Your Local Beekeeping Supplier

We are pleased to offer a storefront where you can shop for beekeeping equipment and bee-loved plants in one location. Try on bee suits, look at our display hives, order your bees, and more.

Our beekeeping department is devoted to supporting bees and their keepers. We cater to beginning and experienced beekeepers, as well as people interested in supporting honeybees and native bees in their own gardens and in their communities.

We provide high-quality beekeeping equipment in addition to expert hive services, instruction, and support. Your success at beekeeping is our number one priority!

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From the Beekeeping Blog

Shonnard’s Sweet Honeybee Photo Contest

Apr 9, 2024

Are you a nature lover, a gardener, a beekeeper, or a photographer? Everyone is welcome to participate in the Shonnard’s Sweet Honeybee Photo Contest! We are looking for bee and beekeeping related photos, including but not limited to: Honeybees in the hive Honeybees...

Package Bees Pick-up Day – Saturday April 20th

Apr 5, 2024

PACKAGE BEE PICK UP DAY SATURDAY April 20th The pick-up times below are suggestions aimed at reducing waiting time when you arrive - you may certainly come when it is most convenient for you during our store hours. Picking up your bees at the suggested time is...

Bees in April

Mar 29, 2024

Congratulations, you’ve overwintered your colony! If your hives made it through to April with 5+ solid frames of bees and an active queen then you’ve successfully overwintered! Supplemental Feeding Now that your bees have broken their winter cluster and have...

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Hive Consultation Package

An hour and a half spent working hives with a beekeeping specialist can do wonders to increase your skills and experience! A consult will give beginning and intermediate beekeepers benefits beyond the duration of each session.

We believe our Hive Consultation Package ultimately saves beekeepers money, frustration, and heartache. We are proud to offer this service to our beekeeping community.

Schedule Beekeeping Consultation

Our consultations will help you:

Work your bees with greater confidence. You will feel less anxiety about getting into your bees, allowing you to complete necessary tasks on time.
Identify diseases more readily, increasing the likelihood you will be able to intervene early.
Assess mite infestation levels with more accuracy, greatly improving your colony’s survival chances.
Read the brood nest and colony strength with more fluency.
Be familiar with the resources available to help you become a better beekeeper.

Beekeeping FAQs

Common questions from beginner beekeepers.

Can bees be kept within Corvallis & Philomath city limits?

Yes! There are no local restrictions prohibiting backyard beekeeping, but nuisance laws can apply – so be a good neighbor, communicate with adjacent homeowners, and site and orient your hives to minimize conflicts.

How many hives should you have?

One hive is okay, but we like to see a couple of hives per keeper. One reason is that you can compare their performance against one another to catch problems earlier, and even transfer resources from a robust hive to a weaker one when needed. The state department of agriculture does require you to register if you are keeping more than 5 hives.

What will your honeybees forage?

Keep in mind the foraging needs of a colony, and don’t try to keep more than local flower resources can support. Most honeybees will forage within 2-5 miles of their hive so be aware of what blooms are in your local area.

How do you know if bee-friendly plants are in the area?

While honeybees do have favorite flowers based on shape and pollen, the key is to have blooming plants late spring to early fall when the bees are active. At Shonnard’s, we are always available to assist you in choosing plants that are beneficial to pollinators should you choose to enhance the colony’s foraging options. For plant suggestions, shop online for Plants for Bees.

What other native bees can you support?

Other pollinating bees in our area that you might find in and around your garden include Mason Bees, Leafcutting Bees, and Bumblebees. Mason bee cocoons are typically available for purchase in early spring, but PLEASE do not set the cocoons out to hatch until temperatures warm and there are more plants in bloom. We also offer native bee nesting and housing supplies at our Garden Center.