My husband has kept bees all his life, but now only has 2 or 3 hives to pollinate his garden. His family always made their own hives since there wasn’t a lot of money in those days. I’m sure that there are better tips and techniques now on how to raise bees, so it’s a good idea for you to go to the experts since you are just starting out.
I always liked to watch when the bees swarmed and my husband would catch them. Of course, I was a good distance away while that was going on. I’ve heard that local honey is good medicinally for allergies, etc.