Beekeeping Kits Offer Homegrown Honey

Beekeeping Kits Offer Homegrown Honey A beekeeping kit provides a helpful starting point for those interested in producing honey at home but unsure of the first steps. “Keeping bees can be a very calming experience. They offer many benefits beyond honey,” says Jenna Prososki, Director of Sales & Marketing for Mann Lake. “Though, in my opinion, there’s no better honey than what you get from your own hives. Still, bees serve as excellent pollinators in vegetable and flower gardens, helping you increase yields.” Beehive starter kits typically include three item categories: the hive body, bee-keeping tools and protective gear. The hive body comprises the bees’ home and is generally made of wood. It offers a roomy, well-ventilated space for bees to make and store honey. Most include a hive stand, bottom board, hive bodies, frames, top cover and inner cover. Tools help with hive maintenance. Standard options include bee brushes, a hive tool for prying parts of the hives and frames, and a smoker for calming the hive before inspections. Protective gear, aimed at keeping the beekeeper safe from stings, typically includes suits, veils and gloves. Mann Lake sells a variety of beekeeping kits for both beginners and serious hobbyists. “The Mann Lake Premium Starter Kit comes with all the necessary hive components, tools and feed to get started as a beekeeper,” Prososki says. “It’s not sold with protective clothing, which gives beekeepers the flexibility to get the size and material type best suited to them.” Priced at $429, the kit comes with ten fully assembled frames, a notched inner cover, a 9 5/8-in. deep hive kit, a smoke cloud smoker with shield (and 1/2 lb. of smoker fuel), a premium bee brush, a metal queen excluder, 1 gal. of pro sweet liquid feed, and a variety of other accessories. It’s a hobby she believes almost everyone can benefit from. “Many programs across the country partner beekeepers with veterans and first responders to help them benefit from the calming experience that beekeeping can provide,” she says. Still, Prososki is quick to point out that supplies are only part of the equation for keeping bees. “Do your research first. Read books, watch videos, take a class, or find a mentor. The more information you can get ahead of time, the more likely you are to be successful as a beekeeper.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mann Lake (ph 800-880-7694; www.mannlakeltd.com).

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