>People don't seem to realise that hives can be bought at any time up 

until harvest and even with a crop of honey on them.  After harvest, 
they can be bought at any time that they are reachable.  

Is there any way to begin bees, but the hard way?    It seems to me that the same mindset that draws folks to beekeeping, also puts them at a disadvantage, particularly at the start.

Also, I think there is more than just the honey harvest.... It's the whole seasonal experience, and having bees delivered mid-season may be unsatisfying to some.

This year, I made the hard-decision to shift our bee club's bulk-purchase from Nucs to Packages.   A consideration, albeit a lesser one, is that Packages are available a month earlier here, and gives the newbeeks more time to learn and enjoy.

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