20 Best Bee Keeping Books (2023 Update)

The single best and most comprehensive guide for prospective, new and experienced hobbyist beekeepers beekeeping 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 money beekeeping 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.

The backyard beekeeper, now in its 4th edition, makes the time-honored and complex tradition of beekeeping an enjoyable and accessible backyard pastime that will appeal to urban and rural beekeepers of all skill levels. more than a guide to beekeeping, this handbook 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 treatments – what's new? information for urban bees and beekeepers – using your smoker the right way better pest management – providing consistent and abundant good food keeping your hives healthy – with this complete resource and the expert advice of bee culture editor kim flottum, your bees will be healthy, happy, and more productive.

Beekeeping for dummies is a practical, step-by-step beginner's guide to beekeeping. it gives you plain-english guidance on everything you need to know to start your own beehive, from buying the right equipment, sourcing bees, and locating your hive to maintaining a healthy colony and harvesting honey. plus, you'll get the latest information on the causes and effects of bee disease, colony collapse disorder, and the impact the sudden disappearance of the honeybee has on our environment and economy.

The standard beekeeping (apiculture) textbook used to teach college students and beekeepers the science and practice of bees and beekeeping. it concentrates on the 'why','how' and 'when' of beekeeping. it explains bee basics in a manner meaningful to people who lack an intensive background in biology. it does not oversimplify, and provides a meaningful source of beekeeping information for the new and informed beekeeper. widely considered the most complete beekeeping textbook, covering a vast array of topics of bee biology and colony management. the revised edition features the addition of full color throughout the book, extensive revision of photography and artwork and thoroughly updated materials. comprehensive, assessable and now updated and illustrated with hundreds of color photographs and illustrations.

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. part 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. 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). praise for the beekeeper's bible:"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. 'oh, stuff and fluff,' as pooh might say.

Invite bees into your backyard to help out with pollinating the garden, provide crafting materials, or just help the earth with the backyard beekeeper – revised and updatedthe backyard beekeeper, now revised and expanded, makes the time-honored and complex tradition of beekeeping an enjoyable and accessible backyard pastime that will appeal to gardeners, crafters, and cooks everywhere. this expanded edition gives you even more information on "greening" your beekeeping with sustainable practices, pesticide-resistant bees, and urban and suburban beekeeping.more than a guide to beekeeping, it is a handbook for harvesting the products of a beehive and a honey cookbook–all in one lively, beautifully illustrated reference. this complete honey bee resource contains general information on bees; a how-to guide to the art of bee keeping and how to set up, care for, and harvest honey from your own colonies; as well as tons of bee-related facts and projects. you'll learn the best place to locate your new bee colonies for their safety and yours, and you'll study the best organic and nontoxic ways to care for your bees, from providing fresh water and protection from the elements to keeping them healthy, happy, and productive. recipes of delicious treats, and instructions on how to use honey and beeswax to make candles and beauty treatments are also included.

Top-bar beekeeping is an offering designed to encourage beekeepers around the world to keep bees naturally by providing beekeeping basics, hive management and the utilization of top-bar hives. in recent years, beekeepers have had to face tremendous challenges, from pests, such as varroa and tracheal mites, to the mysterious but even more devastating phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder (ccd). yet in backyards and on rooftops all over the world, bees are being raised successfully, even without antibiotics, miticides, or other chemical inputs. more and more organically-minded beekeepers are now using top-bar hives, in which the shape of the interior resembles a hollow log. long lasting and completely biodegradable, a top-bar hive made of untreated wood allows bees to build comb naturally rather than simply filling prefabricated foundation frames in a typical box hive with added supers. top-bar hives yield slightly less honey but produce more beeswax than a typical langstroth box hive. regular hive inspection and the removal of old combs helps to keep bees healthier and naturally disease-free. top-bar beekeeping provides complete information on hive management and other aspects of using these innovative hives. all home and hobbyist beekeepers who have the time and interest in keeping bees intensively should consider the natural, low-stress methods outlined in this book. it will also appeal to home orchardists, gardeners, and permaculture practitioners who look to bees for pollination as well as honey or beeswax.

Everything you need to bee a successful backyard beekeeper. if you've ever thought about becoming a backyard beekeeper-or have already tried a hand at it and want to be better one-then this is the book for you! in beekeeping for dummies, 4th edition you'll find everything you need to know in order to start your own colony, including how to assemble and maintain beehives, handle every phase of honey production, purchase and use all the latest tools, and what to do beyond your first season. this hands-on guide provides all the tools, tips, tricks, and techniques needed to become a real backyard beekeeper. you'll learn to identify the queen from her workers and drones, properly open and close the hive, distinguish one type of honey from another, and preserve your colony if disaster should strike. ● manage all phases of honey production ● address what to do in the second season and beyond ● care for and handle bees safely becoming a backyard beekeeper isn't as hard as people think-and with this hands-on guide, you'll be able to create one honey of a colony that will have the neighbors buzzing.

Beekeeping must rate as one of the most interesting and satisfying hobbies. the structure and hierarchy of a beehive and the behaviour of bees is fascinating, and the end product, honey, is a fitting reward for a beekeeper's care. this book gives information on the way the hive works, how to get your bees and transfer them to the hive and how to handle the bees. a useful calendar, packed with information, shows you at a glance when to inspect, maintain and repair the hive, and how to harvest the honey. it describes problems such as diseases and pests that can affect the bees, and suggests the best plants for a bee-friendly garden.

A practical guide to an enjoyable hobby bee keeping isn't just for the professional farmer–bees can be kept in any situation from simple backyards and rooftops to large expanses of farmland. discover whether honey beekeeping is right for you, and find out everything you need to know to keep and acquire bees in this updated guide. honey bee hobbyist, 2nd edition will help novice beekeepers fully understand this exciting pastime. dr. norman gary, a world-renowned honey bee expert and enthusiast, counsels beginners on all things honeybee related. he takes readers from finding bees and housing them to collecting honey and using their produce for pleasure and possible profit. with more than 100 fascinating color photographs and tips and tricks acquired over half a century of beekeeping, this practical handbook is your first step toward a wonderful and rewarding lifelong hobby. honey bee hobbyist, 2nd edition will show you how to: start your own hive understand the life and times of honey bees care for your bees in each season and at every stage of life expand your apiary keep your neighbors happy educate others about bees get the most out of your new hobby

The hardworking, humble, and matriarchal bee finally gets her due in this engaging and expertly written guide that will appeal to anyone who's ever been curious about the mysterious and always-buzzing world of bees.

Experience the joy of keeping bees and learn more about hive styles, pest management, harvesting honey, modern uses for beeswax, and so much more! are you considering becoming a beekeeper, or ever wondered what it would be like to have your own beehives? maybe you want to produce fresh honey for your family, or increase the yield of your garden through better pollination. master beekeeper charlotte anderson gives you all the fundamentals of becoming a successful beekeeper and more in buzz into beekeeping. learn how to: choose the best type of beehive – buy bees – keep your colony healthy – prepare your bees for winter – and so much more! avoid the beekeeping mistakes made by many new beekeepers and help save this important pollinator.

Give bees a chance – the complete how-to and why-to for keeping bees in top bar hives if you are keeping your bees in a top bar hive, you'll find information you need here that's not available anywhere else. both you and your bees will benefit from christy's approach, advice and philosophy.—kim flottum, editor, bee culture magazine a unique and exceptional resource for the beginning beekeeper—marty hardison, top bar beekeeper, educator and international developmental beekeeping consultant providing habitat for bees, pollinating your garden and producing honey for your family are a few of the compelling reasons for taking up backyard beekeeping. natural beekeeping in top bar hives is an amazingly simple, economical, and environmentally friendly approach to this exciting and rewarding pursuit, and the thinking beekeeper is the definitive do-it-yourself guide. top bar hives can be located anywhere bees have access to forage, and they are ideally suited to the urban environment. rooted in understanding and working with bees' natural systems, as opposed to trying to subvert them, top bar hives feature: simplicity, sustainability and cost-effectiveness increased safety due to less heavy lifting and hive manipulation chemical-free colonies and healthy hives. emphasizing the intimate connection between our food systems, bees, and the wellbeing of the planet, the thinking beekeeper will appeal to the new breed of beekeeper that is less invested in maximizing honey yield at any cost, and more focused on ensuring the viability of the bee population now and in the coming years. christy's passion shines through in this delightful book, which i'm sure will inspire many people to take up top bar beekeeping. — phil chandler, author, the barefoot beekeeper christy hemenway is the owner and founder of gold star honeybees, a complete resource for all things related to beekeeping in top bar hives. a passionate bee-vangelist and advocate for natural, chemical-free beekeeping, christy is a highly sought-after speaker, helping audiences to understand the integral connection between bees, food, human health and the future of the planet. to help bring you the very best inspiration and information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, mother earth news is recommending select new society publishers books to its readers. this book is one of them.

Keep your own bees and enjoy delicious golden honey from your own backyard. with his respect and admiration for bees evident on every page, richard e. bonney describes how to acquire bees, manage a hive, prevent and treat diseases, and extract a crop of honey. enthusiastic beekeepers of every stripe and experience level will benefit from bonney’s astonishing knowledge of the craft — from beekeeping history and honeybee biology to the complex social structure of the hive.

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.

Perfect place to get started if interested in keeping bees. includes information on what beehive tools, supplies and equipment are needed. clearly explains how to build and maintain hives in the backyard, handle every phase of honey production and what to do beyond the first season. loaded with up-to-date, practical examples and helpful illustrations of proven techniques and strategies for both new and seasoned hobbyist beekeepers. learn to identify the queen from her workers and drones, properly open and close the hive, distinguish one type of honey from another and preserve the colony if disaster should strike. also features news about the latest beekeeping products, medications and all-natural remedies. paperback, 496 pages. 2020. measures 9.2"l x 7.3"w x 1.1"h.

Beekeepers keep bees for three reasons: bees are pollinators and their presence increases a garden's productivity; there is a fascination with how they live, collect food and colonise; and they produce honey. build your own beekeeping equipment offers 35 building projects for everything from hive components to frames to swarm catchers, all illustrated with step-by-step instructions. many require only simple hand tools and can be made using recycled materials at a fraction of the price charged in stores. beekeeping continues to gain popularity among not only rural people living self sufficiently but also urban dwellers, which means there are more beekeepers who are interested in pursing a more self sufficient, hands-on lifestyle. with this comprehensive guide, they will learn the skills they need to build their own equipment.

Beekeeping outside the box – getting beyond the basics with top bar hives bee populations are plummeting worldwide. colony collapse disorder poses a serious threat to many plants which rely on bees for pollination, including a significant proportion of our food crops. top bar hives are based on the concept of understanding and working with bees' natural systems, enabling top bar beekeepers to produce honey and natural wax while helping bees thrive now and in the years ahead. advanced top bar beekeeping picks up where the thinking beekeeper left off, providing a wealth of information for backyard beekeepers ready to take the next step with this economical, bee-friendly approach. author christy hemenway shares: guidance and techniques for the second season and beyond an in-depth analysis of the dangers climate change and conventional agriculture present to pollinators an inspiring vision of restoring bee populations through organic farming and natural, chemical-free beekeeping. while continuing to emphasize the intimate connection between our food system, bees, and the wellbeing of the planet, advanced top bar beekeeping breaks new ground in the quest to shift the dominant agricultural paradigm away from chemical-laden, industrial beekeeping monoculture and towards healthy, diverse local farming. see what all the buzz is about with this must-read guide for the new breed of thinking beekeeper. christy hemenway is the owner and founder of gold star honeybees, a complete resource for all things related to beekeeping in top bar hives. a passionate bee-vangelist and advocate for natural, chemical-free beekeeping, christy is the author of the thinking beekeeper: a guide to natural beekeeping in top bar hives .

Perhaps that's why it's growing in popularity, with new members joining local and national beekeeping groups in greater numbers each year, and new apiculture conferences and even scholarships coming online. interest is up all around the world, as evidenced by numerous backyard beekeeping meetups, community workshops, and beekeeper training events that seem to crop up almost everywhere you look. this book contains a wealth of knowledge that comes from years of experience, distilled down to the essentials that every beginner needs. it offers practical advice to guide you all the way through your first season, from sourcing bees and equipment right through harvesting honey and preparing the hive for winter. wherever i could, i also included tidbits, tricks, and shortcuts i wish i had known starting out – anything to make the job of beekeeping easier for you on your first time out. within this book's pages, you'll find the answers to these questions and more. just some of the questions and topics covered include beekeeping basics all about bees types of bees hive structure honey flows making preparations beekeeping by the seasons problems to watch out for harvest and winterization and more! to get you up to speed quickly on a fascinating hobby that will not only help you feel more centered and connected with the natural world, but that can be shared with every member of the family, this book will walk you through the process of beekeeping in a step-wise fashion. from thinking about your space requirements and the placement of your hive to building a robust bee colony in your first year, i'll offer detailed advice you can put to use right away. when you're ready to harvest, you can break out this book again as a handy reference to guide you through, step by step. book 2: valuable things to know when producing honey and keeping bees this book contains advanced knowledge about bees, tips on beekeeping, and strategies to manage colonies for optimal honey production. it can help anyone, from the beginner to the experienced apiculturist, and is intended to be a fun, short read that's bursting with juicy tidbits that can turn any apiary into a healthy, thriving, more successful one.i'll start by sharing some interesting background about the special relationship between humans and bees before laying out the growth and health strategies i use to maintain several dozen buzzing, healthy colonies at any one time. as many beekeepers can attest, learning the tricks of the trade is a process of discovery. along the way, little secrets and tips-usually from other apiculturists-come together to form a bigger picture of the complex goings-on inside the hive.in this text, i'll share some of the best tidbits i've learned about beekeeping over the years. within this book's pages, you'll find the answers to these questions and more. just some of the questions and topics covered include there's more to bees than honey managing a colony for optimal honey production optimal colony population moving bees requeening splitting the colony keeping your bees healthy and safe basic health check problems and solutions and more! don't hesitate to pick up your copy today by clicking the "add to cart" button now

Do you want to be a beekeeper and need help on how to start? charlotte ekker wiggins has written the definitive guide to beginning beekeeping. this diary will guide you on how to start, troubleshoot and successfully develop basic beekeeping skills and practices. – the information in this easy to use guide includes handy checklists and tips and will answer your beginning beekeeping questions including: how to naturally feed your honey bees. – best beekeeping equipment. where to set up your hives. how to get honey bees. – how to manage pests and diseases. – plus much more including a new comprehensive index!! this diary continues to be used in charlotte's beekeeping classes. it is approved for use with great plains master beekeeping program classes.