Four weeks before bee pick up:
_____ Order hives and equipment.
_____ Buy two bags of Quikrete and a mixing tray for same.
_____ Buy two 2 x 4's for foundation frames.
_____ Buy lattice materials for beeyard fence
_____ Buy at least four foam paint brushes (two inch size) to paint hives.
_____ Buy a two inch nylon paintbrush for feeding package bees.
_____ Buy the paint for your hives.
_____ Build and paint hives.
_____ Glue and nail the frames.
_____ Begin to think about decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.
Two to three weeks before bee pick up:
_____ Pour concrete foundations for hives.
_____ Fence in the beeyard.
_____ Make final decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.
_____ Buy and spread the mulch for beeyard
_____ Finish up building and painting hives.
_____ Finish up gluing and nailing the frames.
One week before bee pick up:
_____ Place hive stand, Rossman SHB trap, one deep, inner cover, telescoping cover, Boardman feeder with empty jar and fully closed entrance reducer in the beeyard at its permanent location.
_____ Practice lighting smoker.
One day before bee pick up:
_____ Make up two gallons of 1:1 sugar syrup and bottle in one quart jars.
Just before leaving to pick up bees:
_____ Bring receipt or confirmation as to bee order.
_____ Bring clean nylon brush to brush off stray bees.
_____ Bring newspaper-lined cardboard box(es) of sufficient size to hold the package(s).
Things to take with you to the beeyard to hive your bees:
_____ Small pen knife.
_____ Ice pick or small nail for queen candy.
_____ Jar of 1:1 sugar syrup with Boardman jar lid in place.
_____ Package of bees.
Last revised March 12, 2008
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