Field & Garden: Fun to Bee With
Jul 08, 2026 12:16PM ● By Mike Gennaro
This year, I decided to get bees.
Actually, that's not entirely true. I decided to get bees about 20 years ago, but this year I finally took the plunge, and it’s been rewarding taking the kids through the journey with me.
As I write this, Porch & Parish is officially a Louisiana-registered apiary and home to roughly 20,000 honeybees. Watching a colony establish itself has been fascinating, humbling, and educational. If you've been thinking about beekeeping, here's the playbook I wish someone had handed me.
First, pick an attainable spring date and order a nuc, or nucleus colony. A nuc is essentially a starter hive containing a queen, some drones, and about 10,000 worker bees. I purchased mine from The B Farm and picked it up in Jennings, turning the trip into a family adventure with a stop at the famous Lafayette pastry shop, Poupart's Bakery. It made up for the few bees that got loose in the vehicle!
While waiting for pickup day, order your hive. For beginners, a Langstroth hive is the way to go. Start with two deep brood boxes and one medium honey super, complete with frames.
Next, gather your gear. Most starter bundles include a full bee suit, but if I had to do it again, I'd buy only a bee jacket, veil and gloves. Louisiana summers are hot, and jeans provide plenty of protection. My biggest piece of advice: don't overthink it. Pick a date, get your bees, and start learning. You might discover that the hobby you've been postponing for years is worth every lesson, every surprise, and every mile of the road trip home.
