Enjoying fresh honey with your breakfast or your evening tea is a luxury that many people indulge in each and every day. Honey can add that bit of sweetness to baked goods, pancakes, waffles, and many other delicious treats that make them favorites. It can also help you when you have a sore throat and minimize the need to take some medicine. You may have gone to the supermarket recently to buy some honey and noticed that prices can be a little more than you expected. If you’re interested in getting the freshest honey possible, you could take up beekeeping. Beekeeping is a hobby that is enjoyed by many but there are items that are required in order to do so safely. For those who are looking for a new interest, consider any of the five beekeeping supplies we’ve highlighted below to help you get started.
You’ll need a suit and a veil
To keep yourself protected as you’re tending to the bees, the Humble Bee 410 Polycotton Beekeeping Suit with Round Veil is a solid option to wear. You can choose between arctic white and linen white the veil is self-supporting. It has heavy duty brass zippers with durable double-stitched pockets and a canvas carrying case to keep it all in. It is made from a medium weight, 50% cotton / 50% synthetic blend provides outstanding protection against bee stings, plus all day comfort in most weather conditions. This has a tailored fit with an elastic waist, elastic wrists, and elastic ankles, plus thumb and foot holds to keep everything in place. You can choose between XXSmall and XXXLarge, so there’s a fit out there for both men and women. You’ll be able to remove the veil for easier storage.
Key Features:
- 50% cotton / 50% synthetic blend
- Tailored fit between XXSmall and XXXLarge
- Removable veil
Filter the honey you collect
With the VIVO Stainless Steel Honey Strainer Double Sieve, you can filter the honey after you scrape it. This is a two-part honey strainer that is designed with two separating screens for effective filtering. The top strainer is coarse mesh and the bottom is a more fine mesh that gives you more screening. It is made from 201 stainless steel mesh that is highly durable and resistant of both rust and oxidation. The mesh bowl has a diameter of 9″ and a depth of 4″ to fit over a five-gallon bucket. Using this will results in consistently light-colored honey.
Key Features:
- Two-part honey strainer
- Made from 201 stainless steel mesh
- Fits over a five-gallon bucket
Scrape the honey from the hive
In order to get the honey from the hive, you’ll need a tool like the KINGLAKE Steel J Hook Bee Hive Tool. This is made of steel, so it is very hard to break, even when you’re scraping the hive. It measures 10.5″ in length and you’ll be able to lift up the hive with this tool and then scrape it once you’ve opened it. The mini crow bar is used to pry hives apart and the sharp edge cuts off beeswax.
Key Features:
- Made of steel
- Measures 10.5″ in length
- Mini crow bar used to pry hives apart and scrape the honey
Keep the bees away from you
In order to get to your hives, you’ll need to use a smoker like the Honey Keeper Bee Hive Smoker. This has a heat shield to keep you safe when you’re using it. It has stainless steel construction so it will last a long time. The heat shield is all around the smoker to protect against burns. There is a mounting hook on the front of the beehive smoker to keep it in place. The heat aerator provides better airflow and a longer lasting smolder. It produces premium bellows for consistent airflow.
Key Features:
- Heat shield is all around
- Mounting hook on the front
- Heat aerator provides better airflow
You’ll need somewhere to keep your honey
The Little Giant Plastic Honey Bucket is a terrific purchase. This is a five-gallon bucket that helps you collect honey from your bees. It features a tightly fitting lid and honey gate and both can be securely closed to make sure you aren’t losing honey when you pour it in the bucket. You can also use this bucket to bring simple syrup to the hive box to refill feeders. It is made from HDPE plastic and the handle is made from sturdy metal.
Key Features:
- Five-gallon bucket
- Tightly fitting lid and honey gate
- Made from HDPE plastic
