BEEKEEPING
If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the rewarding world of beekeeping right from your backyard, Sierra Honey Farm is here to help.
As a proud 3rd Generation Beekeeper, Beeman Thomas is dedicated to providing fellow bee enthusiasts like you with well designed resources and support for nurture your enthusiasm for bees.
Reserve for 2026 by Mar. 31
Buyers must be available to pickup on April 24 or 25, 2026
Bee Basics
A Nucleus Colony - or "nuc" is a a small, established, and fully functional honey bee colony (family of thousands of bees) living in a portable box. Inside the box are frames, which the bees use as a foundation to build and maintain their colony.
A hive is the physical structure where a colony of bees make their home. A standard apiarist's (beekeeper's) hive has 10 frames and tens of thousands of bees!
The Queen Bee - The only reproductive individual in the colony, she can live about 2-5 years and rarely leaves the hive. She can lay 2,000 eggs every day!
Worker Bees - These sterile female bees take on a variety jobs in the colony to build, maintain, and protect the health and longevity of their Queen and hive. They live only a few weeks.
Drone Bees - Male bees whose sole purpose is to spread the genetics of the colony.
Sierra Honey Farm Nucs & Hives
Our nucs and hives are fully stocked, carefully nurtured, and well prepared to ensure a happy, healthy colony. We are committed to providing healthy queens and ongoing support for the love of the bees!
5- and 10-Frame Designs
Queen Bee & Colony
Honey & Pollen Stores
Low Deposit &
Volume Pricing
Your bees are safely packed in a custom portable, white plastic nuc box with ventilation holes, or painted and treated hive box, ensuring a comfortable journey to their new home.
Choose between mini 5-frame nuc or standard 10-frame hive designs.
Each box includes a fully functioning colony buzzing with one freshly bred (laying) queen, thousands of vibrant worker bees, and frames of brood (larva/baby bees).
Your nuc arrives with ample honey and pollen stores to support the health and longevity of your colony. Hives will arrive with brood and pollen stores, plus two frames of honey, and are immediately ready for a second box or honey super.
Low cost non-refundable reservation deposit with balance due at pickup
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$40 deposit for mini 5-frame nucs
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$80 deposit for standard 10-frame hives
2026 Mini 5-Frame Nuc Pricing
$225 each for 1 - 4 nucs
$215 each for 5 - 9 nucs
$205 each for 10 or more
2026 Standard 10-Frame Hive Pricing
$325 per 10-frame hive
(No volume pricing available)
Ongoing Support
Beeman Thomas will provide detailed setup instructions and will be available via phone or text to support you. Your enjoyment and success in beekeeping are my top priorities, and I’m here to support you every step of the way!
Each Hive order includes
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1 healthy, laying queen bee
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5-6 frames of brood with pollen
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8 ready-to-use drawn frames
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A convenient 1 gallon feeder
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A beautifully painted 10-frame box with new lid and bottom board, treated with our family's special wood preserve.
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2 frames full of honey. All hives will be ready for a honey super or second box immediately after purchase.
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Detailed instructions and ongoing support from Beeman Thomas.
Standard 10-Frame Hive
Mini 5-Frame Nuc
Pickup April 24-25
Make your reservations now online and mark your calendars for Friday and Saturday April 24, 25 for pickup. This is your exclusive opportunity to pick up your bees. Please do not reserve if you cannot pickup on April 24 or 25; reservation deposits are non-refundable.
Bee magic takes place around sunrise and sunset so plan to arrive in the early morning or late evening to enjoy this special moment. We can't wait to see you!
Pickup Location:
Sierra Honey Farm
8275 S. Barnes Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93446