Here is a list of parts that Michael and I bought from one of the large beekeeping firms. This along with 2 nucs for $85 USD each is what we have spend so far.

Qty Description Total
1 Inner Cover
Item :ICL1 Price : $7.95
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$7.95
2 Select/ Assembled Wooden Hive Body
Item :DHBSA1 Price : $18.25
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$36.50
2 Cedar Reversible Bottom Board
Item :RBBC1 Price : $13.50
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$27.00
2 Cedar Hive Stand for Wooden Hives
Item :STAND3 Price : $10.95
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$21.90
2 Universal Entrance Closure
Item :UEC1 Price : $1.95
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$3.90
2 7" Hook-End Hive Tool
Item :HT2 Price : $11.95
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$23.90
5 Deep Crimp-wired Foundation
Item :DCW1 Price : $7.95
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$39.75
5 Shallow Crimp-Wired Foundation
Item :SCW1 Price : $4.95
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$24.75
4 Deep Wooden Frame Wedged/Grooved
Item :DFG1 Price : $8.50
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$34.00
4 Shallow Wooden Frame Grooved/Grooved
Item :SFGG1 Price : $8.50
Ship Via : UNITED PARCEL SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL GROUND SERVICE
$34.00
Subtotal: $253.65
(National,State and Local taxes) Tax: $0.00
Shipping:
$40.97

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL: $294.62

Starting Out

Last year I ran into my cousin Bill and found out that he was keeping a hive of Russian Bees on his property. I couldn’t resist dusting off a very old beekeeping outfit and going out for a visit. As I was walking out to the car, Michael opened the gate and asked me where I was going. Then he started talking about the bees and in that early twenty southern twang said, “Wow dude, bees are so cool…can I hitch a ride.” So I drove him out my cousin’s and we spend the afternoon inspecting Bill’s babes. Bees are a very interesting things. Something about their similarity to zerglings and the sound of thousands of insects buzzing are way cool.

This winter I talked to my wife and we decided to go buy 2 hives. Michael agreed to pay for ½ of the expenses. After searching all around the country for a couple of Russian nucs and coming up empty, I eventually decided to put a deposit on a couple of local Carniolan nucs. The story of this little adventure I will have to wait for another day. Michael and I spent a couple of hours ordering some replacement parts for hives and $400 USD later we are now waiting for the first days of spring. I thought it might be interesting to keep a record of the hives during the first year or so and write about the adventures and misadventures of a beginning beekeeper.