Equipment

There are a few items one needs to have in order to have a successful hive.

The basic hive consist of the two bottom boxes. The lower is for the brood. This is where the queen lays her eggs. The next one on top is the bees food for the winter. You never rob these parts of the hive. This is the bees home. Anything else I put on top of this is where I fight the battle of the bees. This is where you get the liquid gold. You only add additional boxes during the honey flow. It's usually around mid April where I live. This time table varies considerably, so check with your county agent.

I use the basic beekeeping equipment: gloves, suite, smoker, netting, and hand tools. The tools are used to enter the hive. The bees wax together many of the pieces in the hive and the tools are needed to work your way through.

I only have one hive at this time. I had three hives several years ago. One is all I need and that's all the time I have anyway. I get all the honey I need with plenty to share with friends from one hive.