| The preservation of bees is imperative to our | | | | hives, listing the parts of the modern hive and its |
| continued ability to grow food to feed the plant. Bees | | | | function. There is important information on the role |
| are the major pollinators on the plant. Did you know | | | | each part place in protecting and managing the bees. |
| that raising bees can be a stress reduction strategy | | | | The author discusses the mouse excluder, varroa |
| and can provide a wealth of education for adults and | | | | screen, frame boxes, the effectiveness of plastic |
| children alike. Raising bees allows you to provide gifts | | | | foundation sheets for hives, shallow frames, queen |
| for family and friend, while providing healthy products | | | | excluder, crown board, and roof. |
| good for your health. In this book the author discusses | | | | In chapter six the author discusses the importance of |
| the benefits, steps to get started, supports, and other | | | | the right kind of clothing and the role it plays in |
| valuable information. | | | | protecting the beekeeper. The following chapter lists |
| Chapter one looks at the benefits of raising bees, while | | | | the tools a successful beekeeper will need to get |
| chapter two addresses the steps to get started. The | | | | started, such as the hive tool, bee brush, and the |
| author discusses the cost involved in set up a bee | | | | smokers. |
| colony; discusses how much space you will need; the | | | | Chapter eight is dedicated to getting your bees. The |
| impact of food and water to the hive; the impact of | | | | author discusses the advantages and disadvantages |
| pets and other domestic creatures may have on the | | | | to complete bee hives, nucleus hives and how to set |
| bee reproduction; how to manage wild animals, climate | | | | one up; packed bees and transferring the bees to the |
| and neighbors; and list some important rules and | | | | hive; and helpful tips on managing a swarm of bees |
| regulations regarding beekeeping. | | | | when setting up the hive. There is a full section on how |
| The next chapter focuses on the most important | | | | to prevention bee swarming. |
| lessons you will learn while beekeeping. The author | | | | Combing weak hives in order to ensure the growth of |
| then follows up this section with how to find and | | | | both is discussed in the next chapter. He identifies how |
| develop support systems. His recommendations are to | | | | to combed the hives, lists strategies to ensure |
| join a local beekeeping group which will assist in | | | | production of the combed hives, how to deal with |
| providing important information, additional resources, | | | | combing to hives with two queen bees, and when is |
| strategies to protect the hive, how to increase | | | | the best time of year to comb weak hives. |
| production of honey and pit falls to avoid. Participation | | | | The next chapter looks at feeding your bees. There is |
| in a local support group will enhance and maintain your | | | | information on how to introduce medicine to treat and |
| development as a beekeeper. | | | | or prevent certain conditions; how to ensure the hive |
| The next section is dedicated to the types of bees, | | | | has enough food after the honey has been harvested; |
| their role and importance to the hive. There are various | | | | how to keep the hive productive and safe during the |
| types of bees and the author makes | | | | winter months. The author lists the food sources most |
| recommendations on which variation your should start | | | | useful to the bees and lists food sources the |
| with in order to be successful. In this section the author | | | | beekeeper should never give the hive. There is |
| discusses the importance of the queen, worker and | | | | instruction on how to get the right food source to the |
| drone bees. He details bee reproduction, how other | | | | bees through: entrance feeders, tile division-board |
| bees protect the only female bee in the colony and | | | | feeders, friction top can; and hive top feeders. |
| how to promote a high quality queen bee. There is | | | | Additional information regarding pollen or pollen |
| additional information on introducing a new queen bee | | | | substitutes is provided. |
| should the need arise and how to handle the old queen | | | | There is a complete section on disease management |
| bee. Included in this section is information on drone | | | | listing the most common diseases such as: American |
| bees, which are male bees, and how to recognize a | | | | Foulbrood, European foulbrood, Sacbrood; Parasitic |
| drone from a worker bee. The role of the worker bee | | | | mite syndrome (PMS); and chalk brood. There is |
| is to build the honey combs, rear the brood, protect the | | | | additional information on adult bee diseases such as |
| hive, maintain optimum temperature with in the hive, | | | | Nosema; and mites. Here the author describes the |
| keep the hive clean and tend to the needs of the | | | | symptoms and lists ways to identify and treat the |
| queen. The author provides strategies on how to | | | | diseases. |
| maximize the role of each class of bee. | | | | Many animals and insects are enemies of the bees |
| There is another section on how to produce queen, | | | | and can harm and/or destroy the hives. The author |
| drones and worker bees. The author provides detailed | | | | identifies each species: bears, birds, ants, cattle, small |
| information regarding the production of each and | | | | hive beetle, fogs, fire ants, rodents, raccoons, skunks, |
| identifies pitfalls. | | | | and moths. There is also information listed on how to |
| The next chapter focuses on the essential equipment | | | | protect the hive and bees from these pests. |
| for beekeeping. There is information on harvesting the | | | | The next few chapters provide information on how to |
| honey; the different types of hives and how to harvest | | | | manage the hives through the summer, fall, winter and |
| the honey from each; bee gum hives and modern | | | | spring; how to examine and what to expect; steps on |
| hives. There is instructions and information on how to | | | | how to handle your first harvest, extract the honey |
| develop a hive for your bees, what designs provide | | | | crop; how to brush the bees; what to do with escape |
| the most protection; what construction will assist in | | | | boards, and bee blowers. |
| production of honey; and the history of man made | | | | At the end of the book there is information and |
| hives. | | | | websites for suppliers in the United Kingdom, USA, |
| The next section of the book is dedicated to managing | | | | Canada, and Australia. |