Description
Book SynopsisThis indispensable beekeeping reference—packed with helpful diagrams, color photos, and easy-to-follow yet thorough instruction—gently guides you through setting up and caring for your first colonies. Are you an absolute beginner when it comes to keeping bees? With
First Time Beekeeping, help is at hand. Featuring the sage advice of
Bee Culture editor emeritus and best-selling author of
The Backyard Beekeeper Kim Flottum, this is
your step-by-step guide to healthy, happy, and productive hives.
This
complete resource features
expert beginner advice for:
- Setting up and caring for your own colonies
- Selecting the best location to place your new bee colonies for their safety and yours
- The most practical and nontoxic ways to care for your bees
- Harvesting the products of a beehive and collecting and using honey
- Bee problems and treatments
By following this advice, your colony or two of honey bees can
pollinate the vegetables in your garden;
produce wonderful honey and other beneficial products; and
help your local ecosystem thrive. What could be sweeter?
Each book in the
First Time series distills how-to guidance and advice from an expert on a specific topic into targeted step-by-step instruction geared toward the absolute beginner.
Table of ContentsPREFACE
INTRODUCTION
1 STARTING RIGHT
GETTING STARTED
BEEYARDS OTHER THAN BACKYARDS
EQUIPMENT: TOOLS OF THE TRADE
THE BEES
2 ABOUT BEES
THE QUEEN
THE WORKERS
FORAGERS
DRONES
3 ABOUT BEEKEEPING
LIGHTING YOUR SMOKER
PACKAGE MANAGEMENT
KEEPING RECORDS
OPENING A COLONY
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
MALADIES
COMB HONEY AND CUT-COMB HONEY
SUMMERTIME CHORES
LATE SUMMER HARVEST
FALL AND WINTER MANAGEMENT
EARLY SPRING INSPECTIONS
RESOURCES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS
INDEX
