The Risk of Doing it On Your Own

  • ❌ You Spend Thousands Just to Set Up

    The hive. The bees. The protective gear. The tools. The books, the courses, the YouTube rabbit holes - all before you've started your hive.

  • ❌ Inspections Can be Daunting and Harm the Hive

    Is that normal? Are those mites? Did I just squish the queen? Without someone next to you who actually knows what they're looking at, every hive visit is a guessing game with expensive consequences.

  • ❌ Winter Kills Your Efforts

    Most first-year hive losses happen in over winter, when the colony has been alone for months and there was no one checking in. By the time spring arrives, it's too late. You open the hive and find silence.

  • ❌ Most Quit Because Their Hive Dies

    The beekeepers who quit aren't the ones who didn't love it. They're the ones who were handed a set of equipment and a colony of bees and told to figure it out themselves.

"The problem was never the bees. It was never the equipment. It was never you. Beekeeping is simply a craft best learned beside someone who loves it as much as you do."

— Rey Baboota, Founder & Beekeeper, Homegrown Hives

1-on-1 Coaching for New Beekeepers

Homegrown Hives is a concierge beekeeping service for the DMV. But for aspiring beekeepers, we're a guided path to becoming a beekeeper who actually succeeds.

We install and tend your hive. We visit every two weeks, spring through fall. We stand next to you at every inspection, name what we see, explain what it means, and show you exactly what to do. We don't leave until you're confident. With us, you get:

  • Complete Medium Hive Set-Up & Installation
  • 1 LB of Our Honey Every Month (First Year)
  • Guarenteed Live Bees: High-Quality Nucleus Colony
  • Harvested Honey from YOUR Hives (Second Year)
  • Expert Eyes on Your Hive Every Two Weeks
  • Comprehensive Seasonal Hive Guide
  • Customized Monthly Hive Health Reports
  • Winter Monitoring - When Hives Are Most Vulnerable

Two Ways to Enjoy Bees

  • Beekeeeper and owner Rey Wilson wearing a beekeeping suit holding a honeycomb frame in the DMV

    Hive Tending

    We manage your hive completely - you simply enjoy the honey and the satisfaction of supporting your local ecosystem.

    Includes
    Full hive setup & nucleus colony
    Bi-weekly hive visits (spring-fall)
    Treatment-free disease & pest management
    Monthly hive health reports
    1 lb honey/month from us, year one
    Honey harvesting & jarring from your hive, year two

    Investment
    1 Hive:     $216.75/month or $2,340/year
    2 Hives: $325.00/month or $3,510/year
    3 Hives: $433.25/month or $4,680/year
    (10% Savings with Annual Payment)

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  • Hive Coaching

    Everything in Hive Tending, plus hands-on beekeeping lessons for the whole family. Suit up and learn alongside our expert beekeeper.

    Includes
    Everything in Hive Tending
    + Scheduled coaching visits
    + Hands-on hive experience
    + Seasonal beekeeping education
    + Honey harvesting together (year two)

    Investment
    1 Hive: $308.25/month or $3,330/year
    2 Hives:     $462.50/month or $4,950/year
    3 Hives: $616.70/month or $6,660/year
    (10% Savings with Annual Payment)

    2

We Make it Easy to Get Started

  • Consultation

    Every hive begins with a home visit. Our beekeeper will learn about your experience level and hopes for keeping bees. Then, we’ll prepare a customized plan for your hive.

    1

  • Installation

    We set up your new hive and ensure everything is safe and secure. Our beekeeper will walk you through what to expect as your hive gets started, so you feel confident and excited.

    2

  • Tending & Coaching

    We visit every two weeks to inspect and care for your hive, keeping it healthy and productive all season with our expert care and personalized coaching services.

    3
  • Person in beekeeping suit inspecting beehive with a smoker in the DMV

    Harvesting

    In the second year when there's surplus honey, we harvest and jar it for you so it's ready to enjoy - straight from your own bees to your kitchen table.

    4

Most Common Questions

Find the most frequently asked questions below.

  • Yes! Backyard beekeeping is legal across the DMV, though local ordinances vary. Some areas have specific requirements around hive placement and numbers. At Homegrown Hives, we follow local guidance to guarantee your hive is set up the right way from day one.

  • Your first year DIY can costs up to $3,911, and that's before accounting for a failed colony. Our Hive Coaching service starts at $308.25/month, which includes everything: guaranteed live bees, the hive, the equipment, and the coaching. When you factor in the 80% failure rate of uncoached beekeepers, the coached path is less expensive over any two-year period - and it's the only one that actually gets you to become a beekeeper.

  • That's exactly what our Hive Coaching service is designed for. Every visit builds your skills and knowledge. We want to coach you into independence. Many clients reach a point where they're confidently managing their hive with us as an occasional check-in rather than a full coaching service.

  • That's exactly what your free home consultation is for. We've placed hives in a wide range of suburban DMV properties. You don't need sprawling acres of land, just a spot big enough for a filing cabinet-sized hive in your backyard. We'll assess sun exposure, water access, neighbor sightlines, and local ordinances to recommend the best placement.

  • Spring is ideal - typically April through June - when flowers are blooming and nectar is abundant. We're currently booking Spring 2026 consultations and spots fill quickly, so we recommend reaching out early to secure yours.

Your First Hive. Done Right.

Book a free home consultation. We'll assess your property, talk through your goals, and build a coaching plan that keeps your bees alive and your beekeeping dream on track.