Yes, I am fully First Aid trained and carry an Epipen at all times.

Health and Safety Protocols will be discussed beforehand.

A full refund can be given with a minimum of 24 hours' notice for cancellation of any service provided, excepting of course the minimum term for hive hire.

Generally speaking, I charge $100 per hour, excluding GST. If travel is required outside of Waikato I charge an additional 50c per kilometer.

Great! I would love to answer them, get in touch here and I'll get back to you.

I have the pleasure of working with a species of honeybee that is known for its gentle demeanor. My clients are often surprised by how calm and collected the bees are during my Hive Hire visits. Bees only sting when they feel threatened and it's usually a last resort, as they die after stinging. Therefore, I take every precaution to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience during my visits. This includes reminding you and your guests to avoid swatting at the bees, maintain a safe distance, and avoid using equipment such as lawnmowers close to the hive. All health and safety will be discussed at the initial site visit.

Not much at all! Ideally, a backyard hive should have at least 1.5m of space in front of its entrance. Think of this as a "runway" where bees can fly in and out without obstructions. The sides of the hive should have about 1m of space for me to work comfortably.

Yes! As long as the beekeeping practices are good, it's safe to have a hive around kids and pets. However, the hive's location is crucial, so it should be kept away from children's play areas or dog kennels. During the Hive Hire installation, I can provide a demonstration on how to safely interact with bees. Bees will only sting when provoked, so it's important to be gentle and avoid stepping on them. If you and your children are interested in getting up close and personal while I do the inspections, I can provide the necessary beekeeping gear.

No worries! Honeybees can forage up to 5kms from their hive. However, many of my clients become fervent gardeners after using my services. If you want to plant more food for your bees, I've got you covered with resources I'd love to share.

Absolutely! I started Sarah C's Bees to share my love of bees with others, encourage education and take others on the journey with me. During every visit, I will be there to take care of the colony and chat to anyone interested in the hive's inner workings.

I will usually be in to work the beehive every 4-6 weeks between September and April during the peak of the beekeeping season and much less frequently in the winter months as the bees hunker down and keep warm. Maintenance of each hive generally takes around 30-45 minutes.

Rest assured, hive placement won't be an issue. I take great care to position it in the perfect spot, keeping in mind your neighbours’ convenience. Here is what I consider when choosing a location: The bees' flight path - making sure they are not flying directly at your house or clean washing! The direction of their travel Positioning the hive close to a tall fence, so the bees fly above head height and are out of the way Shelter and sun direction And most importantly, I want to place it somewhere that you can enjoy watching the bees go about their buzzy work. There is no law requiring you to tell your neighbours that you are getting bees but I would advise it in case they are allergic. In the Waikato area there is no limit to the number of hives you can have as long as they do not cause a nuisance.

No extra charge for delivery! The price of me delivering the hive is included in your monthly/annual subscription fee.

Yes, based on my experience 9-months is an optimal minimum time. My subscription service is designed to be a continuous, year-round offering. I can install the hives at any time of the year, it would be in the best interests of you and the bees if they stay for a full season.

Yes! You are encouraged to learn about the bees while I work with them! Which is why I've added Mentorship Add-Ons. Explore which option would suit you best. I can bring along spare bee suits for you and/or the whole family and will pre-arrange education sessions to come and work the bees at a convenient time.

I've got you covered with our automated subscription service! After placing your order on my website, you can simply set it and forget it. If you're on a monthly plan, the payment will be automatically deducted from your chosen card every month. No more worrying about remembering to pay monthly invoices. However, if you'd prefer, I can provide an annual invoice as an alternative option.

Generally, bees are not aggressive and will not bother you if they are left alone. You should be able to avoid any issues with them as long as you are not sitting directly in front of the hive. However, mowing the lawn in front of the hive can cause some disturbance due to the vibrations. If you mow in the morning or evening when bee activity has slowed down, you should be able to avoid any issues. Another option is having your hives on a stand or on a concrete platform so the grass does not impeded the bees entry.

No. When I deliver the hive we will discuss whether you want to be there to observe me going through the hive and I do my best to accommodate this.

For the Hive Hire Service the hives I bring will stay registered to Sarah Cs Bees and remain my property for the duration of your contract. For safety reasons, I kindly request that you only access the hive when I am present. Keep in mind that opening the hive in cold weather can make the bees vulnerable, and there is also a risk of accidentally harming the queen or causing them to become aggresive.

Yes, it just may be best to avoid the immediate area that the hive is in. It is also best practice to spray at a time of day when the bees are not flying (evening is best), as this vastly reduces the bees exposure to sprays and keeps them happy and healthy.

I won't beat around the bush, beekeeping can be an expensive hobby! However my hive hire subscription service is certainly a more affordable way to go about having bees in your own backyard. Overall it is cheaper than running your own hive once you take into consideration the costs involved: a course to learn beekeeping, certificate to check for disease, hiveware and protective equipment, the bees, registration fees and levy's, disease treatment and inspection fees etc. Not to mention I take the stress out of running the hive for you, and of course you have the option to be involved with the hive too if that's your thing!

I regularly inspect the bees health and colony requirements. This includes checking for Varroa, American Foulbrood, and other bee diseases. Varroa mites feed on honeybee pupae and carry viruses that are damaging to the bees. This is why I am vigilant in treating and protecting the colony from varroa and other vermin. I will also re-queen hives if it is considered necessary during the hire period.

The best time to set up a hive is early Spring, this is when the bees are most active and friendly. They will get used to their environment very quickly and adapt to their new surroundings. I can install a hive anytime of the year but Spring is when the bees are most calm.

Live bees will be fully contained in an observation hive during all bee talks and education at schools.

Presentations can be catered for any subject that is currently being studied including honeybee life cycles and insect biology, honey production, pollination, pollution, ecology, environmental factors effecting bees, evolution, scientific trials and many more. All presentations are catered for the age of the audience. Please allow enough time for all questions to be answered. The presentations can be as interactive as required and can include a powerpoint presentation if requested.