Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile have created the best single-volume guide to the hobby and profession of beekeeping.The Beekeeper's Handbookprovides step-by-step instructions for setting up an apiary, handling bees, and working throughout the season to maintain a healthy colony and a generous supply of honey. Various colony care options and techniques are explained so that beekeepers can make the best choices for their hives.The Beekeeper's Handbookis an invaluable resource for both beginner and veteran beekeepers. This fully updated and expanded fifth edition includes:•Hand-drawn instructional diagrams that provide step-by-step instructions•Updated research regarding the health and behaviors of bees in different habitats and what operations may best suit individual needs•Information on how to identify, treat, and prevent the introduction of Varroa destructor mites and other harmful intruders in a colony

The Bee Manual offers a clear and concise introduction into the fascinating world of the honey bee and the addictive craft of beekeeping. For various reasons, the number of bee colonies has been declining and there is great interest in trying to aid their recovery. Anyone wanting to keep bees needs to learn about the individuals, how colonies operate and how the beekeeper can work with these insects to help them thrive, carry out their pollination activities and produce a satisfying honey crop. Full of color photos and clear step-by-step text, this book offers practical advice for anyone planning to take up this absorbing hobby.

The ultimate bee book for bee enthusiasts and experts alikeThe Bees in Your Backyard provides an engaging introduction to the roughly 4,000 different bee species found in the United States and Canada, dispelling common myths about bees while offering essential tips for telling them apart in the field.The book features more than 900 stunning color photos of the bees living all around us―in our gardens and parks, along nature trails, and in the wild spaces between. It describes their natural history, including where they live, how they gather food, their role as pollinators, and even how to attract them to your own backyard. Ideal for amateur naturalists and experts alike, it gives detailed accounts of every bee family and genus in North America, describing key identification features, distributions, diets, nesting habits, and more. Provides the most comprehensive and accessible guide to all bees in the United States and Canada Features more than 900 full-color photos Offers helpful identification tips and pointers for studying bees Includes a full chapter on how to attract bees to your backyard

Enjoy the time-honored tradition of beekeeping in your own backyard or urban rooftop with this accessible resource for beekeepers of all skill levels, now in its 5th edition.More than a guide to beekeeping, The Backyard Beekeeper features expert advice for: Setting up and caring for your own colonies Selecting the best location to place your new bee colonies for their safety and yours The most practical and nontoxic ways to care for your bees Swarm control Using top bar hives Harvesting the products of a beehive and collecting and using honey Bee problems and treatmentsNew in this edition: Natural beekeeping techniques like insulating hives for the winter to mimic the advantages of bee homes in the wild Important new treatments for and updated info on the battle with Varroa mites How to deal with the new antibiotic recommendations for American foulbrood Introduction to new recordkeeping technology to considerIn addition to content updates to reflect the most recent research and technology in beekeeping, the book features a new design with larger, easier-to-read text, many new photos, and a more easily navigable structure.With this complete reference and the expert advice of Bee Culture editor emeritus Kim Flottum, your bees will be healthy, happy, and more productive.

The single best and most comprehensive guide for prospective, new and experienced hobbyist beekeepersBeekeeping For Dummies, 5th Edition, is one of the most popular titles in the For Dummies series available today. Including the latest information regarding every aspect of backyard beekeeping and honey production, this book describes how to get started, how to care for and safely handle bees, and how to maintain healthy and productive colonies.This book is loaded with up-to-date, practical examples and helpful illustrations of proven techniques and strategies for both new and seasoned hobbyist beekeepers. Some of the updates for this brand-new edition include: New information regarding the critical role that nutrition plays in the health and productivity of your bees News about the latest beekeeping products, medications, and all-natural remedies Information regarding dozens of helpful beekeeping resources Redeemable coupons from beekeeping suppliers that save the reader moneyBeekeeping For Dummies embodies the straightforward and simple approach made famous by the For Dummies series. Each and every reader will benefit from its accessible and approachable take on beekeeping.

A truly lush, radiant enthusiast’s guide, The Backyard Beekeeper’s Honey Handbook goes beyond the scope of a cookbook to introduce to readers the literal cornucopia of honey varieties available. An intuitive follow-up to The Backyard Beekeeper, this book will presume beekeeping experience but reintroduce the basics. It is an insight into the practical, back-to-the-earth beekeeping lifestyle and well as the artisan cultivation of honey varieties.Supplementary support for this book lay in the fact that interest in tapping honey’s holistic and whole-health potential dovetails nicely into the natural health and green movements. Also, honey as natural, lower-calorie sweetener has garnered positive PR by those working against the obesity epidemic.

From ecologist Richard A. Jones and writer Sharon Sweeney-Lynch, The Beekeeper’s Bible is as much an ultimate guide to the practical essentials of beekeeping as it is a beautiful almanac to be read from cover to cover.“A glorious invitation into the depths of the honeybee hive.” —Chicago Tribune“Elegant, information-packed.” —Better Homes & Gardens’ Country Gardens“Jones and Sweeney-Lynch explain the science and society of bees in clear, accessible language. And the recipes are admirably useful: honey scones, honey soap, honey hangover cures.” —New York TimesPart history book, part handbook, and part cookbook, this illustrated tome covers every facet of the ancient hobby of beekeeping, from how to manage hives safely to harvesting one’s own honey, and ideas for how to use honey and beeswax. Detailed instructions for making candles, furniture polish, beauty products, and nearly 100 honey-themed recipes are included.Honeybees, which are critical in the pollination of popular US produce such as almonds, apples, and blueberries, are actually not native to the Americas. The honeybee that you see dancing from flower to flower in farms and gardens originated in Europe. The introduction of the honeybee began with European colonization of the Americas; before that, wild native bees, other insects, and some birds and mammals pollinated the native flowers of the continent. The honeybee’s ability to pollinate crops, produce honey, and be easily domesticated precipitated the growth in beekeeping all over America.Fully illustrated with how-to photography and unique etchings, any backyard enthusiast or gardener can confidently dive into beekeeping with this book in hand (or daydream about harvesting their own honey while relaxing in the comfort of an armchair).

This expanded version of the Future Farmers of America (FFA)–licensed Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping is the complete DIY guide for budding beekeepers.Raising bees is becoming increasingly popular in backyards and on farms large and small—and it’s easy to see why. These resourceful insects produce organic honey and beeswax, all while constantly providing natural aid to the health of your yard and garden.And even better, bees are easy to keep, especially with the expert instruction of the FFA-licensed The Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping, now expanded with 16 more pages of information and redesigned to appeal even more to middle- and high-school-age enthusiasts.Beginning with the basics, seasoned beekeepers Daniel and Samantha Johnson answer all of a prospective beekeeper’s questions on how to set up, care for, and harvest their very own bee colonies. With the help of this comprehensive DIY guide, raising bees can be an enjoyable and accessible backyard pastime for gardeners, crafters, and cooks everywhere.Beautifully designed and authoritatively written, The Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping is a trusted source of information to new beekeepers of all ages, sure to inspire further investigation of beekeeping.

Author, experienced beekeeper, and apiary expect James E. Tew explains 100 common problems faced by beekeepers, clearly spelling out their underlying causes and how to solve all of them.Beekeeping requires understanding, commitment, and attention to detail. Laying the groundwork for a successful hive is essential, and demands a keen appreciation of critical areas like hive management, breed choice, and health requirements.Bees often disguise problems, though, making recognizing trouble in the crucial, initial stages that much more difficult. Whether you’re a newcomer or an old hand, The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver provides the information you need to nip problems in the bud, or avoid them in the first place.With color photography throughout and a glossary of terms at the back, each beekeeping problem is tackled in depth, covering a wide range of practical tips and useful insights. The problems are conveniently organized into the following categories:Beekeeping Basics – My new bees arrived during a cool, rainy period. … Beekeeping Equipment – The beehive smoker will not stay lit. … Biology and Behavior of the Colony – There are many dead drones at the hive entrance. … Managing and Manipulating Hives – The brood nest has been built across multiple boxes. … Queen Production and Maintenance – The queen is not a good egg producer. … Diseases and Pests of Honey Bees – Varroa mites have overrun the colony. … Pollen and Pollination – Too few bees are pollinating the target crop. … Producing and Processing Honey – The honey filter keeps getting clogged. … Beeswax, Propolis, and Specialty Issues – Propolis is difficult to gather and process. …Don’t lose your hive to something preventable, just grab your problem solver!

This book gives information on the way the hive works, handling the bees, and how to get your bees and transfer them to the hive. A useful calendar shows you at a glance when to inspect, maintain and repair the hive and how to harvest the honey.

This book is about how to keep bees in a natural and practical system where they do not require treatments for pests and diseases and only minimal interventions. It is also about simple practical beekeeping. It is about reducing your work. It is not a main-stream beekeeping book. Many of the concepts are contrary to "conventional" beekeeping. The techniques presented here are streamlined through decades of experimentation, adjustments and simplification. The content was written and then refined from responding to questions on bee forums over the years so it is tailored to the questions that beekeepers, new and experienced, have. It is divided into three volumes and this edition contains all three: Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced.

Learn everything you need to know to start your colony with this straightforward, highly visual guide for beginning beekeepers.Featuring more than 120 color photos, Beginning Beekeeping will teach any beginner how to foster and maintain healthy, vibrant colonies. You’ll learn how to set up a colony and attract bees, how to incorporate best practices and techniques for keeping colonies strong, and how to troubleshoot and treat a broad range of common hive issues. Along the way, you’ll learn how to harvest your honey and keep your bees healthy and happy.Included in Beginning Beekeeping:· Practical information on how a hive works, how and where to set up hives for maximum success, buying and installing bees, feeding bees, and more, with recommendations for both urban and rural settings· Effective treatment recommendations for dealing with common hive pests and diseases including mites, foulbrood, and colony collapse disorder (CCD), with recommendations for both conventional and organic treatments· Tips for dealing with common hive issues such as swarming, robbing, absconding, as well as guidance for managing aggressive hives and tips for keeping a queenright colony· Instructions for enjoying rich, bountiful honey harvests, and instructions for processing and storing the honey and wax from your hives, as well how to make products from your harvest· Seasonal guidance to ensure your hives return healthy and strong each and every yearIf you’re new to beekeeping, Beginning Beekeeping is the perfect companion to get you started!

Featuring over 40 DIY projects that illustrate how to transform one of the world’s most natural ingredients into tangible creations, Beeswax Alchemy is the perfect amalgamation of recipe craft book and beekeepers’ guide.Considered the miracle of the beehive and used by humans for 8,000 years, beeswax remains a vital ingredient to society and is still used as the foundation for many household products in the twenty-first century. Learn from apiarist and entrepreneur Petra Ahnert about the history of beeswax, as well as tips and techniques on how to mold it into beautiful, reusable creations.An introduction details the different ways in which beeswax has been used throughout history, as well as the products that contain it today. You’ll also find an explanation of the different types of beeswax, as well as insider tips on working with beeswax, followed by step-by-step instructions for making candles, balms, salves, creams, scrubs, soaps, ornaments, art, and more out of beeswax (either your own or store-bought). Color photos illustrate the processes and show finished results throughout. Among the useful and beautiful things you’ll learn to make out of beeswax: Hand-Dipped Birthday Candles Lip Balm with Cocoa Butter Rosebud Salve Solid Natural Perfumes Honey, Oats, and Beeswax Soap Beeswax LuminariesWhether you are an expert beekeeper or experimental crafter, Beeswax Alchemy is the best guide for anyone aspiring to make wellness-boosting treasures to keep or gift to friends and family.

From crayons to cough drops, cookies to candles, Beehive Alchemy offers a comprehensive introduction to incorporating the miracle of bees into everyday life.Beehive Alchemy is a continuation of Petra Ahnert's best-selling Beeswax Alchemy. With this new book, beekeepers (and bee lovers) will learn about the benefits and attributes of beeswax, honey, propolis, and more alongside a full range of projects and techniques to process and harness the amazing gifts of bees. Inside, you'll find instructions to make Ahnert's award-winning hand-dipped birthday candles, the classic French dessert canele bordelais, and much more, including:Alchemy for the Body Liquid soap with honey Beard balm Olive and honey lotion Alchemy of Light Taper candles Tea lights Pillars Alchemy for the Home Furniture polish Waxed cotton food wraps Woodcutter incense Alchemy in the Studio Beeswax crayons Encaustic Batik Alchemy in the Kitchen Cookies and candies Beverages Fermentations Whether you keep bees or just love them, Beehive Alchemy will become your go-to comprehensive guide for hive-to-home creations.

Learn natural beekeeping from Europe's foremost beekeeping authority. Georges de Layens, inventor of the world's most popular horizontal hive, shares a lifetime of experience on how to: get started in simplified beekeeping; choose the best hive model for you & your bees; manage your hives with just two visits per year; take advantage of horizontal hives & deep frames; avoid unnecessary complications & procedures; increase an apiary with natural or artificial swarms; transfer bees from one hive model to another; enhance bees' health drug-free; do without requeening, feeding & other chores; understand honey plants and honeyflows; make award-winning mead (foolproof formula); use foundationless frames, make wax foundation; handle traditional hives (skeps, log hives, etc.); keep bees sustainably using local strains; and MUCH more. Layens' simple beekeeping boasts over 100 years of successful use, with 1 million hives in use today. Bee-friendly, productive, and fun, keeping bees can be easier than you ever imagined! "This is a delightful book full of wonderfully audacious ideas for U.S. beekeepers. I certainly look forward to building and trying out a horizontal movable-frame hive, inspired and guided by reading this fascinating book." - Dr. Tom Seeley, author of Honeybee Democracy