Hi I'm the new guy, just lurking around here hoping to learn. What would you consider to be the best book on beekeeping? I need something to take me from a raw beginning foreward. Also anyone here near Laredo Texas, I learn a lot better hands on than by reading. Thanks
Hello there, and welcome to the forum. I like the beekeeping for dummies and the abc/xyz bee bible. :)
I've purchased Beekeeping for Dummines and The Backyard Beekeeper. I've found them to be excellent, complimentary books to get started, and these forums as a great source for asking questions and getting...more detailed advice.
Another good book is Keeping Bees by John Vivian. It's a practical approach, easy to follow read. You can most likely get it from your local library. I liked it so much, I ended up going out and buying my own copy.
So far my most referenced bee Book is "The Beekeepers Handbook" by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile.
The diagrams make sense to me and I'd imagine it would be a great starting book if you want to learn how it all is supposed to work.
I recommend starting a bee book reference stockpile.. all the authors seem to do things a little different.. just like most beekeepers.
My two cents.
--Jeff
Just a quick note. I see you live in TX. An old beekeeper told me to believe about half of what I read in bee books. His reasoning is that the books are for northern beekeepers.
However, for begininning they give you a good base to strat with.
Don't forget your local library. Our small town library has about a dozen books on beekeeping... I went thru them, then bought copies of the books I liked.
Also, hang around these online bee forums and you'll learn even more.
There is no best book :-D They all have something to offer, but a good start is holycow's recommendation, Diana's book was my first. :-D Check out www.bushfarms.com for some free online books.