You Can Rent Bees in Massachusetts and Watch Your Backyard Change

Sarah Santos knows about flowers. She is the owner of Bloom and Blossom Fine Gardening.

One issue that she runs into quite a bit is a yard that may not have enough bees to cross-pollinate flowers. In a situation like that, she might suggest that the customer rent a hive of bees to help.

That's right. You can rent bees.

Sarah will turn to local beekeepers such as Kyle Marston from Sun Temple Bee Works.

Get our free mobile app

"I've got bees in Dartmouth, Westport, Rochester. I've got bees in a lot of different places," Marston said.

Marston offers a lot of different services, from selling beehives to renting them.

"Sometimes people want a beehive because it's nice for their garden and it's relaxing to watch," he said. "There are also some interesting scientific benefits that bees offer."

READ MORE: Beekeeper to the Rescue for New Bedford Car Swarmed by Bees

The honey that the bees make also varies a bit by location. Marston said he has bees in different parts of the SouthCoast because, believe it or not, even though they are relatively close to one another, their honey can differ. "Bees also create a positive energy field in your yard that's healing to be around," he said.

As beekeeping becomes more popular, Marston said that the idea of starting your hives from scratch can be daunting. There are a couple of different options for beginners to start a hive. They can buy a package of 3 pounds of bees and a queen. There is also a nucleus colony that comes with five frames with honeycombs. Marston said they are further along, which makes it easier for a beginner to yield honey. The nuclear colony is priced at roughly $200-$250.

Surprisingly, Marston said the temperament of the bees can differ greatly, and the bees that he tends to breed are more agreeable than others.

Renting bees can cost homeowners roughly $100 per week, depending upon how much pollination is needed.