Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

I want to buy some bee books, any suggestions?

I started out with "Beekeeping for Dummies" by Howland Blackiston

I should have stated that is the only book that I have. I have read it from cover to cover.

beekeeping for Dummies
The hive and the Honey Bee

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees (http://www.bushfarms.com/bees)

And it comes at a great price.

Free

Sincerely,
Brendhan

For getting started and understanding the hive through the year,
I like

**Kim Flottum's book: The Backyard Beekeeper - good pictures, easy to read, simple explanations and I like
**Hive Management by Richard Bonney

Linda T in N Georgia

I'll second The Backyard Beekeeper and Beekeeping for Dummies. They are both excellent books. I wanted books with lots af pics for my son who had never seen the inside of a hive. I was pleased with the content of both books.

Dave

Once you get past the beginner stage, The How To Do It Book of Beekeeping by RIchard Taylor is great.  So is Bush beekeeping on line.

I also have 2 copies of ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture: The 1996 edition and the 1908 edition which was my grandfather's.  Even though the focus is the two editions are different, it is amazing how the practical "how to do it" knowledge is the same.

There are several classics on my web site as well as my writing.  Huber's New Observations on the Natural History of Bees, Jay Smith's Better Queens, and Queen Rearing Simplified.  The Miller queen rearing method.  G.M. Doolittle's Scientific Queen Rearing.

All of the books mentioned are good. MB's site is useful, which is more valuable to a newbie. When you want to know HOW to do something, w/ an explanation of why, go to bushfarms. I keep reading certain sections again and again as his simple sentences have a lot more info than you first realize. With time, his info becomes engrained as you recall certain sentences when you are at the hive, and you'll have that "Ahhahh" moment! The other source I have been getting lots of practical info is from ABJ contributor, Randy Oliver. Many of Walt Wrights articles available on Beesource are another good source.

Like everyone else has said here, Michael Bush's website is priceless (literally lol).  The book that I've relied on the most has been ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture.  It's an encyclopedia pertaining to the scientific and practical culture of honey bees (stole that line from the book).  I have the 40th edition which looks like an old bible but I guess the 41st edition was just released and has color photos and over 1000 pages.  You can read it cover to cover, but it's meant to be a reference guide.  Of all the beekeeping books I have, this is the one I use the most.

Sean Kelly

I ditto everything everyone has said about Michael Bush's site - I go there for information about so many things.  And I DO enjoy the pictures.

I do wish, Michael, that it had a search feature - I sometimes want a specific something addressed and can't find it or search through lots of your well-addressed topics in an effort to find it - of course I'm learning a lot along the way, but still have a search feature wish.  You should publish your writings in a book! (with an index  :-D)


Linda T in Atlanta

Thanks for all the recommendations. I do frequently visit Michael Bush's site and have read every word. I don't always have access to my computer and would like to have some good printed material with lots of pictures. The grandkids love the pictures! I would also like to subscribe to a magazine. I understand there are two to pick from......any recommendations? Thanks again, Steve

The Joys of Beekeeping by Richard Taylor.  Not so much a how to book but more of the love of beekeeping.

I love that Richard Taylor book!

Have any of you guys read "The Queen and I" by Ed Weiss?  And if so, what'd you think?

Mark

Another good book is All About Bees, Beekeeping, and Honey by Walter L. Gojmerac. It is a little outdated, though.

>I do wish, Michael, that it had a search feature

Go to www.google.com
Click on "Advanced Search"
Click on the box after "return results from the site or domain" and type in www.bushfarms.com
Go to the "Find results" section and put in your search criteria.

Thank you, Michael, now I'm an even happier camper.

Linda T

Good thread, thanks for it -  I don't want to buy every book out there but do like a few around for reference and enjoyment. 

For Reference - I started with "Bee Keeping for Dummies" because I wanted Simple to begin with - and this book seems to be staight forward and easy to read. 

For a great read, I'd like to recommend "Bees in the Gardern and Honey in the Larder" by Mary Louise Coleman. Published in 1938/39.   I stumbled accross this book on vacation in Maine a few years back and fell in love with it and bee keeping.   How to descibe it..  its a simple, practical, and poetic record of beekeeping...  I hope many of you have read it or will search it out, so I'm going to go as far as quoting the first paragraph of the preface to further entice you. 

Namaste
Bee1

Oh, Bee1, I need that book!  It sounds lovely!

reinbeau - I think you'll like it.  Good luck finding a copy.

I found it!  It should be here within a week  :-D