwest. It does well in drier soil and does not spread aggressively. The cream violet is an aggressive spreader that thrives in drier ground from New York to Arkansas. The marsh violet needs very wet soil and lives in parts of the Eastern US.

California lilac- lots of different types native to CA. Non-native lilacs are also very popular with native insects. Miss Kim is a popular small variety More info. Betsy Ross is a bigger lilac suited to warmer US climates More info pdf. Declaration is a bigger lilac suited to cooler US climates More info pdf.

Summer

Black eyed Susans are native in the Eastern US into parts of the Mountain US.

Virginia Sweetspire- small deciduous bush with loads of long white flowers in the summer and great fall color, native NJ to TX.

Butterfly Weed looks a bit like a weed, but it attracts both bees and butterflies. It grows from parts of New England into parts of the Southwest US.

Shrubby St. John's Wort is a hardy shrub with yellow flowers native to parts of the Eastern and Central US.

Bees tend to like hydrangea, although most are not native to the US. Popular non-natives include Limelight hydrangea, [Annabelle Hydrangea](http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=s9400, and Bigleaf Hydrangea. Oakleaf hydrangea is native from North Carolina west to Tennessee, and south to Florida and Louisiana. Popular varieties include Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea, Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea.

Penstemon/Beardtongue is a favorite of both bees and hummingbirds. It prefers drier soil with full sun. Foxglove Beardtongue is native to PA, OH, IL, IN, AR, and parts of neighboring states, Pineleaf Penstemon is native to AZ and NM, and Davidson's Beardtongue native from the Sierra Nevada Range in California and Nevada through the Coast and Cascade ranges.

Flame acanthus- red blooms, attracts hummingbirds, native to Texas

Fall

Asters are great fall blooming flowers, but they can sometimes look a bit straggly, so they tend to look better at the back of a flower bed. Examples- New England Aster (native from New England into the Great Lakes and parts of the South), Aromatic Aster (native to parts of the Midwest and Texas), Smooth Blue Aster (native to much of the Northern US), California Aster (native BC to CA).

Sneezeweed can bloom into October, is native to much of the US and despite it's name, it doesn't bother allergy suffers.

American Witch Hazel- small tree, yellow blooms, flowers super early in the year, native to most of the eastern and parts of the midwestern US. Better photo

Homes for Native Bees

Lots of people are suggesting more people try beekeeping, but beekeeping is an intensive hobby. Adding a shelter for a native bee to your yard is far easier (but no honey). Put a Mason Bee house like this in a sunny part of your yard. Or build one yourself.

If you want to help you can put up something like this in your backyard.

That's specifically for Mason bees but the blog I saw it on and the product description says they're the hardest working pollinators, visiting 20 times as many flowers as honeybees in a day.

Those are for mason bees! I’ve read mixed reviews online—some of them can be good, but some are made with pipes that are too narrow, and the bees get trapped in them trying to turn around. Get ones that look like this instead of this. I don’t have one, but my parents do, and they love it. They have lots of those little guys buzzing around.

Clay is the worst. That is all.

I didn't build mine. You can buy them.

Something like this, though I don't know how much you'd need to space them out if it's a lot of land.

https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MR9N5KK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2cOVCbEGJ4MZS

Close enough

It's a bee house for mason bees https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A

Do you mean the one from here? IMHO, while the writing wasn't great and needed some proofreading, their arguments were well thought out and were as follows:

1. The plastic of this device just isn't a good substitute for the bees natural wax, which can resonate with them to send messages and holds history like our books and forums. As well, plastic off-gasses, which doesn't help the bees either.
   
2. That beekeeping is supposed to be about the beekeeper caring for the bees, not as a tap for honey at home. The beekeeper is supposed to understand what the bees like, what time of year, the humidity;not just use the bees as a fish of honey factory. While this is an emotional argument, it is also the opinion of the author and they never claimed to be coming from a pure facts based approach.
   
3. It's more expensive than a Langstroth hive, which looked to be true at the time of the article. The flow hive was at least $600 while a Langstroth is ~$200, at least when I'm writing this.
   
   TL;DR arguments were that the flow hive is bad for bees, bad for human-bee communication, and is more expensive.
   
   I would say these are clear, if a little hard to parse; her first argument actually has good scientific backing, the last is pure economics, and the second is more of a emotional plea than anything scientific.

https://www.amazon.com/REAMTOP-Professional-Beekeeper-Jacket-Gloves/dp/B06WW8FB8H/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1539135046&sr=1-4&keywords=bee+suit

For anyone else who wants to buy a beesuit.

You use the smoker when you go into the hive to check it out. What the smoke does is it tells the bees that there's a fire (forest fire for example) and that they are in need of danger. Therefore, their goal is not to defend the hive (sting you, therefore they die) but to eat their honey and salvage what they can before the fire gets there. Don't worry - they won't actually run away from your hive ha! It's a distraction tool

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I'm a first year beekeeper so I feel like I can give you any advice you may have since sometimes veteran's advice is good but they can use words and processes that confuse a newbie like you and me. So, ask anything you need and keep in touch.

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The bee group/company you called should have everything you need. Definitely go to them for advice. Idk if they're into sales (most aren't) but you really don't need anything than this below FOR NOW:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BHKH29B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- the little plastic bottle thing is your feeder. make a 1:1 sugar (granulated pure cane) to water mix and boil it until it dissolves. Cool it down (time + ice) and then give it to your bees in a beer bottle flipped upside down into the plastic bottle feeder - it goes in the bottom of your hive area; the entrance. It will all make sense when you get your stuff and see it. Gloves, head gear, scraper, and feeder. You're good to start!

of course make sure you get frames and wax foundation - did that come in your kit? I assume so.

Idk what that yellow thing is but you don't need it for now.

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This is a good book. I LIKED it but didn't love it. It's informative but it didn't really get me ready for beekeeping honestly. I think it would be better if I read it 4 months in now than starting out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1631593323/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=basics+of+beekeeping+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIoaJFMUu4Q

If you want to make MCT oil, here's the method I use for extraction:

• Decarb 60 gm of bud at 250 °F for 45 minutes
  
• Chop lightly in blender
  
• Add to crockpot and cover with 600 ml MCT oil + 1 tbsp lecithin
  
• Heat at about 160 °F for 2 - 3 hours with occasional stirring. Check the temp periodically so it doesn't over heat.
  
• Let cool, filter and transfer to 1 oz dropper bottles
  
  You should have enough to fill 16 - 20 bottles. Depending on the strain, the oil should contain 15 - 20 mg/ml THC.
  
  Some items you may need:
  
  Turkey Bag for decarb
  
  MCT Oil
  
  Lecithin
  
  Digital Thermometer
  
  Honey Strainer to remove the particulate
  
  Large syringe for transferring oil
  
  Dropper Bottles

Not sure where you live but this is what you could also easily purchase to replace the inner works. paper tubes

By solitary bee hive, do you mean something like this mason bee house?

If so, put it somewhere it'll get morning sun and about 5 feet high.

I have considered calling a local beekeeper to come get them, but then I realized I could be a local beekeeper if I didn't. I've always been interested in beekeeping, but have no experience. Amazon has a starter kit but I'm not sure if it's actually worth buying. Any input is appreciated.

looks like the sort of hive they make for mason bees.

https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1497532336&sr=8-2&keywords=mason+bee

I have one of these. It is a double strainer with a coarse and fine mesh.

https://www.amazon.com/Fasmov-Stainless-Strainer-Beekeeping-Equipment/dp/B0761K9YYH

I do crush and strain to extract from a top bar hive and the honey comes out pretty clean despite the input being a mashed up pile of comb.

Link to order your own.

Thanks for your help :) I'm pretty new to this, so you'll have to forgive me on my lack of knowledge and experience. This is the apiary I purchased https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YJ9A1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 What are your thoughts on this? I fully assembled it and painted it white. I haven't thought about purchasing more hives until I've got the hang of it, but would like a few more hives sometime in the future. My pre-order states 3 pounds of bees will be delivered. I've been posting on Craigslist for a couple of months now, but to no prevail, which is odd cause I know beekeepers are in my area. Maybe I'll stumble upon someone here.

I got this one. It's a bit thick but great quality. Just order a size or two bigger than your normal size.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VM74Z2O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You could spend more for a breathable mesh one as well. Would run about $150 though.

1. Would a typical mail-order queen+squad survive on its own if released into a midwest backyard in early spring?
   
   Releasing a package of bees is kind of chaos. One, they might not have accepted the queen yet as she is still in her cage and they need to chew through the candy. Second, they can swarm and go miles away. They need a nook to live in and may end up in somebody's wall. Third, they need a hive if you want to harvest honey.
   
   
2. A Langstroth. I recommend purchase first and always recommend two hives. The reason why is you can tell something is wrong when one hive acts differently and you can interchange things to save the other colony. For example, if you have a honey surplus in one and a honey deficit in the other you can give them some of the honey frames so they survive winter. If one hive loses a queen you can add a frame a brood from the other hive to keep the brood cycle from being interrupted as it may take 25 days until you have a living queen again.
   
   
3. I do a weekly inspection at the most busy time of year that takes half an hour at best. I refill the sugar jar daily, but that all depends on the feeder you choose. You need to feed them much of the first year as it takes a lot of resources to build the comb they need for brood, honey, and pollen.
   
   
4. Most common bee in the US - Italian Honeybees. They do pretty well and are prolific honey produces.
   
   
5. Depends on your region. Ask your local beekeeping association what your nectar flow(s) are/is. This tells you when harvest time will be every year. Regions also have different types of honey due to different types of nectar sources. Bees love everything from clover to tulip poplar.
   
   I recommend this guy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016YJ9A1A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=29VJ8PUPFOP20&coliid=I2ACZZ7RHI1RVJ
   
   Also, watch this series. Walks you through an entire season and then some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjrdwXXEtLo&list=PLF3090CE32602616C
   
   
   What's an easy beehouse to assemble for first time honey collectors?
   How much daily maintenance is required for healthy bees?
   What's an easy species to raise in the American midwest?
   What kind of nearby plants could the bees feed themselves with?

Right here: OZ ARMOUR Beekeeping Suit Ventilated Air Mesh with Fencing & Round Brim Hat (XL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMTLTJH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_sncmDbV61BQ19

All the way up to 8X

Looks promising!

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Is this langstroth-size, too?

https://www.amazon.com/hdbees-Spawning-Controller-Beekeeping-Beekeeper/dp/B07Q8JJ53R/ref=sr_1_217?keywords=queen+excluder&qid=1563176984&s=gateway&sr=8-217

Put one of these outside your front door.

You'll have tiny bros waving good morning to you every day

https://www.amazon.com/Mason-Bee-House-Pollinating-Providing/dp/B07PPPKJ97/

BeeCastle Honey Uncapping Fork Scraper Knife Food Degree Stainless Steel Honey Uncapping Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N7Y23CF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tk3zDb278Q23V

Here's one I found

Another

....and a few others...

> Idk if she has a honey extractor

I guess she rented one.

What do you think about this one?

I was going to say the same thing.

u/beeeeker I suggest you throw that boardman feeder in the trash. You may as well hanging up a billboard and invite robbers over. Frankly, I wish they would stop selling them, but as long as new beekeepers buy them they'll keep selling. There are lots of good hive top feeding options.

See http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm

options include

Frame feeders

Rapid feeders

ceracell feeders

top feeders

If you want to make your own there is the

FBM feeder (google it, plans for purchase or enough picturtures you can figure it out)

bucket feeders,

and jar feeders to go over your inner cover for up to four jars with a super over it to protect it.

Good luck in your new hobby, that looks like a nice location.

The brood frames will be on one side. If I need to feed syrup I will just replace one of the boards over the frames with a board that has a hole in it for one of these feeders that I have. https://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Feeder-Round-Hive-Easy/dp/B07FNW2VDB?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_6

I have only kept bees for a year but haven't actually fed them yet. I may actually feed in this on though so they can build up wax faster.

If you have Amazon prime you can get this vaporizer buy Friday. You will need to oxalic acid for it too. I've never done the oxalic vaporizers before so I can't speak to its effects on hive dynamics but hopefully someone who has can.

I just bought one of these for the wife as they didn't have my size avaiable. Very light weight suit (two pounds total).

I do not recommend moving them at night. Believe it or not at night while they are clustered they are more aggressive. Right now is a good time to reorient them to a new hive. on Amazon you can buy a Langstroth hive this is my personal recommendation. You will want a veil and probably a smoker. Use pinestraw for the smoker. Youtube before you do anything. Bees are easy to manage in the summer. Finding the queen and shaking her into the box is the only hurdle between you and an established colony (though note in general don't shake the queen into the box, but as a beginner shaking all the bees into the hive is probably the easiest way to transfer them).

I recently ordered a few of these... Been happy so far.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8L5ZJ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank I saw that earlier and plan on making some calls tomorrow (Monday). I’ve thought about catching one but I think that starting out id rather spend the money initially and have more of a complete setup while I’m learning.

I’m thinking of buying something like this to start. Basic Beekeeping Starter Kit, Completely Assembled, Painted, Made In The USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8L5ZJG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BEzPAbF6WQTJT

I’m mostly wanting a little honey and wax. Not looking to sell any or anything like that just personal use and maybe give some to friends and family.

Here's another

I've been really pleased with these

https://www.amazon.com/REAMTOP-Professional-Beekeeper-Jacket-Gloves/dp/B06WW8FB8H/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539194636&sr=8-3&keywords=beekeeper+suit&dpID=411-Qu7WKdL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Any neighbors who do use pesticides? We really need to save the bees, including native bees & making pesticides that hurt them illegal should be step 1... but with our current President I can't imagine they will do so.

I keep several mason bee houses in my yard to help the native species. Im terrified of wasps and killer bees (Ive been attacked once), but native bees never harass me.

For those interested, I have something similar to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A/