Well, if you can't afford the money for a hive, you can build one. The best hive for a starter would probably be the standard Langstroth hive. Dimensions are readily available on the web. The Beesource might be the best place to start:
http://www.beesource.com/plans/langstroth.htm

Remember to paint the outside of the hive with latex paint (white is best) but do NOT paint the inside or any surface that the bees will touch. They are extremely sensitive to smells.

For bees, what I did was just wait for a wild swarm to come by and I captured it and put it in the hive box. I hope you still have enough bees in your neighborhood to have swarms. You might want to ask your neighbors to be on the lookout for a swarm, once you get your box built.

As for bee equipment like a smoker, or a beesuit, I suppose you can make your own, if you're industrious enough.

hermit, I'm always glad to see someone interested in getting started with bees. I use the standard hives that you see that look like boxes stacked up. I have made everything but frames, some stuff from beesource plans and some from measuring equipment. I've also made my own hive tool and smoker so it can be done. I would say that the simplest and least expensive way to get started would be with a top bar hive. It's a simple box with tapered sides. You just use wooden bars on the top for the bees to start their comb. It involves way less equipment. There is a whole forum on TB hives at beesource.com

It's best to start with at least two hive, three is better. This gives you a basis for comparison if you think a hive isn't quite right. It also gives you assets in terms of brood, eggs, comb, and honey if you need to help a weak hive. For instance, if a hive goes queenless and you have another with eggs, you can give a frame of eggs and let the queenless hive raise a new queen. If you only have the one hive and they go queenless, you have to find a new queen somewhere.

You can build a top bar hive very cheaply from scrap. The dimensions aren't critical like a Langstroth hive.

To get bees free, sign up with your county agent and fire and police dispatchers for swarm pick ups.

Finally, read the Beesource forums and Michael Bush's website,
www.beesource.com/forums/index.php
www.bushfarms.com

I'm saving links/urls and reading and trying to wrap my head around the plethora of information. Thank you all for sharing the links. I feel much more comfortable using reference material that others actually recommend first-hand, rather than a web search that could turn up erroneous material.

A few years ago there were some local posts about bees - like in people's walls that they wanted out, but while I had an interest, I had absolutely no clue how to go about collecting them (and as yet, still don't). I have NEVER seen a swarm where I'm at - all I have noted is that I went from seeing some honeybees (gathering nectar from the spots of clover growth - unfortunately some of them killed by accident when stepped on or getting into a shoe) with some regularity but not en masse, to thinking the last honeybee I saw was ONE last year... ONE... horrible, huh?

While I understand the sense in capturing a swarm that is unwanted somewhere else (there haven't been anymore local posts like that in a long time), truthfully - based upon my reading in the past and the fact that one (out of four) of my kids is more sensitive/allergic to stings than "most people", I think I would prefer (preference not necessarily meaning it will turn out that way) to get a specific type of honeybee that is known for being "less aggressive". I remembered at least that much from past reading - different types being rated on their nature. I would have to re-read to know which ones were which of course, but I figure I have time.

I can scavenge materials for building hives. The only thing I don't feel confident about is jumping into 2 or "even better" 3 right off the bat. I understand the sense of it in the event of something happening and one or another needing some help, but at the same time, jumping right in like that would automatically have me tackling more than I think I'm ready for. Since it will probably be next Spring (???) before it would be "the time" for acquiring "starter stock", I guess I've got time to think on it and weigh things out.

While there is unquestionably a shortage of honeybees - we don't seem to be lacking with wasps, carpenter bees, some bumblebees, etc. Would siting a hive or three on the property have an effect with these other insects? I mean I'd happily give up the wasps and hornets and such, but by the same token, would these other types of "bees" pose any sort of threat to honeybees? I've seen other species of critters (generically speaking, but not in reference to bees) compete with one another and territory. If this would be an issue; honeybees I intentionally brought in, is there anything I should or could do to protect the honeybees from other insects? (I suss that other types of bees/wasps/hornets wouldn't be the only insect that could be a threat or problem for honeybees and their hives)

There's a section of the property that I could probably get tilled (with a tractor, way too much to handle with a hand-tiller) and sow that is "wide open" and full sun... right now that section is all-natural with a mix of grasses, "weeds", and some small spots of clover dotting it. What would you all recommend as a "choice" plant to sow it with (it would still be mixed because I won't use a blanket poison to kill what already exists there and tilling wouldn't nix all of the stuff either) for honeybees? I know there's more than just "clover" as a crop for them.... and I'm trying to think-ahead in that I would like to still mow (it's enough space that I mow with a tractor and bush-hog) it. I get less than positive comments when I let it grow up completely (because it looks like it should be baled :) so *ideally* I'd like something that would still bloom for honeybees but not grow terribly tall. I don't mind letting it grow to say around 6 inches tall - give or take, but the shorter while still being able to bloom, would be better.

That area is also a section of the property that is used by multiple canines and people for recreation - so would I encounter issues between "us" and honeybees for use of the space or ...? I'm not explaining this very well I'm afraid. I'm just trying to keep everyone happy, ya know? We need to be able to live in harmony with the honeybees - rather than me ending up with complaints from "everyone else" about the honeybees. (hence, all of my questions and research before I jump in)

I *might* be able to arrange fair use of another small chunk of property owned by family that could be sown for honeybees and hives kept there - but in the event that I could use that, the competition I already know I would encounter for the bees, would be deer and rabbits grazing. They feel totally safe grazing there and my family actually spent the last several years putting out corn for the deer and providing them with water as well. I only have sporadic and late-night visits from the deer myself as they are far more cautious on my property because of the dogs who usually don't ignore their presence except late at night. The deer and rabbits though, especially when we have high heat and drought like now, become incredibly bold in their quest for high-moisture content greens and will come right up to the homes - they pretty much destroyed shrubs and other plants last year and beginning this year that they had never before bothered and even "deer resistant" plants (that taste bad). So I have a concern about them eating everything intended to grow and bloom for bees.

hermit, Adding honey bees to the mix won't hurt anything. Around here there is a good mix of bumble bees and wasps along with my honey bees. There's usually plenty to go around and different insects sometimes focus on different plants. As far as planting, the clovers are good and the bees make good use of them. Bumble bees also like clover. For some variety and a good cover crop try planting buckwheat. It grows fast and is a good bee crop. Buckwheat honey is a fairly dark and strong tasting honey. Honey that's mostly buckwheat can have a molasses kind of flavor. I love it but it's not everyone's favorite. Dandelions are one of the early spring flowers that help the bees get started. I have a number of Italian Queen hives and for the most part they are very gentle. I currently have 6 hives in my back yard with neighbors on both sides. During summer peak that's around 300,000 bees. The hives at the top of our sloping back yard about 20-25 yds from the house. I've never had a complaint from any of the neighbors. As far as you concerns about deer and rabbit, bees forage on an amazing number of plants and also trees. Our area has fruit trees as well as ornamental fruit trees, maples, black locust, and basswood to name a few good sources for bees. If there is something available, the bees will find it.

Find a local club and JOIN some offer classes in the spring and some have people that are willing to mentor nubees because it is nice to have a bee BUD

honeyman, you've got that right. Everyone in our club helps each other out. Just last week I was building frames for a deep and realized that I had gone through the 1oo sheets of deep foundation that I thought would get me through the season. I was about to make the 2 1/2 hr drive to Betterbee and back but called a fellow club member first and he the 10 sheets of dcw I needed. I don't have an extractor but borrow one in exchange for making any needed hive parts from bottom boards up through to outer covers, so everything works when we help each other.