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3rd out of 54 books
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The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden
This book isns both. No other book on the market provides an in-depth review of beekeeping and what honey is good for and how to use it. Beautifully illustrated, The Backyard Beekeeper is perfect for the health conscious person who wants to sweeten up their life by saying no to processed sugars and yes, to eating organic, natural healthy food. This book is the complete "...more
Paperback, 168 pages
Published
May 1st 2005
by Quarry Books
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I can't wait to get a few hives in my backyard! It's going to be a while, though. In the meantime, I occasionally read some books on beekeeping to stay informed and excited. This book touches on a lot of subjects, but is not too in-depth about any one subject. It is definitely a good primer, but not a definitive book. A large portion of the book is dedicated to recipes and uses for honey and wax. It's like a totally separate book. But it's true, many beekeepers have a difficult time using and st...more
This is an excellent book for beginning beekeepers, specifically backyarders, like the title says.
Written by one of the most knowledgeable bee-men (or women) around, it has tons of color photos and other detailed information. In his inimitable laconic style, Flottum--also the editor of Bee Culture magazine--covers all the bases, from getting a hive, to getting bees, installing them, managing for pests, extracting honey. It's all there, even some recipies.
My quibbles are m...more
Written by one of the most knowledgeable bee-men (or women) around, it has tons of color photos and other detailed information. In his inimitable laconic style, Flottum--also the editor of Bee Culture magazine--covers all the bases, from getting a hive, to getting bees, installing them, managing for pests, extracting honey. It's all there, even some recipies.
My quibbles are m...more
This is a very strange book in that it was written by a well-known expert in the field of beekeeping but is presented in such a disorganized fashion as to leave me confused.
If I had not been reading other books on beekeeping I would not have had the background to make sense of the almost random order to the presentation of the information. As an introductory book on the subject, it should have been much more logically laid out.
The information itself is very good; the col...more
If I had not been reading other books on beekeeping I would not have had the background to make sense of the almost random order to the presentation of the information. As an introductory book on the subject, it should have been much more logically laid out.
The information itself is very good; the col...more
Good primer on beekeeping, written for those who are not only new to keeping bees, but who wish to do it as a hobby. Flottum, editor of the great BEE CULTURE magazine, encourages the use of 8-frame supers rather than the usual 10-frame, which makes things easier for the older beekeepers who may have trouble lifting heavy supers full of honey.
Would have liked more information on natural methods of beekeeping (organic rather than chemical treatments for mites, etc.). Well-organized...more
Would have liked more information on natural methods of beekeeping (organic rather than chemical treatments for mites, etc.). Well-organized...more
Beekeeping is a lot more involved than I ever thought it was. Although I could quibble about the "absolute beginner's guide" subtitle I won't. To be honest, the book does guide the beginner very capably through the steps one must take to start up a bee colony. There is nothing "beginner" about beekeeping, though. I wouldn't suggest that just anyone with only a casual interest pick up this hobby since the lives of many bees depend on doing it right. This book will make that cl...more
Chris won't let me have an apiary at home...... so I just have to read about beekeeping and content myself with that.
Well written, for what it is. Apart from the actual beekeeping (hive repair, harvesting, et cetera) there are some interesting ideas as to what one should do with the honey and wax. So there's that.
Not that it matters. I'm not allowed.
For the record, I'm also not allowed to keep goats or pigs or a rooster. Or a miniature pony. Or a regula...more
Well written, for what it is. Apart from the actual beekeeping (hive repair, harvesting, et cetera) there are some interesting ideas as to what one should do with the honey and wax. So there's that.
Not that it matters. I'm not allowed.
For the record, I'm also not allowed to keep goats or pigs or a rooster. Or a miniature pony. Or a regula...more
Nettie
rated it
Recommends it for:
beginning beekeepers!
Recommended to Nettie by:
The SF Beekeepers association
I really want to put a bee hive in my backyard and Kim's book is full of no nonsense information about the keeping of bees. I love the section on bee biology, which I never fully understood before. What a machine a bee hive is -- like an efficient Japanese Toyota plant. She is free with her opinions too which is refreshing. Unfortunately, I recently learned that my next door neighbor REALLY dislikes bees, so I think I'll have to wait until I buy that ranch...If I were going to keep bees, I wo...more
Every other beekeeping book I have read suggests having two deep (9"), ten-frame hive bodies (the bees' permanent home) and adding supers above those for honey (theirs and possibly some for you). Flottum suggests having three medium (6"), eight-frame bodies, not because of any advantage to the bees but because deeps are too heavy. I might as well install a scooter path from backdoor to hives so I don't have to walk all that distance either. That and a stairlift down the back steps.
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Felt the organization of the book was a bit odd - that if this had been my only beekeeping book I'd still be a bit out of sorts with beekeeping. There are many gorgeous photos in the book, but some were not well explained - why this photo or that photo? I wondered.
I'm not wild about a system that encourages killing the queen bee each year, or medicating with no cause. Just don't think that Kim Flottum is the kind of beekeeper that I aim to be.
The ways to use beeswax...more
I'm not wild about a system that encourages killing the queen bee each year, or medicating with no cause. Just don't think that Kim Flottum is the kind of beekeeper that I aim to be.
The ways to use beeswax...more
For someone just getting into beekeeping, this is a good one to read. Although it gets a little honey focused (which is beyond what I am ready for) it has great pictures and good information. I am going through it again just to remind myself what things should look like when I open the hive.
this book is a very good help to new beekeepers. it includes some very interesting facts on the bees' character and includes some recipes at the end!
Very informative whilst remaining interesting. Slightly bossy. If and when I keep bees I will be buying this book.
This was a very nice introduction to beekeeping. Has a nice section on the uses of honey and wax as well.
This was very informative, and provided lots of large pictures to show what the author was talking about.
A good read for beekeepers and those just interested in bees
Good not great.
Of the many beekeeping books I've perused, this is one of the most useful to me. It's attractively designed and easy to follow, for a complete beginner like me.
The best book for the beginning beekeeper I've read so far. Very detailed information on the bees themselves, and aimed at the person who's starting with one hive in their yard.
browsing permanently - trying to figure out if I can get away with activity described therein in current rental house with wretchedly bitchy landlords.
I don't know if I will ever keep bees, but it sure was interesting to read about them. I'll never look at honey the same way again!
We grew up with bees and I keep going to back to them for my home and garden. This is a great beginner book.
I referenced this book a lot this year as I started 2 beehives. Excellent instruction with photos.
Got my bee boxes...now I just have to wait till spring!
great explanations and pics for starting up beekeeping
Revjvm
marked it as to-read
Trase Passantino
marked it as to-read
Willie Bogue
added it
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