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Check out our Top bar hives for sale. They are an easy to manage; natural environment that supports the bees' natural systems - without using any toxic chemicals or antibiotics.

Learn about our
Beekeeping Classes, "Natural Beekeeping in
Top Bar Hives"

Need a speaker for
your event? The Author of "The Thinking Beekeeper"
Christy Hemenway is available for booking as a
Teacher & Speaker on Natural Beekeeping in Top Bar Hives

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Hive Starter Kit

Hive Starter Kit

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$25.00 

Hive Starter Kit

One piece of broodcomb*, one flexible wire to attach it to your top bar, and one dose of 100% pure, therapeutic grade Lemongrass essential oil. 

This kit works very well to "anchor" your bees in their new home.

Free shipping on this item**!



*Inspected for disease by Maine State apiarist, Tony Jadczak

**Shipping outside the US is additional.  Please place your order and we will contact you re: shipping.  Thank you!


When we introduced this product in 2011,  starter kits reduced the number of colonies that "absconded" from brand new, first year, empty top bar hives to nearly zero.

Why is it so effective?  Well, we think it's because the piece of comb smells of beeswax and baby bees, and the lemon grass essential oil is a strong attractant for bees.

With a bit of brood comb, already drawn - your queen can get to laying immediately upon her release from the cage.
Please review these other products:

The Gold Star Deluxe Top Bar Hive Kit
This is our flagship product - the Gold Star Deluxe Top Bar Hive kit.

This Gold Star Hive Kit makes your life easy.  It requires minimal woodworking skills.  Assembly takes about two hours.  The only tools you will need are a Philips head screwdriver and a staple gun.

EVERYTHING* comes in the box:

Assembly instructions
All wooden parts
All hardware
Pre-installed glass observation window

*Except paint, and bees, of course.  The use of a VOC-free paint is recommended for painting the roof only.

Special Note:
The Gold Star top bar is interchangeable with top bars from Backyard Hive top bar hives and Bee Thinking Top bar hives.




(To our friends in the north:  The Deluxe hive kit ships throughout Canada for $200.  Call us at 207-449-1121 or send your order via email to [email protected].  We'll make it easy!)
 Our Price: $495.00

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DIY Kit #1

Our DIY#1 Kit saves you time and energy.  We provide the plans AND the hardware necessary to build the Gold Star Honeybees Deluxe Top Bar Hive.  You do the rest!


This kit builds our high quality, bee-friendly, eco-green top bar hive; includes all the options and features you see in the Deluxe hive.


Included in this kit: 

A hard copy of the construction drawings, materials list, suggested cutting diagram, and assembly instructions (see DIY Plans) Everything you need to duplicate the Gold Star Deluxe Top Bar hive.  Both US and metric dimensions are provided.


All of the metal hardware - including the custom-cut 1/8 inch hardware cloth for the screened bottom - ships with this kit.  This eliminates multiple trips to the hardware store to purchase fasteners that are typically packaged in quantities well beyond what you actually need. 




(To our friends in the north: This kit ships to Canada for $34, however - the website can't calculate International Shipping.  Send an email to [email protected] with your phone number and we'll handle your order manually.)


(c)  Gold Star Honeybees
The Gold Star Honeybees Top Bar Hive Construction Plans are protected by US copyright laws. 
Please govern yourself accordingly!

Our Price: $75.00

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DIY Kit #2

***  BEST VALUE ! ***


Our DIY#2 Kit saves you EVEN MORE time and energy!  Just like the DIY#1, this quality kit contains:

  • Construction plans
  • All hardware


But here is where this kit really provides the most value for your dollar...   It ships with:

  • 30 premium Gold Star top bars
  • 2 Follower Boards
  • 10 Spacers
  • See product photo for greater detail



(This kit ships to Canada for $65, but the website can't seem to calculate International Shipping. 

Send an email to [email protected] and we'll put your order together via PayPal invoice.  It's Easy!)

 Our Price: $325.00

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DIY Plans
This product is an electronic copy, in .pdf file format, of the plans to build the Gold Star Honeybees Deluxe Top Bar Hive.  This is our top-of-the-line, bee-friendly top bar hive; it includes all the options and features you see in the Deluxe hive. 

Both US and metric dimensions are provided. 

Included are: construction drawings, materials list, suggested cutting diagram, and assembly instructions - everything you need to duplicate the Gold Star Deluxe Top Bar hive. 

**Special Gold Star Bonus**
Plans for the Gold Star Top Bar Hive Feeder kit are also included.

A secure download link to your file will be presented on your online order confirmation - click the green "DIY Plans" link at the top, OR from your email receipt.  The link will be valid for 3 downloads.

Receipt should be nearly instantaneous - if there seems to be a problem please double-check the accuracy of your email in your order information.  Please also check your Spam/Junk folder to see if the email went down that path.   
Still a problem?  Call us!  :-)  207-449-1121.

 Our Price: $25.00

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