It might seem strange to order bees before you get everything else together for beekeeping, but it’s important because most places don’t have bees for sale by the time spring is well underway. You can gave the order of bees in January and time to order your bees for shipment or pickup in April or May.

Local beekeeping associations are a great place to start asking around for bees. And you’ll want to decide whether package bees, nucs, catching a swarm, or buying an already-started hive is the right choice for you. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.