The single best and most comprehensive guide for prospective, new and experienced hobbyist beekeepers
Beekeeping For Dummies, 5th Edition, is one of the most popular titles in the For Dummies series available today. Including the latest information regarding every aspect of backyard beekeeping and honey production, this book describes how to get started, how to care for and safely handle bees, and how to maintain healthy and productive colonies.
This book is loaded with up-to-date, practical examples and helpful illustrations of proven techniques and strategies for both new and seasoned hobbyist beekeepers. Some of the updates for this brand-new edition include:
- New information regarding the critical role that nutrition plays in the health and productivity of your bees
- News about the latest beekeeping products, medications, and all-natural remedies
- Information regarding dozens of helpful beekeeping resources
- Redeemable coupons from beekeeping suppliers that save the reader money
Beekeeping For Dummies embodies the straightforward and simple approach made famous by the For Dummies series. Each and every reader will benefit from its accessible and approachable take on beekeeping.
Autorentext
Howland Blackiston has been keeping bees for almost 40 years. He has appeared as an expert on CNBC, CNN, NPR, The Discovery Channel, Sirius Satellite Radio, and other broadcast outlets, and has written numerous articles on beekeeping. Howland has been a keynote speaker at conferences in more than 40 countries.
Klappentext
- Learn the skills to be a successful beekeeper
- Harvest your own nutritious honey
- Keep your bees healthy using all-natural methods
Be a beekeeper. Help the world.
Did you know that bees are responsible for every third or fourth bite of food we eat? Recent years have been extremely tough for bee colonies, so if you've chosen to take up beekeeping, you're making a valuable contribution to the food chain. Fully revised with the latest information, this 5th Edition covers new updates on medications, nutrition, bee health, and winter survival as well as guidance for what you need to do in your first and second seasons. Valuable resources and professional advice help you and your bees succeed!
Inside...
- New beekeeping techniques
- Advice on nutrition and health
- The latest about regulations on honey and bee products
- Best beekeeping practices
- All about honey production
- Guidance for your second season
- Coupons from suppliers
Inhalt
Foreword xvii
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 4
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 5
Part 1: Taking Flight with Beekeeping 7
Chapter 1: To Bee, or Not to Bee? 9
Discovering the Benefits of Beekeeping 10
Harvesting liquid gold: Honey 11
Bees as pollinators: Their vital role to our food supply 11
Being part of the bigger picture: Save the bees! 13
Getting an education: And passing it on! 13
Improving your health: Bee therapies and stress relief 15
Determining Your Beekeeping Potential 16
Environmental considerations 16
Zoning and legal restrictions 16
Costs and equipment 17
Time and commitment 18
Beekeeper personality traits 18
Allergies 19
Deciding Which Beekeeping Approach to Follow 19
Medicated beekeeping 20
Natural beekeeping 20
Organic beekeeping 21
Combining approaches 21
Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your Honey Bees 23
Basic Body Parts 24
Skeleton 24
Head 25
Thorax 26
Abdomen 27
The Amazing Language of Bees 27
Pheromones 27
Shall we dance? 28
Getting to Know the Male and the Two Female Castes 29
Her majesty, the queen 29
The industrious little worker bee 32
House bees 33
Field bees 36
The woeful drone 37
The Honey Bee Life Cycle 39
Egg 39
Larva 41
Pupa 42
Other Stinging Insects 43
Bumblebee 44
Carpenter bee 44
Mason bee 45
Wasp 45
Yellow jacket 46
Bald-faced hornet 47
Part 2: Starting Your Adventure 49
Chapter 3: Alleviating Apprehensions and Making Decisions 51
Overcoming Sting Phobia 52
Knowing what to do if you're stung 53
Watching for allergic reactions 54
Building up a tolerance 54
Understanding Local Laws and Ordinances 55
Easing the Minds of Family and Neighbors 55
Location, Location, Location: Where to Keep Your Hives 57
Knowing what makes a perfect bee yard 57
Urban considerations 59
Understanding the correlation between geographical area and honey flavors 64
Knowing When to Start Your Adventure 64
Chapter 4: Selecting a Hive That's Perfect for You 67
The Langstroth Hive 68
The Kenyan Top Bar Hive 70
The Apimaye Insulated Hive 73
The Flow Hive 75
The Warré (People's) Hive 78
The Five-Frame Nuc Hive 81
The Observation Hive 83
Make a Beeline to the Best Beehive 86
Hives for harvesting honey 87
Hives for pollinating your garden 87
A hive for learning and teaching 88
Chapter 5: Basic Equipment for Beekeepers 91
Starting Out with the Langstroth Hive 92
Knowing the Basic Woodenware Parts of the Langstroth Hive 92
Hive stand 93
Bottom board 93
Entrance reducer 95
Deep-hive body 96
Queen excluder 97
Shallow or medium honey super 98
Frames 100
Foundation 103
Inner cover 106
Outer cover 106
Knowing the Basic Parts of a Top Bar Hive 108
The top bar 108
Everything else 109
Ordering Hive Parts 110
Startup hive kits 110
Setting up shop 111
Adding on Feeders 112
Hive-top feeder 112
Entrance feeder 114
Pail feeder 115
Baggie feeder 116
Frame feeder 117
Top Bar hive feeders 118