Click on Events on our menu above, and you will see a calendar. Scroll through the months to see when we post our meetings. Club meetings are typically held on the third Tuesday of odd numbered months at 6:00pm at the San Antonio Botanical Garden (Classroom A-B), 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, TX 78209.
Yes! Our members include commercial beekeepers, bee hobbyists, and bee enthusiasts. If you are interested, we invite you to become a member.
Alamo Area Beekeepers Association (AABA) recommends taking an Introduction to Beekeeping class before purchasing any bees or beekeeping equipment. The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension in Bexar County typically holds a “Beekeeping 101” class in the spring (March/April) and the fall (September/October). See link below for the Spring 2025 class.
https://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/beekeeping-101-live-class/
There are some good (and not so good) beekeeping education accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. We suggest starting with a solid foundation provided in an introductory course before going too far down the social media beekeeping wormhole. Also, please keep in mind that many of these accounts are not located in the central Texas area and situations can be vastly different by location. Your best bet is to find an experienced mentor in the area once you get your bees and join your local bee club.
We suggest new beekeepers start by purchasing at least 2 starter colonies commonly referred to as nucs. A nuc (nucleus colony) typically contains 5 frames of bees (~10,000 bees) with an established queen bee. Most nucs are designed for Langstroth style hives (stackable boxes with wooden or plastic frames) which is the most common style of hive in the US. The nuc will be in a temporary hive structure so you can transport them and then you will need to transfer the frames into a permanent Langstroth hive body shortly after bringing them home. To do this you will need to purchase beekeeping equipment and protective gear before picking up your bees. Another common way to obtain bees is to purchase a “package” of bees (3 pounds of worker bees and a caged queen). While this is a cheaper route than purchasing a nuc, a package is also more difficult to get established and we do not recommend them for brand new beekeepers.
Recommended Beginner Beekeeping Books:
“The Backyard Beekeeper” by Kim Flottum (Fourth or Fifth Edition)
“Beekeeping for Dummies” by Howland Blackiston
“First Lessons in Beekeeping” by Keith Delaplane
“Queenspotting” by Hilary Kearney
Recommended Beekeeping Podcasts:
Beekeeping Today Podcast
Two Bees in a Podcast
Beekeeper Confidential
The Alamo Area Beekeepers Association (AABA) does not endorse or recommend any private or commercial beekeeper, product, process, or service. Nothing on this site serves as a warranty or guarantee of goods and/or services. AABA’s intention is to provide information only.
There are a handful of bee suppliers in the San Antonio area recommended by AABA members. We suggest ordering your bees by January or February, although the suppliers usually have some extra nucs throughout the spring and early summer. Another option is to purchase a full colony with the hive equipment. This is especially useful if you are getting the bees after the nectar flow (April – June) has ended.
San Antonio Area Bee Suppliers:
The Bee Place (Somerset, TX)
Borntrager Bee Farm (Beeville, TX)
Holdman Honey (Seguin, TX)
8 Mile Honey (Uvalde, TX)
Beekeeping Equipment and Protective Gear:
Charlie Bee Company – New Berlin, TX
The Bee Supply (formerly Texas Bee Supply) – Round Rock, TX
TRC Bee Supply – New Braunfels, TX
Mann Lake – online
Dadant – online
*While Amazon and Tractor Supply also carry beekeeping gear, the quality can be hit or miss.
The Alamo Area Beekeepers Association (AABA) does not endorse or recommend any private or commercial beekeeper, product, process, or service. Nothing on this site serves as a warranty or guarantee of goods and/or services. AABA’s intention is to provide information only.
https://texasbeekeepers.org/ag-valuation/
The Alamo Area Beekeepers Association (AABA) does not endorse or recommend any private or commercial beekeeper, product, process, or service. Nothing on this site serves as a warranty or guarantee of goods and/or services. AABA’s intention is to provide information only.
Texas Apiary Inspection Service Bee Removal List
https://txbeeinspection.tamu.edu/bee-removal/
Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers
The Alamo Area Beekeepers Association (AABA) does not endorse or recommend any private or commercial beekeeper, product, process, or service. Nothing on this site serves as a warranty or guarantee of goods and/or services. AABA’s intention is to provide information only.
AABA Local Honey Locator List 2025
Sweet Vibes
Jacylynne Iglesias
210-894-9001 (text)
Zip code: 78059
Products: Honey
Bee My Honey
Choubert Brutus
210-202-9425 (call)
Zip code: 78108
Products: Honey, Comb honey, Jalapeno honey, Serrano honey, Rosemary honey, Habanero honey, Cinnamon honey, and Lemon Ginger honey
Johnny D’s Bees
Johnny D. Monteverdi
210-367-4787 (call or text)
Zip codes: 78264, 78255, 78201, 78242, 78101, 78112, 78059, 78063, 78002, 78061
Products: Honey, Body Products made with honey and/or beeswax (ex. lip balms, body lotions, etc.)
R&T Bee Ranch
Tara Randle
210-912-1232 (call or text)
Zip codes: 78063, 78006, 78023
Products: Honey
Everything Bees LLC
Scott O’Neal
Zip code: 78155
Location: Seguin
Products: Honey, Beeswax, Beeswax Candles, Body Products made with honey and/or beeswax (ex. lip balms, body lotions, etc.)
CJB Blackgold Honey
J & B Campbell
830-398-1324 (call or text)
Zip codes: 78063, 78056, 78140
Locations: Bandera/Gonzales and Medina
Products: Honey
TCR Bee Supply
John and Brenda Muth
210-393-7158 (call or text)
Zip code: 78130
Location: New Braunfels
Products: Honey, Comb honey
Borntrager Bee Farm
David Borntrager & Sons
361-362-3283 (leave message)
Zip code: 78102
Location: Beeville
Products: Honey
The Alamo Area Beekeepers Association (AABA) does not endorse or recommend any private or commercial beekeeper, product, process, or service. Nothing on this site serves as a warranty or guarantee of goods and/or services. AABA’s intention is to provide information only.
Central-Texas-Bee-Friendly-plants -AgriLife-TAMU (2)
The Alamo Area Beekeepers Association (AABA) does not endorse or recommend any private or commercial beekeeper, product, process, or service. Nothing on this site serves as a warranty or guarantee of goods and/or services. AABA’s intention is to provide information only.
RICK FINK YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION
ALAMO AREA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION (AABA)
AABA funds the Youth Scholarship Program to develop future generations of beekeepers by participation in the hobby of beekeeping, honey production, and education in apiary science. The first year of this program focuses on foundational beekeeping education and experiential learning with local beekeeping mentors. During the second year, the scholarship student will receive their own beehive to manage and maintain.
The scholarship program is open to youths aged 13-17 that reside in Bexar and surrounding counties with AABA members. The family of the scholarship recipient must maintain a family membership with AABA for the duration of the program. The program consists of a significant time commitment required from both the youth and parent or guardian to include:
Year One:
Participation in an Introduction to Beekeeping course by Texas Agrilife (April)
AABA club meetings (every other month) at San Antonio Botanical Garden
Field trips to various mentor apiaries in the San Antonio area
Other club events (Field Day in April, Teaching Apiary Workshops)
One meeting presentation at the November AABA meeting (10 minutes)
Year Two:
Volunteer at the AABA Rodeo Booth (February)
Receive first beehive in April/May
AABA club meetings (every other month) at San Antonio Botanical Garden
Two meeting presentations (May and September)
Attendance at club teaching apiary workshops
Assist with mentoring new Year One scholarship recipient
The student should be interested in beekeeping with support from their parent or guardian. The scholarship recipient will receive a beginner beekeeping book and basic protective gear (beekeeping suit and gloves) provided by AABA. If the parent or guardian would like to participate with the student at field trips, they will need to purchase their own protective equipment. After completion of year one, the scholarship recipient will receive a hive body with equipment, smoker, hive tool, and nuc (starter colony) of bees the following spring. The scholarship family must have an approved location for the beehive. The youth will care for and maintain the bees with support and input from club mentors. Ideally, the student would be able to attend all of the events listed above, but we understand that families have other obligations as well. Please plan to participate in 80% of the club activities if possible.
If you are interested in completing an application form, please click the link below.
AABA Youth Scholarship Application Form