people, the allure of beekeeping is a strong one. Now more than ever, beekeeping is not only enjoyable, fascinating, and rewarding, it is critically important!
There is so much we can learn about our world from keeping bees. As the noted Nobel Prize-winning ethologist Karl Von Frisch wisely said, “The bee's life is like a magic well: The more you draw from it, the more it fills with water.” Beekeeping is indeed a bottomless well of learning and a pastime that leads to years of enjoyment and benefits.
One thing I find particularly rewarding is the connection that beekeeping gives me to the natural world around me. I believe that deep down we all long for this connection to nature. I have found that beekeeping is a wonderful way to achieve this connection. It fosters a respect and curiosity about the myriad interrelated intricacies in the ecosystems that surround us.
We all benefit from having honey bees on the landscape around us. Our flowers, vegetable gardens, and fruit trees benefit from having these intrepid pollinators visit. Indeed, honey bees have become an essential part of our vast agriculture system through their pollination services. We need to maintain a healthy landscape in order for bees to thrive and survive. Our food system literally depends upon it.
The world of beekeeping for hobbyists and professionals alike has changed significantly over the years. Today, successful beekeepers are required to know much more than in the past. They need to monitor their bees more closely and pay close attention to what is happening in the environment around them. It is essential for beekeepers to know about bee nutrition, parasites, pathogens, and the pesticide exposure that the bees might encounter as they forage.
The good news is that along with the challenges, there have been huge advances in our collective knowledge about bees, bee biology, behavior, and genetics. Intensive studies are being done by an enthusiastic field of scientists, university research laboratories, and citizen scientists sharing data from their hives. There is an ever-growing population of people excitedly starting to keep bees around the world, in both backyards and urban environments. They share their experiences in clubs, on the Internet, and via social media. This makes beekeeping even more rewarding and connected than ever before. Farmers, landscapers, and gardeners have made big strides in creating landscapes that are designed to benefit all pollinators as we learn that healthy and balanced “farmscapes” as well as landscapes are more important objectives than having giant lush green lawns.
Beekeeping For Dummies has kept up with the many advances and innovations in beekeeping. This fifth edition is an important one. Inside the book you will find a lot of new information about honey bee nutrition and health. This edition brings the latest knowledge from the labs to our backyards. Plus, there are many tried-and-true techniques and a wealth of essential beekeeping fundamentals.
By now, most people know that bees and pollinators of all types are under threat. Beekeeping is an important part of a multifaceted solution for helping save our pollinators. We need to reduce our pesticide use, plant diverse forage, support our local farmers, and educate our children and our legislators about ensuring pollinator-friendly habitats. By keeping bees responsibly, you will be doing your part.
In my own 30-plus years of backyard beekeeping I have continually learned from fellow beekeepers, books, articles, and, of course, from my mentors.
Beekeeping For Dummies, 5th Edition, fills all of these roles with a balanced combination of concise and accurate information; helpful tips; thoughtful, enthusiastic encouragement; and a sincere and heartfelt admiration for honey bees. Howland Blackiston’s deep love and respect for honey bees shines through on the pages of this latest edition of Beekeeping For Dummies.
I have found beekeepers to be an extremely collegial group of people. They enthusiastically share their own experiences and knowledge with other beekeepers. The best beekeepers watch, listen, and learn from their bees. This is the spirit that you will find that in the pages ahead. Enjoy.
Peter Nelson
Director, Producer, and Cinematographer of the multi-award-winning documentary film, The Pollinators
Introduction
Keeping honey bees is a unique and immensely rewarding hobby. If you have an interest in nature, you’ll deeply appreciate the wonderful world that beekeeping opens up to you. If you’re a gardener, you’ll treasure the extra bounty that pollinating bees bring to your fruits, flowers, and vegetables. If you’re a foodie, you will celebrate your own honey harvest. In short, you’ll be captivated by these remarkable little creatures in the same way others have been captivated for thousands of years.
Becoming a beekeeper is easy and safe — it’s a great hobby for the entire family. All you need is a little bit of guidance to get started. And that’s exactly what this book is for. I provide you with a step-by-step approach for successful backyard beekeeping — follow it closely, and you can have a lifetime of enjoyment with your bees.
About This Book
This book is a reference, not a lecture. You certainly don’t have to read it from beginning to end unless you want to. I organized the chapters in a logical fashion with sensitivity to the beekeeper’s calendar of events. I include lots of great photographs and illustrations (each, I hope, is worth a thousand words) and lots of practical advice and suggestions.
Because Langstroth hives are far and away the most widely used type of hive in the world, most of the content is written with the assumption that you will start your adventure using some kind of Langstroth style hive. But since Top Bar hives (and Kenyan Top Bar hives in particular) have become increasingly popular, this fifth edition includes information of particular interest to you Top Bar beekeepers.
Whether you’re just getting started or have been keeping bees for a few seasons or more, I guarantee you’ll discover all sorts of new information and helpful tips. This book
Lets you explore the many benefits of beekeeping and helps you decide whether beekeeping is the right hobby for you.
Gives you some insight into a day in the life of the honey bee. You find out about the queen, the workers, and the drones, and the roles each plays in the colony. It explains basic bee anatomy and introduces you to a few other stinging insects.
Deals with any apprehensions you may have about beekeeping (stings, neighbors’ funny looks, local restrictions, environmental considerations, costs, and time and commitment).
Helps you decide where you should locate your hive and how you can get started.
Introduces you to seven different hive types that are popular among backyard beekeepers. You learn the benefits and drawbacks associated with each of these hives.
Shows the basic tools and equipment you need. You find out about really cool gadgets and weird and wonderful accessories.
Helps you decide the kind of honey bee to raise, and when and how to order your bees. You also find out what to do the day your “girls” arrive and how to safely and successfully transfer them to their new home.
Explains how and when to go about approaching and opening up a colony of bees.
Helps you understand exactly what you’re looking for every time you inspect a colony. I include the specific tasks that are unique to the weeks immediately following the arrival of your bees as well as throughout the first season and into your second season.
Discusses the tasks a beekeeper must perform year-round to maintain a healthy colony. Use it as a checklist of seasonal activities that you can refer back to year after year. There’s a neat “Beekeeper’s Calendar” that’s keyed to different climates. Use this to identify the tasks