Beekeeping For Dummies
Now updated — your guide to becoming a successful backyard beekeeperInterested in raising honey bees? This friendly, practical guide presents a step-by-step approach to starting your own beehive, along with expert tips for maintaining a healthy colony. You get the latest on honey bee medication and treatments, harvesting and marketing your honey, and the impact the sudden disappearance of the honey bee has on our environment and economy.To bee or not to bee? — understand the benefits of beekeeping and whether it's right for youBuild your first hive — gather the right equipment, obtain your bees, and transfer them safely to their new homeGet up-close and personal — see how to open and close the hive, inspect your bees at the right times, and know what to look forHandle common problems — from swarming to robbing to pesticide poisoning, find simple solutionsUnderstand Colony Collapse Syndrome — learn what you can do to help save the honey beesGear up for the golden harvest — use the tools of the trade to extract honey, store it, and sell itPraise forBeekeeping For Dummies"The information a beginner needs to keep bees with confidence."—Kim Flottum,Bee Culture Magazine"A reader-friendly guide to beekeeping for novices or beginners."—Dewey M. Caron, Professor of Entomology, University of DelawareOpen the book and find:The various types of honey bees and the role each plays in a colonyHands-on instruction in building a hiveHow to keep bees healthier and more productiveGuidelines for all phases of honey productionNew information on raising your own queensPlenty of helpful, illustrative pictures to guide youThe safest ways to inspect and enjoy your beesA Beekeeper's Calendar organized by climate zones