Backyard Beekeeping

Enjoy a taste of homegrown honey from your own hive.

- Sally Roth

For about $300, you can get started as a beekeeper. That’s the standard rate for a beginner kit that includes a hive and supplies—plus a package of 3 pounds of honeybees, or roughly 10,000 individuals including a queen.

“I taught myself how to keep bees by reading books,” says Tina Newfield, a nature lover and gardener who’s been tending bees in her New Jersey backyard for five years. She also found a mentor who showed her the ropes. “There is no one way to keep bees,” Tina notes, “so I suggest asking only one person for advice—someone local.” To find experienced folks, join a beekeeping group in your area. Many groups are on Facebook. Just search “beekeeping [your state]” to get connected.