Options

Choose an option that best fits your level of involvement 

As a Backyard Bee Hive customer, you get to share in the honey produced by the bees in your yard.  BYBH splits the honey produced by the bees in your yard 50/50 with you.

 The options presented here are suggested arrangements for locations within our normal driving ranges.  Additional traveling fees apply outside this range.  If you don't see an option that fits you, contact us for alternatives.

Also call us to discuss special arrangements for lodges, bed and breakfasts, resorts, homeowners associations, etc. that may include a private honey label for residents and guests, education programs, and, of course, honey!  

Sponsor - $120 - Your participation helps build our operation which gets bees in more neighborhoods and produces local honey.  You get four quarts of honey as a sponsor.

Lease - $45 set up fee, then $35 per month (March-October).  Fees include delivery and set up of hive, monthly maintenance, honey removal, extraction, bottling (quarts), and delivery.  If you live outside our normal travel area, additional travel fees apply.  Though you do not own the hives with this option, we welcome you to learn about the bees and help us take care of them as you are able.  You might use this option as a stepping stone to owning and maintaining your own hives.  Additional hive costs: $65 for two, $90 for three, etc.

Owner - Same as lease plus $400-$430 for supplies - You own the bee hive and are encouraged (though not required!) to learn how to manage them yourself with guidance from BYBH. Supplies include everything you need to get started taking care of your bees: veil, gloves, smoker, beekeeping book, and hardware. The bee hardware you purchase will provide years of service, so you can view this as a long term investment. If you do not want to continue keeping bees, BYBH will buy back your supplies.

Supply Costs: $400-430, 

  • bees – package or nuc or swarm - $82
  • beginner kit - $184 (Regular Hive) or $230 (English Garden Hive)
Hardware is purchased from Brushy Mountain Bee Supply.   
 
Regular Hive: The kit includes: assembled hive body, top, inner cover, screened (IPM) bottom board, and 10 assembled wooden frames, with 10 sheets of crimp wire foundation for you to install in frames. Also included: 40 supporting pins, Hatless Veil, Large Plastic Coated Gloves, Hobbyist Bee Smoker, Smoker Fuel (1 lb), Bee Brush, 10" Hive Tool,Plastic Entrance Feeder, First Lessons in Beekeeping Book, and a Keeping Bees DVD (over 2 hrs of beginning beekeeping).  
 
English Garden Hive: This Kit includes: An Assembled English Garden Hive (8-Frame) which includes copper top, 2 medium supers with frames, IPM(screened) bottom board, and 16 sheets of crimp wire foundation for you to install in frames. Also included: Hatless Veil w/Elastic, Lg. Plastic Gloves, Hobbyist Bee Smoker, Smoker Fuel 1 Lb., Bee Brush, 10" Hive Tool, Plastic Entrance Feeder, First Lessons Book and a Garden Hive DVD.
  • additional honey supers (2), frames, foundation, queen excluder, medication, jars (its all in a spreadsheet if you want to see the gory details!) -$134
Sponsored by Faith Mountain Farm