I started my beekeeping class last night at the Wheaton Park District. There were about 20 people in the class and the instructor said the class was full in early December. I had heard the waiting list was at least 10 deep at one point. Many of the folks were around my age and there was a good mix of women and men. Most of the men were my age or a little older and probably going through the same midlife crisis as me. Many introduced themselves as wanting to learn about bees because it compliments their life goals of moving to a farm and living the “simple life”. I got the impression that at least half were only recently interested, primarily due to the “green movement”. Nothing wrong with that…at least something good is coming out of it.
The instructor, Charles Lorence (picture left), is full of 30+ years of beekeeping knowledge and has a great personality. The class should be entertaining and informative. He showed us a “turn key” hive setup built by a local craftsman Chris Saad (Wayne, IL). I got an up close view of the parts and they look to be excellently put together. I’m no stranger to quality wood work and Chris looks like he puts his heart and soul into these boxes. They are not “custom” per say as many of the parts come from Dadant. But they have been expertly put together and any low quality components from Dadant have been replaced by Chris. I’m sure I could put the pieces together myself, but the question is how much is 30 hours of my time worth?
Beekeeping isn’t a cheap hobby to get into, but neither is riding a Harley or ham radio or even gardening. Using the Dadant catalog, the Brushy Mountain catalog and Chris’ prices I’ve scoped out what I’m going to need to just get started. This doesn’t include the bees, medicine, sugar feeders, honey extraction or extras. Just the basics.
- [$292 ] – Complete “Woodenware” Hive from Honey Trails / Chris Saad
- [ $55.50 ] – (3) 6 5/8″ Medium Super (for Hive Body on the recommendation of GardenFork.tv)
- [ $37 ] – (2) 6 5/8″ Medium Super (for honey production)
- [ $135 ] – (5) 6 1/4″ Grooved Top Bar Frame (/w beeswax coated plasticell foundation)
- [ $25 ] – Cedar Varroa Screened Bottom Board
- [ $22 ] – Tele Cover with custom Aluminum Top
- [ $8 ] – Inner Cover
- [ $2.50 ] – Universal Entrance Reducer (mouse proof)
- [ $7 ] – Metal Bound Queen Excluder
- Fully painted with high quality oil based primer and semi-gloss latex white paint.
- [ $27 ] – 4×7 Stainless Steel Smoker with Shield
- [ $6 ] – Painted Hive Tool
- [ $5 ] – Bee Brush
- [ $18 ] – Frame Spacing Tool
- [ $47 ] – XL Hat-Veil Combo with Zippered Jacket (on the recommendation of GardenFork.tv)
- [ $5 ] – Blue nitrile gloves (on the recommendation of GardenFork.tv)
- [ $5 ] – Good quality spray bottle (for when you hive your new bee package)
- [ $6 ] – Terramycin (medicine)
- [ $18 ] – Fumagilin-B (medicine)
- [ $20 ] – Hive Top Feeder
- [ $25 ] – MegaBee Prepared Pollen Patties
Total StartUp Costs: $450 + shipping/tax
When everything is said and done it will probably be closer to $550 by the time the bees arrive in April. (It better not be late April..I’m scheduled to go storm chasing in late April). Probably more like $650 after I buy a spare veil and a “kids outfit” so the girls can help. Then probably another couple hundred in fall during honey extraction. But after the initial investment you only need to pay for new queens and bees (if they die) and supplies.
[note: Yes yes, I know some of the stuff above isn't technically needed but for someone who has never raised bees before or worked around bees it's the minimum. Technically all you need is a Veil. Technically all you need to play football is a ball. ]
We just finished our annual U-Pick apple trip to Southern 
