It seems everyone is interested in how to make your own beehive in a jar. Have the rows of organic honey jars at the farmers market got you thinking about starting your own backyard beehive? If you live in a suburban area, you may think that starting a beehive cannot be done. However a common suburban backyard can be a perfect place for beehives if done correctly and you do a bit of research and planning before ordering your bees and supplies. It is actually a very simple and easy process with the right tools. Everything you need is below including a supplies list and pictures of our DIY beehive.
Materials Needed TO Make Your Own Backyard Beehive In A Jar:
1 – Piece of 2″ x 12″ x 6′ wood (cut 2 pieces for the sides to 22″)
1 – Piece of 2″ x 12″ x 6′ wood (cut 2 pieces for the front and back to 18″)
1 – Piece of 1″ x 1″ x 6′ wood (cut 2 pieces for the top frame left and right sides to 22″)
1 – Piece of 1″ x 1″ x 6′ wood (cut 2 pieces for the top frame front and back to 18″)
1 – Piece of thick plywood (cut to 16″ X 20″)
1 – Bottom beehive kit (for the bees to enter and exit)
12 – Big mouth quart sized jars (for honeycomb)
1 – Box of wood screws (size 1″ screws)
1 – Can of wood stain (use a dark wood stain of your choice)
And of course, you need bees, most bees are available only in March and April but you can try these links to order your honey bees online – 3lbs of honey bees – Queen Bees For Sale
First get a piece of thick plywood and cut to 16″ x 20″.
Then measure and center for 12 holes and drill the pilot holes.
Next, drill 12 – 3 1/2″ holes with a hole saw (for the jars to fit into).
Next cut 2 – 22″ pieces from a 2″ x 12″ x 6′ board and 2 – 18″ pieces from a 2″ x 12″ x 6′ board.
Then screw everything together and stain the wood with dark wood stain (or whatever you choose).
Get your 12 wide mouth mason 1/2 gallon size jars (or a normal quart sized jar).
Then arrange them and make sure they all fit properly over the holes.
Here is the 12 beehive jars arranged and installed in our backyard beehive.
The jars sit with the screw lid on for less than 1/16″ gap between the jar and the beehive hole.
You may need to add some shims to support the weight so it won’t sag with the weight of the honey.
Another view of our DIY backyard beehives in a jar project.
You can vent and screen this chamber if there is excess heat or put the beehive where it gets late day shade.
The bottom wooden piece we purchased as a kit and this is where the bees enter and exit the beehive.
The bees are seen here after we added them to the jars, they are now ready to make organic honey.
After much time, here is what the honeycomb jars look like filled with honey.
Most bee keepers would tell you that this is a bad way to go. I would have to say it is Great. If you have a fully built up hive and the nectar is flowing they will fill a small jar in just a few days. I am talking a small jar half pint or less, shallow jars work the best. You can sell them as a novelty item. A jar of honey that would sell for just 3 or 4 dollars can be sold for a lot more, say 8 or 10 dollars a jar because people have never seen this method. It also helps you if you are short on money and cant afford supers, frames, boxes, foundation, ect. I would not recommend this method with large jars if you are a new beekeeper. Giving them say about 4 big jars could be a little overwhelming to the bees. :)
Interesting idea on an observation hive. The bees enter the jars by going through the queen excluder, which is placed on top of the brood supers. The standard langstroth style supers have ten frames, each frame has a sheet of foundation (thin bees wax, or other material with the shape of a worker sized cell embedded into it on which the bees build their original brood comb) the bees build comb naturally in the jars all crossed up. It doesn’t run out do to the orientation of the cells and viscosity of the honey, once cured.
I’d recommend taking a few basic beekeeping lessons before attempting this project. I only keep a few hundred colonies, and have for over 30 years, and am a sixth generation beekeeper. But yes this looks like a fun, but low level productive, and all you get is a bunch of crossed up comb you have to eat with a spoon.
I’m with Nancy – could use a bit more clarification on this. I have all her same questions. Also, I’m not sure how the honey doesn’t just drip out of the jars while on the beehive.
Looks like a great idea, but my only concern is that the top of the hive is open to the elements. It looks like rain can get into the top of the hive.
This is a cool DIY project. I’m wondering how you can call it ORGANIC, though. Unless you were at least 6 miles out from surrounding neighbors, how would you protect the bees and the honey from the use of pesticides ?
I’m really interested in doing this bee/honey project, but I have three questions before I start it: [1] How do you get the bees into the jars to make the honey and out of the jars to use the honey. [2] The article says: The jars sit with the screw lid on for less than 1/16″ gap between the jar and the beehive hole. My question: With the lids on the jars, how do the bees get in and out of the jar[s] to gather pollen? If the lid and screw top is on the jar, even if the lid is not on tight the inner ring would fall down onto the jar ring, leaving no gap for the bees to get in or out of. [3] The article says: The bees are seen here after we added them to the honeycomb. It sounds like the honeycomb was added first, then you added the bees. It also sounds like the bees did not make the honeycomb. My question: If the bees did not make the honeycomb? Where did the honeycomb come from?
Thanks for the article, and answering the questions.
great idea will try just for the fun
I think this is a very cool idea if for no other reason than the observation aspect for children.
Thanks for the tips, I am going to try this during the winter to have ready for my first colony in the Spring!
That is amazing! I’m just getting started with the hobby, but I’m almost tempted to try this.