We built our boxes and frames from kits that we bought from Mannlake. The assembly and painting was still a fair amount of work. I'm happy we went with that level of effort.
I am still a new beek, but I see that bees seem to like:
A place where it won't be too inconvenient to drive up and do hive checks/work every 2 weeks
A place where they can live for years without being too much in the way
Morning sun
Afternoon shade from a deciduous tree/trees that will be bare in winter to allow winter warmth
Some space around the hive, free of big weeds- like the edge of a field or in a glade
Water source within a quarter mile (my estimate) like a creek, pond, moist spot etc
A sheltered spot where they will be a little protected from cold winter winds
Johannian, those winds sound nuts! You would want a good rock on your hive top. The rock is mostly to keep mammals out of the honey supers, but it protects with wind too. The boxes and frames are pretty heavy, especially when full, and the bees seal things together with propolis, so maybe they would be fine.
Bees are magical and they are more work than I had imagined. It's like having kids: once you have them, you are committed for the long haul.
