Bees are sold out for 2021!
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About:
Hello! My name is Christine and I own The Kansas Bee Company. I started this bee business in 2016 and it's been an amazing 5 years! My husband Jake is a very talented carpenter and he helps me when he's not busy working. We operate a small number of hives, so we are by no means a commercial beekeeping operation. My goal isn't to run hundreds of hives. My goal is to help thousands of new beekeepers get started!
At the very bottom of this page, you will find a slideshow of pictures we've taken over the years!
FAQ'S/Contact:
How can I reach you? You can text or call me at 816-739-0726.
You can also email me at: thekansasbeeco@yahoo.com
What are your hours? The Kansas Bee Company is an online - home based - business. Honey is sold in stores and the stores have their own specific hours. Please refer to the HONEY tab for more information on purchasing honey. Bee sales are online only, while bee pickups are pickup only. (Pickups are only for customers who have pre-purchased bees). While I don't have set hours, I reply to most calls/texts within 24 hours.
Since you are a home based business, does that mean I can just stop by your house and talk to you about bees? Running this business out of my home does not open my home up for spontaneous visitors. I provide online classes and scheduled consultations and those methods are the appropriate way to learn about beekeeping.
I want to start beekeeping, what is the best time to start? May-June!! Bee sales start in the fall, for pickups the following May/June. All bee sellers require a deposit of some kind to hold your order. The Kansas Bee Company's deposit is always 1/2 down. This allows us to make purchases, including the bees, with our vendors.
I'm ready to start learning, what should I do first? Take the "Introduction to Beekeeping" class I have recorded through zoom. This class is under the CLASSES tab on this website. Once you take this class, you will understand so much more about how to start this hobby, trust me!
Do you sell queens? No, and I don't have a referral for anyone who does sell queens.
I just need one box, or a smoker, or a hive tool. Do you sell individual items? Not really. I sell kits that include everything in a set. Sometimes, I'll have items leftover from kit sales. Please look under the MISC ITEMS FOR SALE tab to see what is available.
I have bees living inside my siding, what do I do? Call Midwest Bee Removal at 816-217-4214. Tell them The Kansas Bee Company sent you.
Do you provide tours? Not at this time. Maybe in the future, but for right now, I only offer an inside the hive class. This class is for Bee Customers only. Why? Because the class is all about how to care for your bees once you get home with them.
What kind of bees do you sell? The BEES we sell are Minnesota Hygienic Italians: Minnesota Hygienic Italians were developed by Dr. Marla Spivak at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab. Dr. Spivak was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2010 These bees are bred to have a high degree of hygienic behavior known to be effective against diseases of the brood such as American foulbrood and chalkbrood. This trait is thought to be two behaviors acting in synergy, the uncapping of diseased cells, then the removal of the pathogen along with the pupae, effectively disrupting the disease lifecycle. Another trait, Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) is especially effective at targeting varroa mites. Dr. Spivak played a pivotal role in characterizing this behavior. We are proud to announce that we'll be selling Matt Winstead's bees again in Spring 2021! Matt owns Golden Rule Honeybee Farm! You will BEE happy with your BEES!
I live in a suburban neighborhood so I can't have bees right? WRONG! You don’t need a lot of land to have hives. That is a common misconception about beekeeping. All you need is a backyard with enough space for the hives themselves. The bees fly up to 3 miles a day for food and water. And, they are not going to be a nuisance to your neighbors. Most of the time your neighbors aren’t even aware you have hives. Also, you are legally allowed to have 2 hives in your suburban backyard in most cities throughout Kansas and Missouri. Please check with your city to be sure of the ordinance.
Are your NUC frames only for deep boxes? Yes. Our NUC frames will not fit into a medium box, only a deep box will be able to hold the NUC frames.
What's the difference between a NUC and a package? A NUC is an established hive, just 1/2 the size. The queen is introduced and laying eggs. The frames have comb built on them and honey stored on them. A package is a box of bees with a queen inside who has not been introduced. After you shake the bees into your empty hive, the bees will need to build comb and start storing away honey. The queen will also need to be introduced to the colony. You will receive a package sooner than a NUC, but overall you're still ahead by purchasing a NUC. Also, just because you receive a package sooner, that doesn't mean it's a good thing. Packages arrive from Southern states like Georgia for example. While the weather may be warmer there, we still have nights that drop below freezing in mid April here. I get calls every year from people who received their package in the middle of April and it froze to death in KS/MO. I do not sell packages.
Will I get honey my first year? The short answer to this is maybe. If you start with a full hive in May, you're more likely to get honey in your first year, but everything depends on the nectar sources you are surrounded by and the weather conditions. Focus on hive management year one and honey will come by year two for sure!
How much time does it take to keep bees? You need a minimum of 2 hours a month to inspect 2 hives. You should be inspecting at least twice a month! When you purchase bees it is your responsibility to take care of them. You cannot leave a hive in your yard and never get in it to inspect it. You don't need to pull every frame for an inspection, just make sure there are eggs during each inspection. If you see eggs you know the Queen has been there at least in the last 3-4 days. The #1 thing I tell new beekeepers is to look for eggs! The Queen is sometimes very hard to find, she moves fast and can play a good game of hide-n-seek!
Can you make money from Beekeeping? Yes! After a hive has survived the winter, it can be split into possibly 3 hives in the Spring. You can sell these splits, (NUCS). You can also sell honey from your hives, or lip balm and lotion from your wax. So, yes...this hobby can pay for itself in time. What other hobby does that?!
Do you ship bees or products? No! We do not ship bees or honey! If you purchase bees or honey from another state, I'm going to assume you are local with a long distance number.
Are your prices negotiable? No, they are not. I will not negotiate or haggle with anyone over prices. That includes prices for bees, equipment, honey, classes or presentations. I will not price match Amazon. (Yes, I'm asked this often). I am not a team of 500,000 people making a product. I'm a team of 1, with an amazing helper - my husband. I do my absolute best to buy local and American made products and sometimes that costs more.
**UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will I tolerate being screamed at or cussed at. If you scream or cuss at me, my husband or my assistant at bee pickups, you will be escorted off my property with the police and you will NOT get your BEES or a refund! If you don't like this policy, buy your bees elsewhere**
What is your refund policy?
There are no refunds - No exceptions! This has been my policy since 2016. Your bees will be exchanged if a queen cell is present - up to 24 hours after bee pickups. It is your responsibility to bring your bees back to Belton, Missouri for the exchange.
Once you pay a deposit - or in full - that payment is non-refundable. Bees, equipment and tools have been ordered based on your payment. It is not my responsibility to re-sell your bees for you because something happened and you can't make it to pickups.
No transfers of bee sales! If you purchase bees from The Kansas Bee Company and you cancel the order, it is up to you to pick up your bees and handle the resale of the bees. We will not transfer that sale to another individual. No exceptions. Also, we will not release your bees to a 3rd party for delivery. If you've purchased bees from us, you will need to pick them up. We will make an exception if you are sending a friend/relative to pick up your bees. Please call me and let me know.
If you do not show up to get your bees, your deposit or payment in full is non-refundable. The bees need to be moved to their new home in a timely manner. We need to consider the bees well being first and foremost. It is your responsibility to check the website for pickup dates. Often times emails go to a spam folder. There will be NO CALLS to anyone who missed their bee pickup date/time in order to arrange a future time with you.
I do not provide "store credit." Store credit is the same thing as a refund.
About:
Hello! My name is Christine and I own The Kansas Bee Company. I started this bee business in 2016 and it's been an amazing 5 years! My husband Jake is a very talented carpenter and he helps me when he's not busy working. We operate a small number of hives, so we are by no means a commercial beekeeping operation. My goal isn't to run hundreds of hives. My goal is to help thousands of new beekeepers get started!
At the very bottom of this page, you will find a slideshow of pictures we've taken over the years!
FAQ'S/Contact:
How can I reach you? You can text or call me at 816-739-0726.
You can also email me at: thekansasbeeco@yahoo.com
What are your hours? The Kansas Bee Company is an online - home based - business. Honey is sold in stores and the stores have their own specific hours. Please refer to the HONEY tab for more information on purchasing honey. Bee sales are online only, while bee pickups are pickup only. (Pickups are only for customers who have pre-purchased bees). While I don't have set hours, I reply to most calls/texts within 24 hours.
Since you are a home based business, does that mean I can just stop by your house and talk to you about bees? Running this business out of my home does not open my home up for spontaneous visitors. I provide online classes and scheduled consultations and those methods are the appropriate way to learn about beekeeping.
I want to start beekeeping, what is the best time to start? May-June!! Bee sales start in the fall, for pickups the following May/June. All bee sellers require a deposit of some kind to hold your order. The Kansas Bee Company's deposit is always 1/2 down. This allows us to make purchases, including the bees, with our vendors.
I'm ready to start learning, what should I do first? Take the "Introduction to Beekeeping" class I have recorded through zoom. This class is under the CLASSES tab on this website. Once you take this class, you will understand so much more about how to start this hobby, trust me!
Do you sell queens? No, and I don't have a referral for anyone who does sell queens.
I just need one box, or a smoker, or a hive tool. Do you sell individual items? Not really. I sell kits that include everything in a set. Sometimes, I'll have items leftover from kit sales. Please look under the MISC ITEMS FOR SALE tab to see what is available.
I have bees living inside my siding, what do I do? Call Midwest Bee Removal at 816-217-4214. Tell them The Kansas Bee Company sent you.
Do you provide tours? Not at this time. Maybe in the future, but for right now, I only offer an inside the hive class. This class is for Bee Customers only. Why? Because the class is all about how to care for your bees once you get home with them.
What kind of bees do you sell? The BEES we sell are Minnesota Hygienic Italians: Minnesota Hygienic Italians were developed by Dr. Marla Spivak at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab. Dr. Spivak was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2010 These bees are bred to have a high degree of hygienic behavior known to be effective against diseases of the brood such as American foulbrood and chalkbrood. This trait is thought to be two behaviors acting in synergy, the uncapping of diseased cells, then the removal of the pathogen along with the pupae, effectively disrupting the disease lifecycle. Another trait, Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) is especially effective at targeting varroa mites. Dr. Spivak played a pivotal role in characterizing this behavior. We are proud to announce that we'll be selling Matt Winstead's bees again in Spring 2021! Matt owns Golden Rule Honeybee Farm! You will BEE happy with your BEES!
I live in a suburban neighborhood so I can't have bees right? WRONG! You don’t need a lot of land to have hives. That is a common misconception about beekeeping. All you need is a backyard with enough space for the hives themselves. The bees fly up to 3 miles a day for food and water. And, they are not going to be a nuisance to your neighbors. Most of the time your neighbors aren’t even aware you have hives. Also, you are legally allowed to have 2 hives in your suburban backyard in most cities throughout Kansas and Missouri. Please check with your city to be sure of the ordinance.
Are your NUC frames only for deep boxes? Yes. Our NUC frames will not fit into a medium box, only a deep box will be able to hold the NUC frames.
What's the difference between a NUC and a package? A NUC is an established hive, just 1/2 the size. The queen is introduced and laying eggs. The frames have comb built on them and honey stored on them. A package is a box of bees with a queen inside who has not been introduced. After you shake the bees into your empty hive, the bees will need to build comb and start storing away honey. The queen will also need to be introduced to the colony. You will receive a package sooner than a NUC, but overall you're still ahead by purchasing a NUC. Also, just because you receive a package sooner, that doesn't mean it's a good thing. Packages arrive from Southern states like Georgia for example. While the weather may be warmer there, we still have nights that drop below freezing in mid April here. I get calls every year from people who received their package in the middle of April and it froze to death in KS/MO. I do not sell packages.
Will I get honey my first year? The short answer to this is maybe. If you start with a full hive in May, you're more likely to get honey in your first year, but everything depends on the nectar sources you are surrounded by and the weather conditions. Focus on hive management year one and honey will come by year two for sure!
How much time does it take to keep bees? You need a minimum of 2 hours a month to inspect 2 hives. You should be inspecting at least twice a month! When you purchase bees it is your responsibility to take care of them. You cannot leave a hive in your yard and never get in it to inspect it. You don't need to pull every frame for an inspection, just make sure there are eggs during each inspection. If you see eggs you know the Queen has been there at least in the last 3-4 days. The #1 thing I tell new beekeepers is to look for eggs! The Queen is sometimes very hard to find, she moves fast and can play a good game of hide-n-seek!
Can you make money from Beekeeping? Yes! After a hive has survived the winter, it can be split into possibly 3 hives in the Spring. You can sell these splits, (NUCS). You can also sell honey from your hives, or lip balm and lotion from your wax. So, yes...this hobby can pay for itself in time. What other hobby does that?!
Do you ship bees or products? No! We do not ship bees or honey! If you purchase bees or honey from another state, I'm going to assume you are local with a long distance number.
Are your prices negotiable? No, they are not. I will not negotiate or haggle with anyone over prices. That includes prices for bees, equipment, honey, classes or presentations. I will not price match Amazon. (Yes, I'm asked this often). I am not a team of 500,000 people making a product. I'm a team of 1, with an amazing helper - my husband. I do my absolute best to buy local and American made products and sometimes that costs more.
**UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will I tolerate being screamed at or cussed at. If you scream or cuss at me, my husband or my assistant at bee pickups, you will be escorted off my property with the police and you will NOT get your BEES or a refund! If you don't like this policy, buy your bees elsewhere**
What is your refund policy?
There are no refunds - No exceptions! This has been my policy since 2016. Your bees will be exchanged if a queen cell is present - up to 24 hours after bee pickups. It is your responsibility to bring your bees back to Belton, Missouri for the exchange.
Once you pay a deposit - or in full - that payment is non-refundable. Bees, equipment and tools have been ordered based on your payment. It is not my responsibility to re-sell your bees for you because something happened and you can't make it to pickups.
No transfers of bee sales! If you purchase bees from The Kansas Bee Company and you cancel the order, it is up to you to pick up your bees and handle the resale of the bees. We will not transfer that sale to another individual. No exceptions. Also, we will not release your bees to a 3rd party for delivery. If you've purchased bees from us, you will need to pick them up. We will make an exception if you are sending a friend/relative to pick up your bees. Please call me and let me know.
If you do not show up to get your bees, your deposit or payment in full is non-refundable. The bees need to be moved to their new home in a timely manner. We need to consider the bees well being first and foremost. It is your responsibility to check the website for pickup dates. Often times emails go to a spam folder. There will be NO CALLS to anyone who missed their bee pickup date/time in order to arrange a future time with you.
I do not provide "store credit." Store credit is the same thing as a refund.