Informative books

tanam · November 15, 2006, 08:16:45 AM

Hi

Can anyone recommend a detailed book on beekeeping to buy for a novice? One that contains tips and general 'what to do's'.

Thanks
Tara :)

BeeHopper · November 15, 2006, 09:34:32 AM

Quote from: tanam on November 15, 2006, 08:16:45 AM
Hi

Can anyone recommend a detailed book on beekeeping to buy for a novice? One that contains tips and general 'what to do's'.

Thanks
Tara :)

Hi Tara and Welcome to beekeeping. With so much information on beekeeping in print and the web, it can be overwhelming and it would be almost impossible to give you a straight answer, you will definitely get a different response from everyone who replies to your thread. Go to www.betterbee.com site and check the publications available or go to Michael Bush's website on this board for free and valuable info. on his style of beekeeping. I urge you to take a Beginners beekeeping class next spring if there is such an event near you. :-D

Bobby

empilolo · November 15, 2006, 09:58:46 AM

For a start, you may want to go to

http://www.gobeekeeping.com/

and take their free Basic and Intermediate Beekeeping class. Personally, one of my favorites is "Small Scale Beekeeping" which you find at

http://www.beekeeping.com/articles/us/small_beekeeping/

that one is tailored for Top Bar Hive users in developing countries. Both are free.

Archie · November 15, 2006, 05:48:05 PM

hi,

early next year the latest issue of abc-xyz of bee kkeeping will be out. this is a great reference book and makes for interesting reading. I recommend that anyone keeping bees buy the new issue. just a wonderful publication.

Archied

pdmattox · November 15, 2006, 08:18:11 PM

I have and like to use is the abc-xyz book and the beekeeping for dummies. Both are available at amazon.com.

Michael Bush · November 15, 2006, 08:43:39 PM

Backyard Beekeeping by Kim Flottum looks good at first glance. I haven't studied it. I'm sure, as with any beekeeping book, or any book for that matter, I would disagree on some things, but still I think it's a good start.

ABC XYZ of Bee Culture is good to have because it's an encyclopedia. You can look up whatever you're interested in knowing. :)

Brian D. Bray · November 16, 2006, 01:42:18 AM

Call me backward, but since keeping bees for nearly 50 years I finally broke down and bought myself my first two books on it this last spring. I bought the bibles ABC & XYZ and Hive and the Honey Bee
I found the most help in the sections on mites and queen raising.

Dick Allen · November 16, 2006, 02:20:49 PM

Hi Tara:
Diana Sammataro's 'The Beekeeper's Handbook' is an outstanding book for beginners.

BeeHopper · November 17, 2006, 05:19:06 PM

Quote from: Dick Allen on November 16, 2006, 02:20:49 PM
Hi Tara:
Diana Sammataro's 'The Beekeeper's Handbook' is an outstanding book for beginners.

plus 2

Bill the Beekeeper · November 18, 2006, 12:17:49 PM

Here are MY FAVORITE BOOKS on beekeeping and bees:

For a good introduction to beekeeping, I recommend "Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping" by Dewey M. Caron. It is well written, and covers all of the basics.

For a very interesting read on the history of honey and beekeeping, I recommend "Robbing the Bees" by Holley Bishop.

To understand honey bee behavior (why they do what they do, which I find fascinating), a great book is "The Honey Bee" by James L. Gould and Carol Grant Gould

The bible of beekeeping, and a good reference book (though I haven't picked it up in a while) is "The Hive and the Honey Bee" edited by Joe M. Graham

THESE ARE ALL WONDERFUL BOOKS ON BEES AND BEEKEEPING. Put them on your Christmas list.

Regards,

Bill the Beekeeper

Cindi · November 18, 2006, 12:38:30 PM

I began beekeeping April 05, with taking level 1 and 2 beekeeping course, and have gone on to take every seminar I can come across. All has been very helpful. During the following months, up until recently, I had spent every morning taking my morning "time" to read. During the year and a half or so, I had read many books, some over and over. I kept a record of all books that I read and when I read them. There are many, many that I found fabulous, others OK. I will tell you what I loved. I will not list all, but there a few excellently written books.
1) Beekeeping in Western Canada, by D.C. Morell.....
2) Biology of the Honeybee, by Mark Winston (very deep reading for sure)
3) Beekeeping for Dummies, by Howland Blackiston
4) ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture, by A.I. Root, 1877 (a book my father had left for me, so many years ago, he kept bees when I was a young teenager, but I did not have interest at that point in my life)
5) 500 Answers to Bee Questions, by A.I. Root Company, 1973
6) Lanstroth on the Hive and the Honeybee, by L.L. Langstroth, printed 1853
7) The Hive and the Honeybee, co-authors, by 17 people, extensively revised 1963
8) THE SPELL OF THE HONEYBEE, by W. Eric Kelsey, 1945
9) Bee Matters and Master, Herbert Mace

The Spell of the Honeybee is probably the most beautifully written piece of work that I could ever have imagined. It makes you feel like you are right there in this author's life when he is writing. It brings that wonderful feeling that I know many beekeepers feel when they are working with the bees and the aromas that come from the hive make one be in a state of euphoria. At least that is how I feel when I get the scent of the hive. Enjoy reading. There are many, many, many more books and magazines out there that I imagine are great too. These were just some of my favourites from my list. Cindi

There is one book that I want to obtain to actually own, and it was name something like "50 years among the bees", only heard about it, don't know the author.

BeeHopper · November 18, 2006, 07:26:18 PM

Quote from: Cindi on November 18, 2006, 12:38:30 PM
I began beekeeping April 05, with taking level 1 and 2 beekeeping course, and have gone on to take every seminar I can come across. All has been very helpful. During the following months, up until recently, I had spent every morning taking my morning "time" to read. During the year and a half or so, I had read many books, some over and over. I kept a record of all books that I read and when I read them. There are many, many that I found fabulous, others OK. I will tell you what I loved. I will not list all, but there a few excellently written books.
1) Beekeeping in Western Canada, by D.C. Morell.....
2) Biology of the Honeybee, by Mark Winston (very deep reading for sure)
3) Beekeeping for Dummies, by Howland Blackiston
4) ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture, by A.I. Root, 1877 (a book my father had left for me, so many years ago, he kept bees when I was a young teenager, but I did not have interest at that point in my life)
5) 500 Answers to Bee Questions, by A.I. Root Company, 1973
6) Lanstroth on the Hive and the Honeybee, by L.L. Langstroth, printed 1853
7) The Hive and the Honeybee, co-authors, by 17 people, extensively revised 1963
8) THE SPELL OF THE HONEYBEE, by W. Eric Kelsey, 1945
9) Bee Matters and Master, Herbert Mace

The Spell of the Honeybee is probably the most beautifully written piece of work that I could ever have imagined. It makes you feel like you are right there in this author's life when he is writing. It brings that wonderful feeling that I know many beekeepers feel when they are working with the bees and the aromas that come from the hive make one be in a state of euphoria. At least that is how I feel when I get the scent of the hive. Enjoy reading. There are many, many, many more books and magazines out there that I imagine are great too. These were just some of my favourites from my list. Cindi

There is one book that I want to obtain to actually own, and it was name something like "50 years among the bees", only heard about it, don't know the author.

Cindi,

50 years was written by C.C. Miller and you can find it right here on this site, it is in the Reprint Article Archives. :-D

sean · November 19, 2006, 07:04:28 PM

but with the abundance of info available on the web is it really necessary to buy a book?

Cindi · November 19, 2006, 08:30:06 PM

Quote from: sean on November 19, 2006, 07:04:28 PM
but with the abundance of info available on the web is it really necessary to buy a book?

I think that books will ALWAYS be an important part of my life. There is nothing more comforting than to engage in reading a book. Summertime is really nice, laying in a hammock under a tree, no worries about a battery for the laptop dieing, just being one with the book. The internet is a fabulous learning tool, I use it all the time,but I do indeed love a great book. Cindi

Cindi · November 19, 2006, 10:04:41 PM

Beehopper
thanks for the info about the Archive articles, etc. I downloaded C.C. Miller's book, I see that it is over 400 pages long. I will read it on my computer and if I find that is as good as I think that it will be, I will still be wanting to purchase it to have in my library. Great day. Cindi

Dick Allen · November 20, 2006, 02:08:51 PM

Books are a good tool to have to check on the accuracy of what is posted on the internet. While there is a lot of good information on the internet, some of what is posted is just plain wrong. Now, certainly not every single thing in books is always completely accurate, but all in all I'd trust what I read from a book over what is posted on the internet if there is a difference in subject matter.

Brian D. Bray · November 21, 2006, 09:01:08 PM

I agree with Dick, if you're dealing with generalities. Books like to keep things general so it can be as broadly applied as possible. Specifics are when the differences are split and everybody has an opinion. I Say read it, evaluate it and then decide what you want to do. Never take advice Carte Blanche, even from a book.