Beekeeping Book

This book was originally written in 1986. Considering that 26 years have passed, the book is surprisingly current and full of information for the new beekeeper. The 70 pages are quick to read and presented in a well organized manner: intro to the bee, conditions for keeping bees, hives and equipment, etc. The book is further broken down into the year for the bee and the beekeeper. There's a gorgeous two page graph that is worth the book alone: it graphs the activities of the beekeeper against the position of the sun and the amount of brood in the hive. It's a graph I wish I had seen years ago! The more I look at it, the more I appreciate the depth. There are a handful of color photos in the book as well. There are diagrams are sprinkled throughout the book as well.

The book does show it's age with regard to disease and pest management. The plague of the modern day beekeeper, Varroa destructor isn't even mentioned! (Imagine life without mites for a minute!) The classic ailments are mentioned. Hives are also referred to as "moveable frame hives" (our classic Langstroth) and "leaf hives" - something I'd describe as a Langstroth on it's side. Top bar hives are quickly mentioned! The book deals with beekeeping in general though, not arguing the strengths and weaknesses of the different hive types.

The book is also incredibly current with other applications: build your own hive components, use a solar wax melter to clean wax, and take care to prep the hives for each season. Some methods will be familiar, others I personally disagreed with.

The Important Note and Warning (just before the table of contents) gives advice that I wish every beekeeping book and website would include. "Anyone intending to keep bees should first work with an established apiarist and should also join a beekeepers' association." Amen!

Overall, this is a great beekeeping book, especially for the person interested in a quick read and a general view of beekeeping.