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A basic single new hive may cost about $150, clothing and gear may cost about $200, and a package of new bees may run $150 to $250. This does not include any of  the expenses related to actually “keeping” the honey bee colony.

There is no simple answer, but most experts agree a sunny location is best. It is best to have the hive opening face east so it will get the first morning sun. It should also be placed so the entrance is blocked from northern winds – this will better the chances that the colony will survive the winter.

It is also important to consider safety (Is it close to a path that people walk? Are there other animals chained or penned nearby who might be spooked or stung? Can the hive be easily knocked over? )

Convenient access should also be considered – the beekeeper will need to access the hives regularly. The hives should be somewhere that is easily accessible by a vehicle or UTV that can help carry the full, heavy honey supers at harvest time.

A location near a water source (creek, pond, etc.) is a must. An area abundant with natural pollen & nectar sources will ensure a happy and healthy honey bee colony. Honey bees will usually travel between half a mile to as much as 3.75 miles to scout out plants to forage. However, it’s said that they will fly over 5 miles for food!

Routinely, in the first month, each hive should be checked once per week. Once the hives are up and running, they need to be checked only every 10 days to 2 weeks. Less frequently during the winter months. A thorough hive on a single check can take 30 minutes. Other activities include research, bee barn upkeep, apiary maintenance, hive repairs, insect treatments, supplemental feeding and emergency corrections, just to name a few.

Awesome! We have found that there is an increased desire within the rural landowner community to better protect our natural resources. Pollination plays a big role in this effort and that’s where honey bees and native solitary bees (Mason bees) “fly” in. Perhaps you would like to place a few bee hive boxes in the meadow for aesthetics and to add another feature to your landscape. CHH will be happy yo visit and create a plan for a new mini apiary or a Mason bee community! 

While an exact amount is difficult to calculate as the calculations vary. We will work with you on an estimate. On average the property claimed as Ag has seen a 50% or more reduction.

A minimum of six (6) mainframe hives to be placed on the minimum five (5) acres. A minimum of twelve (12) mainframe hives to be placed on the maximum (20) acres.

There are 4 things we recommend for those who want to dive into beekeeping on their own.

1. Read books and keep them for reference. Beekeeping for Dummies and The Beekeepers Handbook, 4th edition, are 2 of my favorites.
2. Join a local beekeeping club. Most areas, including urban locations, have local bee keeping clubs. In our 4 county area there are many. Some are more active than others.
3. Attend a “Bee School”. 
4. Find a mentor. Generally speaking you will find that beekeepers are a friendly lot and happy to share their knowledge. A mentor will work with you 1 on 1 in getting you started on your beekeeping journey. The mentors I had in the beginning were instrumental in us getting started on our first hives. Many of the beekeeping clubs have mentoring programs. 

Cedar Hollar Honey uses traditional, non-evasive, and chemical free methods in our apiaries. The majority of our honey bee colonies are 8 frame Langstroth hives with one brood box and 1-2 honey super boxes. We manage insect pests only by organic means which translates to a healthy hive and no chemicals in the honey produced. We like to keep the population productive by keeping a healthy queen. She is the heart and soul of the colony. Our hives will sit on a custom hive stand raised above ground and typically a layer of landscape fabric underneath to prevent plant encroachment and a path for insets. We also provide supplemental feeding when needed. Usually late summer and early spring.

Our customers all have different needs and desires in considering bees on their property. Cedar Hollar Honey is a small business entity. This allows us an enormous amount of flexibility in creating a bee plan that is right for you based on your unique situation and your budget. Our plans save you time, money and add piece of mind that your bees will be happy and healthy.

A typical 8 frame Langstroth beehive in our area can produce anywhere from 10 to 75 pounds of honey in a year. Not all honey from every hive is harvested each year. Sometimes we wont harvest the first year of an active hive and sometimes the bees need some honey stored up for the winter months. While each site is unique in its purpose so is the course the honey takes. Honey extracting and bottling is multistep process. It requires special equipment and can be time consuming…but is very enjoyable and rewarding in many ways.

Cedar Hollar Honey usually provides landowner clients with one pound of honey that was harvested from any hives we maintain on their property. Other arrangements can be made upon request.

In our rural areas it’s not uncommon for honey bees to take up residence in the most unlikely places such as inside the wall of a house, under a mobile home or even inside an old tire. There are always the more likely “natural” places such as hollow trees and bird houses. Honey bees are also known to “swarm”, particularly during the spring and summer months. A swarm is different than a hive in that a swarm is a colony on the move. Swarms do not stay in one place for long and are relatively simple to capture and relocate. Colonies on the other hand are established and permanent. Chances are that the colony is well into honeycomb and honey production. Cedar Hollar Honey offers swarm capture and relocation services, often free of charge. We have the capabilities for small colony removals for a fee. We work with local bee removal experts who carefully and naturally will remove entire colonies from virtually any structure. Our experts use the latest imaging technology and extraction equipment. Their practice minimizes the impact on the structure and ensures a complete removal of the colony.