The Beekeeping Handbook: A Practical Apiary Guide for the Yard, Garden, and Rooftop

by Vivian Head

Overview

This book will tell you everything you need to know - from the cost of the set-up process and keeping your bees happy and healthy, to selling your produce and how to deal with stings. Provides the backyard farmer and honey artisan with all the fundamental knowledge needed for beekeeping.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781565236813
Publisher:	Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/01/2012
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	212,735
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Vivian Head is an ardent cook, gardener and author who lives in a country cottage in East Sussex, in the United Kingdom. When she is not busy writing, she tends her allotment and kitchen herb garden, which is also home to her chickens and four beehives.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

The History of the Honey Bee
UNDERSTANDING THE HONEY BEE

The Superfamily

Bee Anatomy

Swarming
BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT

Getting Started

The Hive

Other Tools and Equipment

Equipment for Extracting Honey

Suitable Clothing

Dealing with Bee Stings
GETTING YOUR BEES

A Good Source

Positioning Your Hives

Urban Bees

The Day Your Bees Arrive

Bait Hives
THE BEEKEEPER'S YEAR

The Beekeeping Year

Spring

Marking the Queen

Spring Checklist

Beekeeping Records

Summer and Autumn

Summer/Autumn Checklist

Surviving the Winter

Winter Checklist
PESTS AND DISEASES

Managing Pests and Diseases

Non-infectious Diseases

Brood Disorders

Adult Bee Diseases

Samples for Bee Disease Diagnosis

Other Pests and Predators
PROBLEM SOLVING

Answering your Questions
HARVESTING HONEY

The Golden Harvest

Extracting the Honey

Problem Honeys

Manuka Honey - A Little Miracle
OTHER PRODUCTS FROM THE HIVE

Wax, Propolis, Royal Jelly and Pollen
REARING QUEENS

Breeding Strong Queens
GLOSSARY
INDEX

Editorial Reviews

This brief beginner's guide to beekeeping provides basic instruction for getting started with this interesting backyard hobby. Opening with a short discussion of bee anatomy and behavior, the work covers topics such as selecting beekeeping equipment, purchasing bees, a typical beekeeper's annual calendar, pests and diseases, honey harvesting, and bee breeding. Chapters include hand illustrations and convenient task checklists. Head raises chickens and bees in East Sussex, UK

The Beekeeping Handbook actually surprised me. I figured it would be a rehashing of the same old same old. In a way, it is, however done in such a way that you don't fall asleep.

Ms. Head's instructions and advice are clear and concise. The yearly check list is something that I find immensely helpful. The book will actually replace all the other reference materials that I have on bee keeping, as she has included everything, including trouble shooting. It's easy to follow, without muddying the waters or causing confusion in the what you should do's.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in beekeeping. It's release in April is good timing for those of you that wish to get into the practice this year

From the Publisher